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Exploring temperate climates where weather changes significantly throughout the four seasons.
Imagine a place where you need a swimsuit in July but a heavy coat in January! Why do so many people choose to live in a place that changes its 'outfit' four times a year?
A temperate zone is a part of the world that is not too hot and not too cold. Unlike the North Pole (which is always freezing) or the Equator (which is usually hot), temperate zones have four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. In these areas, the weather changes slowly throughout the year. For example, the temperature might range from a chilly in the winter to a warm in the summer. Because the weather isn't extreme all the time, many different types of plants and animals can live here. Most people in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia live in this zone.
Quick Check
What are the four seasons found in a temperate climate zone?
Answer
Spring, Summer, Autumn (Fall), and Winter.
Because the weather changes, people in temperate zones have to adapt. This means they change their behavior to fit the environment. In the Summer, people might go swimming or play baseball. In the Winter, those same people might go ice skating or build snowmen. Farmers also have to plan around the seasons. They plant seeds in the warm, rainy Spring and harvest their crops in the Autumn before the ground freezes. This cycle of seasons helps us grow a variety of foods like apples, corn, and wheat.
Think about how you dress for school. 1. In Winter, you wear a heavy coat, gloves, and a hat to stay warm. 2. In Spring, you might switch to a light rain jacket for April showers. 3. In Summer, you wear shorts and t-shirts to stay cool. 4. In Autumn, you put on a sweater as the air turns crisp.
Quick Check
Why do farmers in temperate zones usually plant their seeds in the Spring?
Answer
Because the weather becomes warmer and there is usually plenty of rain to help the seeds grow.
Have you ever noticed that many of the world's biggest cities, like New York, London, and Tokyo, are in temperate zones? There are a few reasons for this. First, the moderate weather makes it easier to build tall buildings and roads without them being destroyed by extreme heat or constant ice. Second, temperate zones usually have plenty of fresh water from rain and melting snow. Finally, the soil is very rich, which means people can grow enough food nearby to feed everyone in the city. It is a 'just right' environment for humans to thrive!
Imagine you are an explorer looking for a place to build a new town. 1. You find a spot where it rains enough for a river to flow all year. 2. The temperature stays between and most of the time. 3. You realize you can grow food for 6 months and store it for the winter. 4. This 'middle ground' makes it the perfect place for a large community to grow.
People in temperate zones must use technology to stay comfortable. 1. In the Winter, houses use heaters to keep the indoor temperature at even if it is outside. 2. In the Summer, they use air conditioning to stay cool. 3. Engineers must design buildings that can handle both heavy snow on the roof and hot sun on the windows.
Which of these is a characteristic of a temperate climate?
Why is the soil in temperate zones good for large communities?
People in temperate zones do the exact same activities in January as they do in July.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to name one activity you do in the Summer that you cannot do in the Winter, and explain why.
Practice Activity
Look at a map of the world. Can you find three major cities that are located in the temperate zone between the cold poles and the hot equator?