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Temperate climate

Main climate class / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth.[1] These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout the year and more distinct seasonal changes compared to tropical climates, where such variations are often small and usually only have precipitation changes.[2]

Koppen-Geiger_Map_C_present.svg
A Köppen–Geiger climate map showing temperate climates for 1980-2016
Latitude_zones.png
The different geographical zones of the world. The temperate zones, in the sense of geographical regions defined by latitude, span from either north or south of the subtropics (north or south of the yellow dotted lines, at 35 degrees north or south) to the polar circles.

In temperate climates, not only do latitudinal positions influence temperature changes, but sea currents, prevailing wind direction, continentality (how large a landmass is) and altitude also shape temperate climates.[3]

The Köppen climate classification defines a climate as "temperate" C, when the mean temperature is above −3 °C (26.6 °F) but below 18 °C (64.4 °F) in the coldest month to account for the persistency of frost. However, other climate classifications set the minimum at 0 °C (32.0 °F).[4][5]