Introduction | 引言
Climate zones are geographical regions that are categorized based on prevailing climate patterns and latitude. This educational material presents a comprehensive overview of the world’s major climate zones, arranged from coldest to warmest, with both English and Chinese explanations for Chinese speakers with high school education or above.
氣候區是根據主要氣候模式和緯度分類的地理區域。本教材為具有高中或以上教育程度的中文使用者提供了世界主要氣候區的全面概述，按從最冷到最熱的順序排列，並提供英漢雙語解釋。
Understanding Climate Zones | 理解氣候區
Climate zones are areas with distinct climatic conditions, determined by factors such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and seasonal variations. These zones influence biodiversity, human settlement patterns, agriculture, and cultural practices.
氣候區是具有不同氣候條件的區域，由溫度、降水、濕度和季節變化等因素決定。這些區域影響生物多樣性、人類居住模式、農業和文化習俗。
Climate Zones from Coldest to Warmest | 從最冷到最熱的氣候區
Polar Regions | 極地區域
1. Polar Ice Cap | 極地冰蓋
- Example Location: Antarctica | 示例地點: 南極洲
- Characteristics: Permanently covered with ice and snow; temperatures rarely rise above freezing; minimal precipitation | 特徵: 永久被冰雪覆蓋；溫度很少高於冰點；降水極少
- Example Sentence: “The polar ice cap of Antarctica contains about 90% of the world’s ice." | 例句: “南極洲的極地冰蓋包含了世界上約90%的冰。"
2. Polar Tundra | 極地凍原
- Example Location: Western Greenland | 示例地點: 格陵蘭西部
- Characteristics: Treeless region with permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost); short growing season; limited vegetation | 特徵: 無樹木區域，地下永久凍土；生長季節短；植被有限
- Example Sentence: “Despite the harsh conditions, the polar tundra supports specialized plant and animal species." | 例句: “儘管環境惡劣，極地凍原仍然支持著特殊的動植物種類。"
Cold Regions | 寒冷區域
3. Boreal | 北方針葉林
- Example Location: Siberia | 示例地點: 西伯利亞
- Characteristics: Dominated by coniferous forests; long, severe winters and short summers; moderate precipitation | 特徵: 以針葉林為主；冬季漫長嚴酷，夏季短暫；適中降水
- Example Sentence: “The boreal forest of Siberia is one of the largest continuous forests in the world." | 例句: “西伯利亞的北方針葉林是世界上最大的連續森林之一。"
4. Temperate | 溫帶
- Example Location: United States, Northern Europe | 示例地點: 美國，北歐
- Characteristics: Four distinct seasons; moderate temperatures; reliable precipitation throughout the year | 特徵: 四季分明；溫度適中；全年降水可靠
- Example Sentence: “Many of the world’s major agricultural regions are found in temperate climate zones." | 例句: “世界上許多主要農業區域都位於溫帶氣候區。"
5. Cold Temperate | 寒溫帶
- Example Location: Northern Canada | 示例地點: 加拿大北部
- Characteristics: Similar to temperate but with colder winters; shorter growing season; often transitional between boreal and temperate | 特徵: 類似溫帶但冬季更冷；生長季節更短；通常是北方針葉林和溫帶之間的過渡區
- Example Sentence: “The cold temperate regions of northern Canada experience significant seasonal temperature variations." | 例句: “加拿大北部的寒溫帶地區經歷顯著的季節性溫度變化。"
6. Cool Temperate Maritime | 涼溫帶海洋性
- Example Location: London | 示例地點: 倫敦
- Characteristics: Influenced by oceanic currents; mild winters and cool summers; frequent rainfall; often cloudy | 特徵: 受海洋洋流影響；冬季溫和，夏季涼爽；降雨頻繁；常多雲
- Example Sentence: “London’s cool temperate maritime climate contributes to its famous foggy weather." | 例句: “倫敦的涼溫帶海洋性氣候造就了其著名的霧天氣。"
Moderate Regions | 溫和區域
7. Cool Coastal Desert | 涼爽沿海沙漠
