Mediterranean climate description and characteristics. Arid tropical climate

Mediterranean climate. Mediterranean is a subtropical summer dry climate. It is the most important horticultural area. It is characterized by dry, warm to hot summers and mild winters with adequate rainfall. Frequent fogs maintain the humidity to some extent in summer. Summer seasons are hotter in inland areas than in coastal areas. Due to pleasant mild winters, clear, sunny weather and strong horticultural associations, this area is one of the most famous climatic zones. The Mediterranean region, central and coastal California, central Chile, and the southern tip of South Africa and parts of southern Australia make up less than 2% of the land mass. However, this climate zone provides most of the world's horticultural products, especially subtropical crops (citrus fruits, figs, dates, grapes, olives).[ ...]

MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE. According to Koeppen - a type of moderately warm and humid climate with hot and dry summers and rainy winters: Sat. Observed in typical form along the coasts mediterranean sea, as well as inside California, in the south of Australia and Africa, on the southern coast of Crimea and in the north of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.[ ...]

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by relatively hot and dry summers and rainy and mild winters. Such a situation is created on the western coasts of the continents, which are in the zone of subtropical anticyclones in summer, and in winter, when the latter move south, in the western transport zone with polar frontal cyclones. The waters and shores of the Mediterranean Sea are considered to be the standard - hence the name of this subtype of climate is given. Other areas of distribution of the Mediterranean climate are the Pacific coasts in the southwestern United States, southwestern Australia, Chile. In the USSR, the Mediterranean climate is developed on the southern coast of Crimea. Here, under the protection of low mountains, the Mediterranean climate is pushed unusually far to the north (up to 44.5 ° N).[ ...]

SUBTROPIC CLIMATES. These include: the Mediterranean climate, the climate of humid subtropical forests, the climate of subtropical deserts, on the oceans - the trade wind climate.[ ...]

Subtropical Mediterranean climate observed on the Black Sea coast Krasnodar Territory. It is characterized by moist warm winter(0...5°С) and dry warm summer(22...24°С). The annual amount of precipitation is 600.. .800 mm.[ ...]

In areas with a monsoon climate, rain floods cover all warm time year, including spring and summer (rivers Far East). On the rivers of central Europe, southern Scandinavia and North America(USA), central and northern parts In Asia Minor and along the southern coast of the Caspian, rain floods occur in spring. Autumn floods are characteristic of the rivers of the equatorial zone (the Amazon in its lower reaches, its right and left tributaries, the rivers Nile, Niger, etc.). In winter, high water is observed in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Areas with increased winter runoff include Southern and Western Europe, Southwestern Asia, Western and Southern Australia, New Zealand, North Africa (Algeria), the Pacific coast of South and North America.[ ...]

The genus includes 3 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees with beautiful flowers distributed in areas with a Mediterranean climate from southern Europe and North Africa to Japan. The species described here is widely cultivated both in rooms and in gardens in southern Europe and America.[ ...]

Such an increase is inferior to the increase in improved black alder stands in Italy, where they receive up to 25 m3 per year per 1 ha, but it exceeds the increase in German black alder plantations of quality I by 1.5 times. If we take into account the difference between the continental climate of the Kharkiv region. and the mild Mediterranean climate of Italy, then an increase of 11 m3 per year per 1 ha must be considered extremely high.

The climate is warm, the average temperature of the coldest month of the year is 0 0 С, the warmest is +22+28 0 . Summer is hot, dry, sometimes the temperature reaches +42-+45 0 C, due to hot winds (sirocco, mistral) from the deserts of North Africa.

Savanna climate

Savannahs are distributed over a large area of ​​tropical Africa and South America, in Hindustan from its southern edge to 22 0 south. sh., on the island of Ceylon, the central part of Myanmar, Indochina, the northern part of Australia, the Hawaiian Islands.

Savannah is a tropical forest-steppe. At the beginning of the rainy period, a powerful grass cover develops here. Among the vegetation there are also trees (evergreens that drop their leaves in the dry season), but they do not form large arrays.

