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Earth's Zones
By Cindy Grigg
The Earth has five zones. These zones tell us something about the
climate and where they are on Earth. They are marked by lines of
latitude. Lines that run across the globe from side to side are called
lines of latitude. (Lines that run from top to bottom are called lines of
longitude. ) These lines are like a ladder. Lines of longitude are like
the sides of a ladder. Lines of latitude are like the steps on a ladder.
The tropical or torrid zone lies near the equator. The equator is
like a belt that goes around Earth's middle. Its northern border is
marked by the Tropic of Cancer. The Tropic of Cancer is the line of
latitude at about 23 degrees north of the equator. The tropical zone's southern border is marked by the Tropic of
Capricorn. The Tropic of Capricorn is the line of latitude at about 23 degrees south of the equator. The tropical
zone is warm or hot and humid year round. The seasons there don't change very much. Summer and winter are
almost the same. The Earth's tropical rain forests are found in this zone.
Two temperate zones are found next to the tropical zones. The northern temperate zone lies between the
Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle is another line of latitude. It is found at about 66
degrees north of the equator. The southern temperate zone lies between the Tropic of Capricorn and the
Antarctic Circle. The Antarctic Circle is the line of latitude at about 66 degrees south of the equator. In both
temperate zones, the summers are hot. Winters are cold. Spring and fall are milder seasons.
The two polar zones are found at the top and bottom of the Earth. The northern polar zone is named the
Arctic. The Earth's North Pole is found there. The southern polar zone is named the Antarctic. The Earth's South
Pole is found there. The polar zones have long, cold, dark winters. Summers are short with many hours of
daylight. Even so, days never get very warm. In winter, the polar zones have many hours of darkness. Living in
the polar zones is hard for people and animals. Not many plants can grow there.
Earth's Zones
Questions
1. Which zone is found in the middle of the Earth?
A. temperate zone
B. polar zone
C. tropical zone
2. Which zone is found at the top and bottom of the Earth?
A. temperate zone
B. tropical zone
C. polar zone
3. Which of these is a simile?
A. Spring and fall are milder seasons.
B. The southern temperate zone lies between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle.
C. In winter, the polar zones have many hours of darkness
D. The equator is like a belt that goes around Earth's middle.
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4. What kind of climate is found in the tropical zone?
A. warm or hot humid year round
B. seasons are almost the same year round
C. humid
D. all of the above
5. Lines of latitude run ______.
A. across the globe
B. from side to side
C. like the steps of a ladder
D. all of the above
6. What kind of climate is found in the polar zones? What are the seasons like there?
Which zone is your home? Would you like to live in a different zone? Tell why or why not.
(Compare and contrast) Compare the tropical, temperate, and polar zones. How are the three zones alike? How
are they different? You may use a chart or table to make comparisons.
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