through the year. In these places, there is a hearty daily variation of the weather,
especially in winter as the polar front jet stream forces the clash of tropical and
polar air masses.
Altitudinal Zonation
Applied primarily in Latin America, this term refers to the differentiation of dis-
tinct environmental regions characterized by specialized agricultural production,
based on elevation. Each elevation layer or “zone” is marked by a unique, or
nearly unique, set of agricultural products suited to the growing conditions at that
particular altitude. This structure is most pronounced in countries in the Carib-
bean, Central America, and tropical South America where the local topography
is characterized by coastal lowlands that rise abruptly into mountainous regions
in the interior. The various zones of production are typically referred to by the
Spanish termstierra caliente(hot land),tierra templada(temperate land),tierra
Altitudinal Zonation 11The interaction of major air masses over North America provides the continent with diverse and
sometimes violent weather. (ABC-CLIO)