In winter, dry continental tropical air prevails, which is brought by trade winds, and in summer - wet air from the equator. Therefore, in summer, humid weather with heavy precipitation, the highest average monthly temperature of +25 ... +30 0 С, and dry weather in winter, the lowest average monthly temperature of +15 ... +18 0 С, are often observed.

The climate of the deserts of the subtropical and tropical zones

A significant variety of natural conditions of different deserts is united by their climatic extremeness for human life, characterized mainly by the predominance of sunny, clear, dry and extremely hot weather throughout most of the year. Even the average temperatures of the summer months exceed +25...+30 0 C, and daytime temperatures in the shade can reach +40...+50 0 C.

The deserts of the subtropical and tropical zones are located in places where air masses saturated with moisture rarely reach. Continental tropical air, coming here with the trade winds, loses moisture before reaching the deserts. This zone includes the deserts of the Sahara, Libyan, Nubian, Namibi, Kalahari and others (Africa), as well as the deserts of Arabia, South America, and the central part of Australia. Characteristic for them are the complete absence of cloudiness, a large amount of solar radiation, high temperature of dry soil and air, dryness and high evaporative power of air, limited or complete absence of water resources.

The average annual air temperature in deserts exceeds +18 0 С, in some places it reaches +25 0 С and higher. In summer, the average monthly air temperature is +28 ... +37.5 0 С, and the most warm month usually +32...+36.5 0 С, it can reach +40 0 . Daytime air temperature is often +40...+45 0 and even +50 0 C (Sahara, Death Valley). The maximum average monthly air temperature that was observed reached +49 0 С, the absolute maximum air temperature in the shade +55...+63 0 С (Somalia, Africa). During the day, the temperature of the soil surface rises to +80 0 С, and at night, with a usually cloudless sky, the air and soil temperature drops to +10 ... +1 0 С. In winter, the average monthly air temperatures are about +10 0 С.

Tropical rainforest climate

The humid climate of the tropics is common in Equatorial Africa, South America, in some places in Central America, on the western coast of Indochina, the southwestern coast of India, the Malay Peninsula, the Philippine Islands, New Guinea and others. It is most typically expressed in the Congo and Amazon basins. The climate is hot and humid. The average annual temperature is very high (+24...+29 0 С). An important feature of the climate is that the average monthly temperature throughout the year is monotonous, with a small difference between the warmest (+27...+28 0 С) and the coldest (+24...+25 0 С) months. Humidity reaches 70-80% or more. At high radiation temperatures and low air mobility in tropical forests The body's heat transfer mechanisms are under great physiological stress.

Subtropical Mediterranean climate within Southern continents. Geography, formation factors, main parameters.

The Mediterranean climate is one of the varieties of the subtropical climate, characteristic of the Mediterranean region. It is also characteristic of most of California, parts of Southern and Western Australia, Central Asia and Chile. Most common on the western coast of the continents, between latitudes 30° and 45° north and south of the equator.

The Mediterranean climate is most typical on the coasts and inland parts of the Mediterranean Sea, which is why it got its name. In Asia Minor, the Mediterranean climate includes the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, Cyprus, the Mediterranean coast of Syria, Lebanon, the northern and central parts of Israel, the Libyan coast of Cyrenaica, the coast of Libya from Sirte to the border with Tunisia, almost all of Tunisia (except the south), Algeria to the north of Saharan Atlas and Morocco north of the High Atlas.

In addition to the Mediterranean basin, regions with a Mediterranean climate include: the Western Cape province in South Africa, central Chile, coastal regions in southern Western Australia (Perth area) and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.

On land, the Mediterranean climate passes with increasing latitude (closer to the poles) into zones of an oceanic or coastal climate, which is characterized by abundant summer rains, and with a decrease in latitude (closer to the equator) - into arid (in summer) steppes with infrequent rains in winter time.

In Perth, Australia, summers are hot and dry (average daily high of 30°C, 34 mm of precipitation in December-February) and winters are wet and cool (average daily maximum of 18°, 450 mm of precipitation in June-August). This is a typical example of the Mediterranean climate.

