Vertical Zonality

Vertical zonality is the variation in natural geography based on differences in elevation in mountainous areas. The rapid decrease in temperature and the increases in precipitation and humidity with increasing elevation cause a vertical zoning of mountain climates. Because of this zoning, the physical and geographical elements, such as soil and biology, also vary. Almost every mountainous region has vertical zoning. The vertical zonality is closely associated with the height of the mountains, the orientations of the slopes, and the geographic location. The vertical variations in different locations may have different patterns, ranging from the low latitudes to the high latitudes and from coastal to mountainous areas. These vertical variations are less complicated in most arid regions.