Weather Differences Globally

Right now, while you are reading this, it could be snowing in Norway, baking hot in the Sahara Desert, and raining in a rainforest in South America — all at the same time! Earth has many different climates.

Why does climate vary around the world?

• The main reason is distance from the equator. The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth where the sun shines most directly, making those regions the warmest.
• Regions near the poles (top and bottom of Earth) receive the least direct sunlight and are the coldest.
• Oceans, mountains, and wind patterns also affect local climates by bringing moisture or blocking weather systems.

Six major climate types

• Tropical — Hot and rainy all year. Found near the equator. Example: Amazon rainforest (Brazil), Central Africa, Southeast Asia.
• Desert — Very hot days, cold nights, almost no rain. Example: Sahara Desert (North Africa), Arabian Desert.
• Mediterranean — Warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Example: Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece), California.
• Temperate — Four seasons: warm summers, cold winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Example: Much of the United States, Central Europe.
• Polar — Extremely cold all year, with ice and snow. Example: Arctic (near North Pole), Antarctica.
• Mountain — Colder and windier the higher you go. Example: The Himalayas (Asia), the Andes (South America), the Alps (Europe).