In the summer, regions with a Mediterranean climate are dominated by pocket high pressure zones, in which dry air sinks onto a layer of sea air with variable humidity, while precipitation becomes impossible or unlikely, except for occasional thunderstorms. In winter, the circumpolar atmospheric masses and the periodic storms associated with them reach the low latitudes of the Mediterranean zones, bringing rain with them, and snow in mountainous regions. As a result, areas with such a climate receive almost all of the annual precipitation in winter, while in summer there may be no significant precipitation for 2-5 months. The average annual rainfall is 700-800 mm.

In all regions with a Mediterranean climate, winters are relatively mild. Short-term cold snaps, sometimes reaching small frosts or snowfalls, nevertheless, occur in all regions, but this happens everywhere quite rarely. Summer temperatures are also high in most cases, as clear weather dominates, but fluctuates depending on the region. For example, Athens in Greece experiences very high summer temperatures in summer, while San Francisco has cooler summers due to upwelling of cold water masses along the coast. Because all Mediterranean regions are near large bodies of water, temperatures are generally moderate with relatively little difference between winter minimum and summer maximum (although diurnal temperature differences in summer can be large if the area is not located directly on the coast). Winter temperatures tend to rarely drop below freezing and snow rarely falls at sea level, but the surrounding mountains often experience snowfall due to the high humidity.

Regularities of formation and climate types of tropical zones of the Southern continents.

Africa.

The main part of the mainland is located between the tropics, receives a large amount of solar heat throughout the year and gets very warm, especially in the northern, more massive part. north trade wind moves from 25°N. towards the equator in the form of three main streams of heated air with relative humidity from 30 to 15%. In the greater eastern part, this so-called Egyptian current of a northeastern direction penetrates to the northern part of the Congo basin, without crossing the equator. To the east, the even drier Arabian trade wind operates, capturing the Somali Peninsula and penetrating south of the equator, where it merges with the southeast trade wind, coming from the Indian Ocean along the periphery of the South Indian High.

Large expanses of Africa, especially in the northern hemisphere, are characterized by arid tropical climate .

In the northern hemisphere, the hot dry tropical climate is characteristic of the Sahara. In summer, the surface of North Africa becomes very hot and the northeast trade wind rushes there, bringing air with a relative humidity of 15-30%. In winter, an anticyclonic regime is established over North Africa, therefore, throughout the year, conditions over the Sahara do not favor precipitation. The dryness of the air and extremely low cloudiness, combined with the almost complete absence of vegetation, create conditions for sharp daily temperature fluctuations. Evaporation is about 20-25 times higher than actual evaporation.

The climate along the coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is also extremely arid. The winter northeast trade wind, sweeping over the Red Sea, is almost not saturated with moisture and gives only a little precipitation on the coast itself. The summer monsoon, which brings precipitation to the Sudan region, leaves a huge amount of moisture on the western and southwestern slopes of the Ethiopian highlands. On the east coast, it penetrates in the form of a hair dryer and does not give precipitation. Therefore, on the shores of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are some of the hottest and driest regions of the Earth.

In the southern hemisphere, an arid tropical climate is characteristic of the Kalahari Basin, but the amount of precipitation there is slightly higher than in the Sahara, due to the southeast trade wind blowing from the Indian Ocean.

This trade wind brings a particularly large amount of precipitation to the coast of the Mozambique Channel and the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains. In this regard, on the eastern edge of the tropical belt of the southern hemisphere in Africa, area of ​​humid trade wind climate.

For the western margins of the mainland in the tropical zone of the northern and southern hemispheres, where the effect of the eastern periphery of the Atlantic highs is felt near the coast, it is typical coastal desert climate. The prevailing winds blowing towards the equator create streams of relatively cold water on the surface of the ocean - the Benguela and Canary cold currents. The cooled air of the eastern periphery of the Atlantic highs that forms above them flows onto the heated surface of the continent, creating a temperature inversion. The air coming from the ocean contains a significant amount of water vapor, but during inversion, the condensation of these vapors does not occur and there is very little precipitation, although the relative humidity of the air is high. Temperatures are low (monthly averages are typically below 21°C) and diurnal amplitudes are less significant than in continental deserts. Rains in the southwestern part of Africa (Namib Desert) fall even less often than in the Sahara, but there are often abundant dews and fogs, the moisture of which is absorbed by some plants. Humidity and stuffiness of the coastal deserts are more difficult for a person to endure than the dry scorching heat of the continental desert.

