(a) Define climate (b) Describe the three climatic belts recognized by the greek system of classification (c) Outline three reasons why kopper's system of c...

Answer Details

(a) Definition of climate

Climate is the average weather conditions of a place recorded over a long period of time, usually not less than 35 years. It is the aggregate of the day-to-day weather elements (temperature, rainfall, pressure, humidity, wind, etc.) for a large area over many years.

(b) The three climatic belts of the Greek system of classification

The ancient Greeks divided the world into three broad temperature zones on the basis of latitude and the amount of heat received from the sun:

1. The Torrid Zone: Lies between the Tropic of Cancer (\(23\tfrac{1}{2}^\circ\)N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (\(23\tfrac{1}{2}^\circ\)S), astride the equator. It is hot throughout the year because the sun is overhead at some time.
2. The Temperate Zones: Two belts lying between the tropics and the polar circles, that is between \(23\tfrac{1}{2}^\circ\) and \(66\tfrac{1}{2}^\circ\) in each hemisphere. They have moderate temperatures with warm summers and cool winters.
3. The Frigid Zones: Two belts lying between the polar circles (\(66\tfrac{1}{2}^\circ\)) and the poles (\(90^\circ\)) in each hemisphere. They are very cold throughout the year.

(c) Three reasons why Koppen's system is the most widely accepted

1. It is based on measurable elements of climate, namely temperature and rainfall, together with their seasonal distribution, so it is objective and can be applied anywhere.
2. It uses actual vegetation as an indicator of climate, so the climatic boundaries closely match the natural vegetation belts on the ground.
3. It provides a clear system of letters and symbols that gives each climatic type a precise code, making it simple, systematic and easy to map and compare worldwide.