1. not restricted to or determined by a particular geographic zone or climate; not following the typical pattern of zonal distribution
Usage: geography, ecology
2. (of soil) formed independently of climate and vegetation, primarily by local parent material and topography
Usage: soil science

Examples

• Azonal vegetation can be found in areas where local water conditions override typical climate patterns.
• The mountain's azonal soils developed from the underlying bedrock rather than from regional climate factors.
• Riparian forests are often azonal ecosystems, shaped more by proximity to water than by the surrounding climate zone.
• Azonal soil types may appear in unexpected locations due to unique topographic or geological conditions.
• The researcher studied azonal plant communities that thrived in microclimates unsuitable for the region's typical flora.