South America.

within the limits tropical climate zone South America is only included in the southern hemisphere. The east and southeast of the Brazilian Highlands are located in a humid trade wind climate, where rainfall throughout the year brings tropical air currents from the Atlantic. Rising up the slopes of the mountains, the air leaves a large amount of moisture on the windward side. In terms of precipitation and humidity, this climate is close to the climate of the Amazonian lowland, but is characterized by more significant temperature differences between the hottest and coolest months.

In the interior parts of the mainland within the tropical zone (Gran Chaco Plain), the climate is arid, with a summer maximum of precipitation and a pronounced dry winter period. In terms of precipitation, it is close to subequatorial, but differs from it in sharp temperature fluctuations, especially in winter, lower annual precipitation and insufficient moisture.

Coast Pacific Ocean between 5 and 30° S characterized climate of coastal deserts and semi-deserts. This climate is most pronounced in the Atacama Desert, which is influenced by the eastern periphery of the Pacific High and temperature inversions created by the constant influx of relatively cold air from high latitudes and the cold waters of the powerful Peru Current. With a relative humidity of up to 80%, very little precipitation falls - in some places only a few millimeters per year. Some compensation for the almost complete absence of rain is the abundant dew that falls on the coast in winter. The temperature of even the hottest months rarely exceeds 20 °C, and seasonal amplitudes are small.

Monsoonal winds blow from the side of the South Atlantic High towards the heated mainland, bringing rain to the southeastern outskirts of the Brazilian Highlands and the La Plata Lowland. Most of west coast, starting from 30° and almost to the equator, is influenced by the eastern periphery of the South Pacific High and receives no precipitation.

Australia.

tropical belt characterized in Australia by the predominance of arid conditions. The eastern part of the tropical belt, i.e. the coast and the East Australian mountains, except for the north and southeast, are under the influence of the western periphery of the South Pacific High and the trade winds throughout the year and have a uniformly humid climate. Precipitation in eastern Australia is abundant throughout the year. There is no dry period, but there is much more precipitation in summer than in winter. This is due to the fact that the activity of the southeast trade wind, which brings precipitation, is much more intense in summer than in winter. The amplitudes of temperature fluctuations are more significant than in the north of Australia. The mountainous terrain also influences the climate.

In the interior of the mainland, continental tropical air dominates throughout the year and annual precipitation does not exceed 250 mm. Relative humidity is 30-40%, and annual and especially daily temperature amplitudes are very large (the latter can reach 35...40 °C). In winter, there are sharp cold snaps associated with the penetration of cold air masses from the south. Frosts on the soil surface reach -5 °C.

In the formation of the climatic conditions of Australia, the role of the Pacific Ocean is great with the system of trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres existing above it, as well as the continental masses of Australia and Asia itself, which noticeably cool in winter and warm up strongly in summer.

Patterns of formation and types of climate in the subtropical belts of the southern continents.

Africa.

Subtropical climate belts cover the extreme north and south of Africa. In the northwest and southwest of the mainland, there are areas of subtropical climate with dry summers. At this time, the outskirts of Africa, located in subtropical latitudes, fall under the influence of tropical anticyclones with a stable state of the atmosphere, high temperatures and lack of rain. AT winter period cyclonic activity dominates and precipitation falls. The northwest of Africa is characterized by greater seasonal temperature differences than the southwest. On the Mediterranean coast, the average July temperature reaches 27 ... 28 ° C, and the average January temperature is 11 ... 12 ° C. On the Cape coast, the average temperature of the warmest month does not exceed 21 ° C, and the coolest 13 ... 14 ° C.

