The weather is a very important factor during a trip. Thus, a stay on a paradise island can quickly become nightmarish if the rain falls continuously. Likewise, the cold can make your trip very unpleasant if you don’t have the right equipment. The best is therefore tobe prepared for different eventualitieseven if global warming tends to modify the usual forecasts. What are the climates in the world depending on the destinations? We tell you everything!
Climates around the world around the equator
Very logically, it is the equatorial climate found in geographic areas surrounding the equator. Overall, they only knowonly one seasonalthough some variations may be present depending on the month.
To summarize, it is hot all year round and temperatures are fairly constant, which is a fairly rare reality among the different climates in the world. You will find there humid weatherresulting in a high precipitation rate. As a result, areas subject to an equatorial climate generally have a river with a strong flow, like the Amazon and the Congo River, as well as very dense vegetation.
Also note that the rainiest periods are those around the equinoxes. The equatorial climate is also distinguished by the constancy of the lengths of day and nightwhich remain practically the same all year round.
Countries with an equatorial climate
- If you choose to go South Americaexpect to experience humid and hot weather at any time of year. This is the case in Ecuador, in the south of Colombia, in the Amazonian part of Peru, in Guyana, in Suriname and in the north of Brazil.
- Likewise African countriesbordered by the Gulf of Guinea, face a hot and humid atmosphere: southern Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon.
- On the Asian sidethe equatorial climate is the type of climate that dominates most of the islands of Indonesia. Sri Lanka and the western side of the Indian subcontinent are also characterized by an equatorial climate, although they are also subject to monsoons.
Climates around the world around the tropics
Characterized by two seasons which alternate during the year, tropical climate is the type among the different climates in the world that dominates the geographical areas between the two tropics. These fictitious lines, parallel to the equator, are located respectively in the north (the Tropic of Cancer) and in the south (the Tropic of Capricorn).
The heat is there all year roundbut the distribution of rainfall makes it possible to distinguish two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. But the farther we go from the equator, the more marked the seasons. As a result, certain places with a tropical climate experience relatively cool seasons and slightly warmer seasons. Likewise, day length varies slightly, but this variation is not as great as in temperate zones.
Countries with a tropical climate
- On the American continentmany countries are characterized by a tropical climate. First there are the countries of Central America: from southern Mexico to Venezuela, and those of South America such as southern Brazil and northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southeastern Bolivia.
- In Africathe tropical climate also characterizes a large number of countries, all located south of the sub-Saharan zone and up to the north of South Africa. We can add the islands of the Indian Ocean such as Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Mayotte and the Maldives. Note, however, that some of these islands also experience monsoon climates.
- In Asiaclimatic conditions are strongly influenced by monsoon winds which bring more or less abundant rain during the wet season. Thus, the Indian subcontinent and South Asian countries such as Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and southern China experience a kind of tropical climate, commonly called monsoon. The same is true of Southeast Asian islands like the Philippines and Taiwan.
- In Oceanianorthern Australia and some Pacific islands also benefit from the tropical climate.
The arid climate of desert areas
Characterized by a significant thermal amplitude between day and night and a very low precipitation rate, the arid climate dominates the desert areas. Thus, the sun reigns supreme almost all year round, since the weather conditions do not favor the formation of clouds.
The places in the world where we find an arid climate are:
- the southwestern United States, including Arizona and west Texas,
- northern Mexico,
- the north and southern tip of Africa,
- central Australia,
- the Arabian Peninsula,
- the coastal plains west of the central part of the Andes mountain range,
- Central Asia, including the countries located south and east of the Caspian Sea (Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan),
- Mongolia,
- northwest China.
The temperate climates of the areas between the tropics and the polar circles
The seasons are very distinct as we move away from the tropics. In fact, we are entering the temperate zones of the northern and southern hemispheres. This type of climate is characterized by the succession of four distinct seasons : winter, spring, summer and autumn.
In winter, temperatures are cold while day length is short. In summer, the heat goes hand in hand with the beautiful sunshine, because the days are long. Spring and autumn are transitional seasons, defined either by the cooling of the atmosphere (in autumn) or by the return of good weather (spring). Precipitation rates and the importance of thermal amplitudes make it possible to classify several types of temperate climates.
The Mediterranean climate
As its name suggests, the Mediterranean climate is the type of climate found on the Mediterranean basin. It is characterized by mild winters, which can be rainy, very pleasant inter-seasons and hot, even scorching, and dry summers.
It can be noted that other geographic areas among the many climates in the world can experience a Mediterranean climate:
- The Cape Town region of South Africa.
- California, United States.
- The Perth region and that around Adelaide, Australia
- The western facade of Chile, between Valparaiso and Concepción.
Oceanic climate
The oceanic climate is a temperate climate, influenced by proximity to the ocean. It is recognizable by the rains distributed almost uniformly over the twelve months of the year. Added to this are rather mild winters.
We meet a lot the oceanic climate in Europefor example on the Atlantic coast of France (where we have multiple microclimates), in the British Isles, in the northwest of Spain and in the south of Norway.
Elsewhere in the world, we find it:
- on the peaceful facade of North Americabetween Alaska and Oregon, passing through Canada.
- In the north of Turkey.
- South of Chile and Argentina.
- In New Zealand.
- In Tasmania.
- On the north coast of Morocco.
The continental climate
The continental climate is defined by a very significant variation in temperature between winter and summer. Thus, the winters are very harsh, snowy, and last particularly long. On the contrary, in summer the heat can be very trying. Between the two, the off-seasons of spring and fall are relatively short.
Among the climates in the world, it is present in countries that are inland, far from the maritime facades. We find it:
- in central Canada,
- in the center of Russia,
- in the countries of Central Europe.
The polar climate
This type of climate is present in the arctic and antarctic regions. The polar climate is recognized by the cold that dominates the atmosphere all year round. Winters are long and harsh, while summers are short and cool. On certain days, around the winter solstice, nights can last almost 24 hours: these are “polar nights”. Moreover, it is during one of these polar nights that we can admire the most beautiful northern lights (in the north) and the southern lights (in the south). Likewise, in summer, the days can last almost 24 hours, so you can have the chance to admire the famous midnight sun !
The areas located around the polar circles also experience climatic conditions similar to those of the polar climate: subarctic climate. It is a kind of intermediate climate between the temperate climate and the polar climate.
These climates can be found in the following countries :
- In the far north of Canada,
- in Alaska,
- in the north of Russia,
- in Iceland,
- in Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden and Finland,
- in Greenland,
- northeast of China.
The mountain climate
Here is another type to include in the list of world climates: the mountain climate. He is present in geographic areas that have high mountains. Suffice to say that it is found almost everywhere in the world: from the Himalayas to the Canadian and American Rockies, via the Alps or the south of the Andes mountain range.
So, what type of climate appeals to you the most? As a Swedish proverb says, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes”. So, whether you prefer a down jacket or a swimsuit, check the weather conditions carefully before leaving to know what to put in your suitcase!
