robert g. bailey developed a biogeographical classification system for the united states in a map published in 1975. bailey subsequently expanded the system to include the rest of north america in 1981, and the world in 1989. the bailey system is based on climate, and is divided into four domains (polar, humid temperate, dry, and humid tropical), with further divisions based on other climate characteristics (subarctic, warm temperate, hot temperate, and subtropical, marine and continental, lowland and mountain).