Temperate Climates. The Temperate Subclimates

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1 Temperate Climates Introduction Most of the world s population lives in temperate climates because: 1. Most of the land of the world is located in the mid-latitudes. The mid-latitudes are where the temperate climates occur. 2. Many people think of the temperate climate as the just right climate. Not too hot like the tropics, and not too cold like the colder climates. The temperate climates are just right for human comfort and for growing crops that feed large populations. Since the temperate climates cover large areas, there is a wide range of just right areas. For example, when it comes to growing things, one subclimate is just right for grapes and olives, one subclimate is just right for corn, and one subclimate is just right for forest. When you complete this lesson, you will be able to differentiate between humid subtropical, Mediterranean, and marine west coast climates. The Temperate Subclimates The unique feature of temperate climates is that the average temperature of the coldest month is between 27 F and 65 F. The temperate climate is the areas between the low, tropical areas near the equator and the high, polar areas near the poles.

2 Within the temperate climates, there is a lot of variety. The temperate climates include the cool and rainy climates of Oregon, the humid summer and cold winters of Ohio, and the hot, humid summers and mild winters in Georgia. Temperate climates are distinguished by the wet and dry seasons and their summer and winter seasons. The Koeppen Climate Classification System uses the upper case C in each climate code used to refer to the temperate climate. The lowercase letters are used to describe the subclimates: s for dry summer, w for dry winter, f for feucht, a German word meaning moist, year-round precipitation, a for hot summers with the average warmest temperature above 71 F and b for cool summers with the average warmest temperature below 71 F. Humid Subtropical: Cwa and Cfa The entire humid subtropical climate has warm, wet summers. It has hot summer temperatures that average above 71 F. The name subtropical tell you that the climates are almost tropical. It might help to remember that humidity leads to precipitation, Think of hot and muggy.

3 The Cwa humid subtropical climate has dry winters and wet summers. This climate is very close to Tropical Savanna in season and temperature, but is colder and has a wider range of temperatures. The Cfa humid subtropical climate has a wet winter and wet summer seasons. Vegetation in the humid subtropical climate is mixed forest and some grasses. Mixed forest refers to forest that contain coniferous trees, which keep their needles year round, and deciduous trees, that shed their leaves. Pines and cedars are coniferous, while oaks and maples are deciduous. The moist growing seasons and nutrient-rich soil make the humid subtropical areas some of the most fertile in the world. Cities that are humid subtropical are: Atlanta, Georgia; Charleston, S.C. Farming Comparing the map of the locations of the humid subtropical climates to the map of the United States, one can see how much of the farmland is used for crops. Humid subtropical climates have the highest crop production.

4 Marine West Coast The marine west coast climate has wet winter and summer seasons. It also has cool summers, with temperatures averaging below 71 F. The name of the subclimate gives you an idea of its location. This climate is found primarily on the west coasts of continents in mid-latitudes. The water on the windward side of the continent acts as a modifier of temperatures. Normally, temperatures in these ranges would be cooler, but the warm air rising from the ocean waters makes a milder climate. The marine west coast subclimate is farther from the equator than the Mediterranean subclimate, and has coniferous forest vegetation. Cities in the Marine West Coast subclimate are: Edinburgh, Scotland; Bremerhaven, Germany; Salem, Oregon. Forestry: Many marine west coast areas are also logging regions because of their coniferous forest growth. Agriculture: These areas are also home to a lot of non-citrus fruit orchards of the world.

5 Mediterranean Mediterranean areas have wet winters and dry summers. Vegetation in Mediterranean areas is varied. It ranges from scrub to grassland to woodlands. Some people call this kind of vegetation chaparral, a Spanish word that means an area of small evergreen oak trees. The Mediterranean climate occurs around most of the Mediterranean Sea. Athens, Greece is an example of the Mediterranean subclimate. The Mediterranean climate areas have some unique qualities that make them excellent places for growing of grapevines and olive trees. Other crops such as wheat and barley, which do not require a lot of water, can be grown in Mediterranean areas. Mediterranean climate land that has access to water, such as a river or irrigation, can grow a wide variety of crops abundantly.