Humid tropical climates are found near the Equator, from about 20 degrees north to 20 degrees south latitude. In these climates, average temperatures are greater than 65 degrees Fahrenheit during all months. Humid tropical climates include the tropical rain forest climate (Af), found in Hawaii and Northern Brazil; the tropical monsoon climate (Am), typical of Far North Queensland, Australia, and some regions of India; and the tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Aw), common in Vera Cruz, in the Gulf of Mexico and Lagos State, Nigeria.
Featuring low rainfall, arid climates are found in diverse areas of the globe. The two main arid climates are the semi-arid climate (BS) and the desert climate (BW), with an average rainfall of less than 10 inches per year. These climates are classified in hot semi-arid climates (BSh), present in north-east Brazil, central Argentina, southern Africa and other regions, and cold semi-arid climates (BSk), located in central Asia and other temperate zones.The biggest areas with hot desert climates (BWh) are found in northern Africa, the Middle East, Central Australia and the U.S. Southwest. The Gobi desert, in central Asia, is an example of a cold desert climate (BWk).
The average temperature in these climates is greater than 50 degrees Fahrenheit in warm months and is between 32 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit in the coldest months. Humid mesothermal climates include the Mediterranean climate, found in southern Europe, southwest Australia and some areas of the U.S. west coast; the humid subtropical climate, common in Southeastern U.S. and South America; and the oceanic climate, typical of New Zealand, the British Islands and central Europe.
Featuring average temperatures higher than 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the warm months and below 32 degrees Fahrenheit during the coldest months, these climates are rare in the Southern Hemisphere and often found between in latitudes higher than 40 degrees north. Subtypes include the humid continental climate, in areas of central Europe, southern New England, and the Canadian prairie; and the subarctic climate, in Scandinavia, Alaska, Russia and northern Canada.
With average temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit throughout all months, these climates are found near the poles and in high altitudes. Some locations include Greenland, Svalbard, northern Asia and Canada, some areas of Norway and Iceland, southern Chile and Argentina, Antarctica, the Alps, the Rocky Mountains, the Cascade Range, the Himalayas, the Andes and the Tibetan plateau.