The subtropical climate of southeast Africa is characterized by a uniform distribution of precipitation throughout the year. In winter, they are associated with western transport, and in summer, winds from the Indian Ocean blow on the entire southeast coast, leaving a significant amount of moisture on the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains.

subtropical high northern hemisphere shifts to the Mediterranean Sea and Southern Europe, capturing only the extreme north-west of Africa. In connection with strong heating over the northern part of Africa, an area of ​​low pressure is formed, extending to the equator. South Africa, together with neighboring oceans, is included in the baric maximum zone of the southern hemisphere

The South Indian High in January is strongly shifted to the south. It captures the extreme south of Africa and gives rise to the southeast trade wind, which brings abundant rainfall from the Indian Ocean to the eastern slopes of the high uplands of Africa. The amount of precipitation decreases sharply when moving inland, reaching a minimum in the central part of the Kalahari.

South America.

South of 30°S South America is within subtropical climate zone.

The southeast of the mainland (the southern outskirts of the Brazilian Highlands, the basin of lower Uruguay, the interfluve of the Parana and Uruguay, the eastern part of the Pampas) is characterized evenly humid subtropical climate. In summer, northeast monsoon winds bring moisture, in winter precipitation falls due to cyclonic activity along the polar front. Summers in these areas are very hot, winters are mild, with average monthly temperatures around 10°C, but temperatures drop well below 0°C due to intrusions of relatively cold air masses from the south.

The inland regions of the subtropical belt (Western Pampa) are characterized by arid subtropical climate. Little moisture from the Atlantic Ocean gets there, and precipitation (not more than 500 mm per year) that falls in summer is mainly of convective origin. Throughout the year, there are sharp fluctuations in temperature and frequent drops below 0 °C in winter, with average monthly temperatures of 10 °C.

On the Pacific coast from 30 to 37 ° S.l. climate subtropical, dry summer. Under the influence of the eastern periphery of the Pacific High, summer there is almost rainless and not hot (especially on the coast itself). Winter is mild and rainy. Seasonal temperature amplitudes are insignificant.

In subtropical and temperate latitudes ah the southern hemisphere dominateswestern carryand cyclonic rains fall.

Australia.

The extreme south of Australia, northern Tasmania and the North Island of New Zealand are located within subtropical climate zone. In the southwest of the mainland, precipitation occurs almost exclusively in winter, and their amount decreases from west to east. During the summer, the area is affected South Indian High. Temperature conditions, especially in summer, are very unstable. Usually, abrupt changes in temperature depend on the penetration of very warm air from the north, which sometimes raises the temperature to 40 ° C, but often these warm air currents are replaced by cold and humid southerly winds.

In southeastern Australia, northern Tasmania and New Zealand, the climate is uniformly humid, with a maximum of precipitation in summer; they are brought by east and northeast winds directly from the sea. In winter, precipitation is associated with the polar front. This area differs from the tropical one mainly by the lower average winter temperature (5 ... 10 ° C). In the mountains there are frosts down to -20 °C. The extreme south of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand in July fall under the impact of the mid-latitude circulation, westerly winds bring a significant amount of precipitation to all these areas. Snow falls in the highlands of southeastern Australia and the islands.

Patterns of climate formation in the subequatorial and equatorial territories of the southern continents.

South America.

An important factor in climate formation in South America is its orography.

Air currents coming from the Atlantic Ocean freely penetrate westward up to the foot of the Andes. In the west and partly in the north, the Andean barrier influences the air currents coming from the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Great value also currents Atlantic and Pacific Oceans off the coast of the mainland. The Guiana and Brazilian branches of the South Trade Wind Current in the Atlantic Ocean create a winter positive anomaly of the order of 3 °C off the coast of South America. The Peruvian cold current in the Pacific Ocean, penetrating almost to the very equator, carries masses of cold water from Antarctica to the north and reduces the temperature in the equatorial zone by 4 °C compared to the average value for these latitudes.

