Which of the following influences climate zones?

The correct answer highlights the significant role of global weather patterns and climate influences in shaping climate zones. Climate zones are primarily determined by a combination of factors, including latitude, elevation, and the prevailing winds that result from global atmospheric circulation. These global patterns, such as the Gulf Stream or the trade winds, influence temperature and precipitation distribution across different regions, leading to the establishment of distinct climatic zones.

While local geographic features, such as mountains and bodies of water, certainly have a localized impact on climate, they do so within the broader framework established by global patterns. Human activity and urban development can affect local climates, such as through the urban heat island effect, but they do not create or define climate zones on a global scale. Seasonal changes in temperature play a role in short-term weather variations, but they do not change the fundamental characteristics of the climate zones that are influenced more by longer-term global processes.

In summary, understanding climate zones requires recognizing the overarching influence of global weather patterns and climate systems, which far exceed the effects of localized features or seasonal variations.