What determines the formation of natural zones? What natural zones stand out on our planet? You can answer these and some other questions by reading this article.
Natural zoning: the formation of natural zones in the territory
The so-called geographical shell of our planet is the largest natural complex. It is very heterogeneous, both in the vertical section (which is expressed in vertical zonality) and in the horizontal (latitudinal), which is expressed in the presence of various natural zones on Earth. The formation of natural zones depends on several factors. And in this article we will talk specifically about the latitudinal heterogeneity of the geographical envelope.
The natural zone is a component of the geographical envelope, which is distinguished by a specific set of natural components with their own characteristics. These components include the following:
- climatic conditions;
- nature of the relief;
- hydrological grid of the territory;
- soil structure;
- organic world.
It should be noted that the formation of natural zones depends on the first component. However, natural zones receive their names, as a rule, by the nature of their vegetation. After all, flora is the most striking component of any landscape. In other words, vegetation acts as a kind of indicator that displays the underlying (those that are hidden from our eyes) processes of the formation of the natural complex.
It should be noted that the natural zone is the highest step in the hierarchy of the physical and geographical zoning of the planet.
Natural Zoning Factors
We list all the factors in the formation of natural zones on Earth. So, the formation of natural zones depends on the following factors:
- Climatic features of the territory (this group of factors includes the temperature regime, the nature of humidification, as well as the properties of the air masses that dominate the territory).
- The general nature of the relief (this criterion, as a rule, only affects the configuration, the boundaries of a particular natural zone).
The formation of natural zones can also be influenced by proximity to the ocean, or the presence of powerful ocean currents offshore. However, all these factors are secondary. The main root cause of natural zoning is that different parts (belts) of our planet receive an unequal amount of solar heat and moisture.
Natural areas of the world
What natural areas do geographers distinguish today on the body of our planet? We list them from the poles to the equator:
- Arctic (and Antarctic) deserts.
- Tundra and forest-tundra.
- Taiga.
- Mixed forest area.
- Deciduous forest area.
- Forest steppe.
- Steppe (or prairie).
- The semi-desert and desert zone.
- Savannah area.
- Rainforest zone.
- Zone of humid equatorial forests (gilea).
- Zone of rain (monsoon) forests.
If you look at the map of the natural zoning of the planet, we will see that all natural zones are located on it in the form of belts of a sub-latitudinal direction. That is, these zones, as a rule, extend from west to east. Sometimes this sub-latitudinal direction may be disturbed. The reason for this, as we have already said, are the features of the relief of a particular territory.
It is also worth noting that there are simply no clear boundaries between the natural zones (as shown on the map). So, almost every zone smoothly "flows" into the next. Moreover, border “zones” can very often be formed at the junction. For example, semi-desert or forest-steppe zones are such.
Conclusion
So, we found out that the formation of natural zones depends on many factors. The main ones are the ratio of heat and moisture in a particular territory, the properties of the prevailing air masses, the nature of the relief, the structure of soils, and so on. The set of these factors is the same for any territory: the mainland, country or small area.
Geographers distinguish over a dozen large natural zones on the surface of our planet, which are elongated in the form of belts and replace each other from the equator to the polar latitudes.