- Example Location: Lima, Peru | 示例地點: 秘魯利馬
- Characteristics: Low precipitation despite proximity to ocean; moderate temperatures due to cool ocean currents; frequent fog | 特徵: 儘管靠近海洋但降水少；因涼爽海洋洋流而溫度適中；霧氣頻繁
- Example Sentence: “Lima, Peru is unusual as a cool coastal desert city that rarely sees significant rainfall." | 例句: “秘魯利馬作為一個涼爽的沿海沙漠城市，很少有明顯的降雨，這很不尋常。"
8. Highland | 高地
- Example Location: Quito, Ecuador | 示例地點: 厄瓜多爾基多
- Characteristics: Climate determined primarily by elevation rather than latitude; cool temperatures despite tropical location; significant daily temperature variation | 特徵: 氣候主要由海拔而非緯度決定；儘管位於熱帶但溫度涼爽；日溫差明顯
- Example Sentence: “Quito, located in the highlands of Ecuador, enjoys spring-like weather year-round despite being on the equator." | 例句: “位於厄瓜多爾高地的基多，儘管位於赤道上，但全年享有春季般的天氣。"
9. Middle-Latitude Dry | 中緯度乾燥
- Example Location: North Dakota | 示例地點: 北達科他州
- Characteristics: Interior continental location; limited precipitation; hot summers and cold winters; significant seasonal temperature variations | 特徵: 內陸大陸位置；降水有限；夏季炎熱，冬季寒冷；季節性溫度變化顯著
- Example Sentence: “The middle-latitude dry climate of North Dakota creates challenges for agriculture, though wheat farming is successful." | 例句: “北達科他州的中緯度乾燥氣候給農業帶來挑戰，儘管小麥種植是成功的。"
10. Warm Temperate | 暖溫帶
- Example Location: Greece | 示例地點: 希臘
- Characteristics: Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters; Mediterranean vegetation including olive trees and drought-resistant shrubs | 特徵: 夏季炎熱乾燥，冬季溫和多雨；地中海植被包括橄欖樹和耐旱灌木
- Example Sentence: “Greece’s warm temperate climate is ideal for growing olives and grapes." | 例句: “希臘的暖溫帶氣候非常適合種植橄欖和葡萄。"
11. Temperate Oceanic | 溫帶海洋性
- Example Location: Paris | 示例地點: 巴黎
- Characteristics: Influenced by ocean currents; milder temperatures than continental areas at same latitude; year-round precipitation | 特徵: 受海洋洋流影響；比同緯度大陸地區溫度更溫和；全年有降水
- Example Sentence: “Paris enjoys a temperate oceanic climate with generally mild weather throughout the year." | 例句: “巴黎享有溫帶海洋性氣候，全年天氣普遍溫和。"
12. Temperate Continental | 溫帶大陸性
- Example Location: Montreal; New York | 示例地點: 蒙特利爾；紐約
- Characteristics: Four distinct seasons; large annual temperature range; warm to hot summers and cold winters; moderate precipitation | 特徵: 四季分明；年溫差大；夏季溫暖至炎熱，冬季寒冷；適中降水
- Example Sentence: “New York City experiences a temperate continental climate with hot summers and cold, snowy winters." | 例句: “紐約市經歷溫帶大陸性氣候，夏季炎熱，冬季寒冷多雪。"
Warm Regions | 溫暖區域
13. Tropical-Subtropical Humid | 熱帶-亞熱帶濕潤
- Example Location: Charleston, South Carolina | 示例地點: 南卡羅來納州查爾斯頓
- Characteristics: Hot, humid summers; mild winters; abundant rainfall throughout the year; lush vegetation | 特徵: 夏季炎熱潮濕；冬季溫和；全年降雨豐富；植被茂盛
- Example Sentence: “Charleston’s tropical-subtropical humid climate supports diverse plant life and long growing seasons." | 例句: “查爾斯頓的熱帶-亞熱帶濕潤氣候支持多樣化的植物生長和長時間的生長季節。"
14. Subtropical Dry | 亞熱帶乾燥
- Example Location: Perth, Australia | 示例地點: 澳大利亞珀斯
- Characteristics: Hot, dry summers and mild winters; limited rainfall; drought-resistant vegetation | 特徵: 夏季炎熱乾燥，冬季溫和；降雨有限；耐旱植被
- Example Sentence: “Perth, Australia has a subtropical dry climate with long, sunny days and minimal rainfall in summer." | 例句: “澳大利亞珀斯擁有亞熱帶乾燥氣候，夏季陽光充足，降雨極少。"
