Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a region over decades or centuries. Weather is the short-term condition of the atmosphere (day-to-day). The main factors affecting climate include latitude, altitude, ocean currents, prevailing winds, and proximity to water. What is the difference between weather and climate?

Tropical rainforest climates (Af) are hot and humid year-round, with high rainfall (over 80 inches / 2,000 mm per year). There is no dry season. The Amazon rainforest, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asian rainforests have this climate. Which biome has the highest biodiversity?

Deserts are defined by low precipitation (less than 10 inches / 250 mm per year). They can be hot (Sahara) or cold (Antarctica, Gobi). Deserts have extreme temperature variations between day and night. Which desert is the largest hot desert in the world?

Polar climates (ice cap and tundra) are extremely cold, with average temperatures below freezing for most of the year. The tundra has permafrost (permanently frozen ground). Which biome has permafrost and low-growing plants (mosses, lichens, shrubs)?

Grasslands are biomes dominated by grasses rather than trees. They include savannas (tropical grasslands with scattered trees), prairies (temperate grasslands), and steppes (dry grasslands). The savanna is home to large herbivores (zebras, giraffes, elephants) and predators (lions, cheetahs). Which grassland has scattered trees and a wet and dry season?

The Köppen climate classification system is the most widely used system for classifying the world's climates. It was developed by German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884. The five main groups are: tropical (A), dry (B), temperate (C), continental (D), and polar (E). Which climate group has hot, humid summers and mild winters?

The Mediterranean climate (Csa) has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It is found around the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in California, central Chile, southwestern Australia, and the Western Cape of South Africa. Which of these regions has a Mediterranean climate?

Monsoon climates are characterized by seasonal reversal of winds, bringing heavy rainfall in summer (wet season) and dry conditions in winter (dry season). The Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia experience the most dramatic monsoon. Where are monsoon climates most common?

As altitude increases, temperature decreases (about 3.5°F / 2°C per 1,000 feet / 300 meters). This is why mountains have cooler climates than surrounding lowlands. The tree line is the altitude above which trees cannot grow. What happens to temperature as altitude increases?

Climate change (global warming) is causing shifts in ecosystems, melting glaciers and ice caps, rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and species migration. The Arctic is warming faster than any other region (Arctic amplification). Which ecosystem is most threatened by climate change?