zone (redirected from incubation zone)

zone [Gr.,=girdle], in geography, area with a certain physical and/or cultural unity that distinguishes it from other areas. The division of the earth into five climatic zones probably originated (5th cent. B.C.) with Parmenides, who recognized a torrid zone (see tropics) and north and south temperate zones and postulated north and south frigid (or arctic) zones; his classification was adopted by Aristotle and is still in use. The zones are based on latitude: the torrid zone lies between 23 1-2°N and 23 1-2°S, the temperate zones between these parallels and the polar circles (66 1-2° N and S), and the frigid zones from the polar circles to the poles. Later geographers, recognizing that climate is affected by such conditions as altitude, distance from water, prevailing winds, and ocean currents, have used other bases for zoning. Most geographers today recognize five major climatic groups, based mainly on the work of the German meteorologist Wladimir Köppen. Two of these groups—the rainy tropics and the dry tropics, which encompass four different climates—together correspond roughly to the former torrid zone. Two humid climate groups of the Köppen system, encompassing six climates, together correspond roughly to the former temperate zones. Köppen's two polar climates correspond roughly to the two former frigid zones. In addition to the five groups encompassing twelve climates, geographers also recognize a series of highland zones where many of the other climates of the world are duplicated. Geographic zones in which people have similar patterns of life are called culture zones or areas (see culture). An example would be the plains area of North America.

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zone

(1) An administrative unit defined in a DNS server. It may refer to a single domain name or a subdomain. See zone file, DNS records and DNS.

(2) A logical subnet in a Fibre Channel SAN network. Zones tie together groups of servers and storage devices for daily processing, but can be dynamically changed as required. For example, in order to enable periodic backups to storage devices outside the individual zones, the zones can be widened on the fly to reach them. See Fibre Channel.

(3) The term can be used for any subdivision of hardware and/or software.

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zone

1. an area subject to a particular political, military, or government function, use, or jurisdiction

2. Geography one of the divisions of the earth's surface, esp divided into latitudinal belts according to temperature

3. Geology a distinctive layer or region of rock, characterized by particular fossils (zone fossils), metamorphism, structural deformity, etc.

4. Ecology an area, esp a belt of land, having a particular flora and fauna determined by the prevailing environmental conditions

5. Maths a portion of a sphere between two parallel planes intersecting the sphere

6. NZ a section on a transport route; fare stage

7. NZ a catchment area for pupils for a specific school

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zone [zōn]

(analytical chemistry)

band

(computer science)

One of the top three rows of a punched card, namely, the 11, 12, and zero rows.

storage area

(crystallography)

A set of crystal faces which intersect (or would intersect, if extended) along edges which are all parallel.

(geography)

An area or region of latitudinal character.

(geology)

A belt, layer, band, or strip of earth material such as rock or soil.

(mathematics)

The portion of a sphere lying between two parallel planes that intersect the sphere.

(mechanical engineering)

In a heating or air-conditioning system, one or more spaces whose temperature is regulated by a single control.

A subdivision of a sprinkler, water-supply, or standpipe system.

(ordnance)

Any tactical area of importance, generally parallel to the front, such as a fortified area, a defensive position, a combat zone, or a traffic-control zone.

An area in which projectiles will fall when a given propelling charge is used and the elevation is varied between the minimum and the maximum; in practice, generally limited to howitzer and mortar firings.

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zone - A logical group of network devices on AppleTalk.