15. Tropical-Subtropical Dry | 熱帶-亞熱帶乾燥
- Example Location: Phoenix, Arizona | 示例地點: 亞利桑那州鳳凰城
- Characteristics: Very hot, dry summers; mild winters; minimal precipitation; desert vegetation | 特徵: 夏季非常炎熱乾燥；冬季溫和；降水極少；沙漠植被
- Example Sentence: “Phoenix, Arizona experiences a tropical-subtropical dry climate with extreme summer heat and little rainfall." | 例句: “亞利桑那州鳳凰城經歷熱帶-亞熱帶乾燥氣候，夏季極端炎熱，降雨很少。"
Hot Regions | 炎熱區域
16. Tropical Desert | 熱帶沙漠
- Example Location: Egypt | 示例地點: 埃及
- Characteristics: Extremely hot and dry; large daily temperature fluctuations; minimal vegetation; very little precipitation | 特徵: 極度炎熱乾燥；日溫差大；植被極少；降水極少
- Example Sentence: “Egypt’s tropical desert climate means the Nile River has been essential for civilization to flourish there." | 例句: “埃及的熱帶沙漠氣候意味著尼羅河對文明在那裡繁榮至關重要。"
17. Tropical Wet-and-Dry | 熱帶濕潤-乾燥
- Example Location: Calcutta | 示例地點: 加爾各答
- Characteristics: Distinct wet and dry seasons; high temperatures year-round; substantial seasonal precipitation variation | 特徵: 明顯的雨季和旱季；全年高溫；季節性降水變化顯著
- Example Sentence: “Calcutta experiences a tropical wet-and-dry climate with monsoon rains followed by a distinct dry period." | 例句: “加爾各答經歷熱帶濕潤-乾燥氣候，季風雨後是明顯的乾燥期。"
18. Tropical Wet; Monsoon | 熱帶濕潤；季風
- Example Location: Myanmar; Singapore | 示例地點: 緬甸；新加坡
- Characteristics: High temperatures and high humidity year-round; abundant rainfall; tropical rainforest vegetation; may have monsoon season | 特徵: 全年高溫高濕；降雨豐富；熱帶雨林植被；可能有季風季節
- Example Sentence: “Singapore’s tropical wet climate means rain can be expected almost any day of the year." | 例句: “新加坡的熱帶濕潤氣候意味著全年幾乎每天都可能下雨。"
Practical Applications | 實際應用
Agriculture | 農業
Different climate zones support different types of agriculture. For example, wheat thrives in temperate zones, while rice is well-suited to tropical wet climates.
不同的氣候區支持不同類型的農業。例如，小麥在溫帶地區生長良好，而水稻則適合熱帶濕潤氣候。
Architecture | 建築
Traditional building designs reflect adaptations to local climate conditions, such as thick walls in desert regions or stilt houses in tropical wet areas.
傳統建築設計反映了對當地氣候條件的適應，例如沙漠地區的厚牆或熱帶濕潤地區的高腳屋。
Tourism | 旅遊
Understanding climate zones helps travelers plan when to visit different regions to experience optimal weather conditions.
了解氣候區有助於旅行者規劃何時訪問不同地區以體驗最佳天氣條件。
Climate Change Impact | 氣候變化影響
Global warming is causing shifts in climate zones, affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and human settlements.
全球變暖正在導致氣候區發生變化，影響生態系統、農業和人類居住地。
Conclusion | 結論
Climate zones provide a framework for understanding Earth’s diverse climatic conditions and their influences on natural environments and human activities. As climate change continues to alter these patterns, understanding these classifications becomes increasingly important for adaptation and planning.
氣候區為理解地球多樣化的氣候條件及其對自然環境和人類活動的影響提供了框架。隨著氣候變化繼續改變這些模式，理解這些分類對適應和規劃變得越來越重要。
The interplay between latitude, altitude, oceanic influences, and continental positioning creates the remarkable diversity of climate zones we see across our planet, each supporting unique ecosystems and human adaptations.
緯度、高度、海洋影響和大陸位置之間的相互作用創造了我們在地球上看到的氣候區的顯著多樣性，每個區域都支持獨特的生態系統和人類適應。
元毓說 