 The amount of solar energy reaching Earth 's surface decreases with increasing latitude . At higher latitudes the sunlight reaches the surface at lower angles and it must pass through thicker columns of the atmosphere . As a result , the mean annual air temperature at sea level decreases by about 0 @.@ 4 ° C ( 0 @.@ 7 ° F ) per degree of latitude from the equator . Earth 's surface can be subdivided into specific latitudinal belts of approximately homogeneous climate . Ranging from the equator to the polar regions , these are the tropical ( or equatorial ) , subtropical , temperate and polar climates . Climate can also be classified based on the temperature and precipitation , with the climate regions characterized by fairly uniform air masses . The commonly used Köppen climate classification system ( as modified by Wladimir Köppen 's student Rudolph Geiger ) has five broad groups ( humid tropics , arid , humid middle latitudes , continental and cold polar ) , which are further divided into more specific subtypes . 
