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This region thought uninhabitable, was called the "Frigid Zone." The only area believed to be habitable was the northern "Temperate Zone" (the southern one not having been discovered), lying between the "Frigid Zones" and the "Torrid Zone". However, humans have inhabited almost all climates on Earth, including inside the Arctic Circle.
As the Earth's axial tilt changes, [a] so too do the tropical and polar circles. The tropics constitute 39.8% of Earth's surface area [1] and contain 36% of Earth's landmass. [2] As of 2014, the region was home also to 40% of the world's population, and this figure was then projected to reach 50% by 2050.
All precipitation types are made up of hydrometeors by definition, including virga, which is precipitation which evaporates before reaching the ground. Particles blown from the Earth's surface by wind, such as blowing snow and blowing sea spray, are also hydrometeors , as are hail and snow .
The Köppen climate classification system was modified further within the Trewartha climate classification system in 1966 (revised in 1980). The Trewartha system sought to create a more refined middle latitude climate zone, which was one of the criticisms of the Köppen system (the climate group C was too general). [10]: 200–1
The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones immediately to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from 23°26′09.7″ (or 23.43603°) to approximately 35° north and south.
The climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. [10] A steppe is a dry grassland. [11] Subarctic climates are cold with continuous permafrost and little precipitation. [12] The tropical zones have the highest number of storm events followed by the temperate climate.
Climate (from Ancient Greek κλίμα 'inclination') is commonly defined as the weather averaged over a long period. [9] The standard averaging period is 30 years, [10] but other periods may be used depending on the purpose. Climate also includes statistics other than the average, such as the magnitudes of day-to-day or year-to-year variations.
As a result, there is a balance of forces acting on the Earth's surface. The horse latitudes are an area of high pressure at about 30° to 35° latitude (north or south) where winds diverge into the adjacent zones of Hadley or Ferrel cells, and which typically have light winds, sunny skies, and little precipitation. [1] [2]