Earth is divided into three main climatic zones. They are polar zones, temperate zones, and tropical zones. The formation of these climatic zones is a result of some major abiotic factors. These factors include latitude, angle of heating, winds, and ocean currents.
Due to difference in the latitude, earth receives unequal heat. At the tropics, the heat from the sunrays is highest because sunrays hit the place directly. As we move from the temperate and polar regions, the effect of heat decreases as the sunrays hit the earth by making an angle.
Unequal heating of earth’s surface causes the movement of air and ocean currents. In air current, warmer air at the tropics rises up creating a low pressure area which pulls the colder air from the polar region.
Similarly, warm water from the ocean at the tropics rises and pulls the cooler water from the poles towards it. This movement of air and ocean currents also results in determining earth’s major climatic zones.