温帯(おんたい)

温帯(おんたい) is a geographical term for the temperate climate zones, located between the tropics and the polar regions.

Forms

温(おん) (warm) + 帯(たい) (zone, belt)

Common collocations

• 温帯(おんたい)気候(きこう): temperate climate
• 温帯(おんたい)地域(ちいき): temperate region
• 温帯(おんたい)林(りん): temperate forest
• 温帯(おんたい)低気圧(ていきあつ): extratropical cyclone

Climate zones

• 熱帯(ねったい): tropical zone
• 亜熱帯(あねったい): subtropical zone
• 温帯(おんたい): temperate zone
• 寒帯(かんたい): frigid/polar zone

Japan lies primarily in the 温帯(おんたい), which is why it has four distinct seasons (四季(しき)). This is a formal/academic term, commonly found in geography textbooks and weather reports.