The most important type of atmospheric circulation for much of South America is trade wind circulation both hemispheres. Along the western periphery of the Atlantic highs, masses of relatively humid tropical air are carried out, which transforms, moving deep into the mainland and giving up a significant part of its moisture to the marginal uplifts of the Brazilian and Guiana highlands.

A distinctive feature of the subequatorial climate - seasonality in the distribution of precipitation - is quite clearly expressed in this territory. In the southern hemisphere - in the Brazilian Highlands, in the south of the Amazonian lowland and in the lower reaches of the Amazon - the period of rains associated with the action of the equatorial monsoon lasts approximately from December to May, and its duration increases towards the equator. In the north, the rainy season lasts from May to December. In winter, during the action of the trade winds, precipitation does not fall. Only in the northern segment of the coastal part of the Brazilian Highlands, where the trade winds, coming from the warm ocean, meet mountains on their way, does it rain even in winter.

Africa.

subequatorial belt in North Africa it extends north to 17°N. In the southern hemisphere, the subequatorial climate zone does not reach the Atlantic Ocean, but extends to the south almost to 20°S. In the summer, each hemisphere is dominated by the monsoon, which brings humid equatorial air and heavy rainfall. In winter, the subequatorial belt is under the influence of the trade wind, which brings masses of dry tropical air. This is a period of complete absence of rain and very low relative humidity. The duration of the wet period, annual precipitation and moisture within the belt vary from the equator towards the tropics and from west to east. From the equator to the tropics, the duration of the wet period gradually decreases from 10 to 2-3 months. Rainfall decreases from west to east due to the weakening of the monsoon. The most arid regions within the subequatorial zone of the northern hemisphere are located on the Somali peninsula, which is barred from the equatorial monsoon by the Ethiopian highlands, and in the northern part of Sudan, on the border with the tropical zone. Temperatures in the subequatorial zones are high during most of the year, but the annual differences are more pronounced than in the equatorial zone. The hottest time is at the beginning of the rainy season, when the average temperature exceeds 30°C. However, even in the coolest months, the average temperature never falls below 20°C.

equatorial belt climate includes most of the Congo River basin (Zaire) on both sides of the equator (5 - 5 ° N and S), as well as the territory along the Gulf of Guinea up to 7-8 ° N. sh. Rains fall evenly throughout the year, but most of all they fall in spring and autumn, during the zenithal position of the sun. Precipitation is 1500-3000 mm. The subequatorial belt in Africa in the northern and southern hemispheres has a different strike. In the Northern Hemisphere, this belt stretches from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, up to about 17°N. sh. But in southern Africa, this climatic zone does not fit the Atlantic Ocean, and when moving south it occupies an area up to 20 ° N. sh. General pattern This climate is the seasonal change of air masses: in the summer of both hemispheres, equatorial air dominates, which is brought by the equatorial monsoon, which gives heavy rainfall. The amount of precipitation is especially high on the slopes of the mountains facing the prevailing southwestern winds from the ocean. In winter, the region falls under the influence of the trade wind, which brings hot and dry air from vast areas of the tropical belt. This season is characterized by lack of rain and low humidity. The temperature in the subequatorial zone is high during most of the year, but the annual differences there are much more significant than in the equatorial zone. The duration of the wet season here is about 10 months, however, when moving from the equator to the tropics and moving from west to east, the time of the wet period decreases to 2-3 months. Where there is movement from the equator to the tropic, the cause is the weakening of the monsoon circulation due to the vast territory, and where from west to east, the monsoon circulation cannot break through the mountain barriers. In the northern hemisphere, on the territory of Sudan, the subequatorial climate is most typically expressed. In the southern hemisphere, the main regularities of the equatorial-monsoon circulation are not so clearly expressed. The southeast trade wind brings a significant amount of moisture from the Indian Ocean, most of which is left on the eastern slopes of the highlands. Some of this moisture also seeps into the interior of South Africa. Therefore, there is not such a sharp contrast in the precipitation regime of summer and winter, as in the north. In the west, up to the equator, the effect of the eastern periphery of the Atlantic anticyclone is felt, and the annual precipitation there is extremely low.

Australia.

The north of Australia is occupied by the subequatorial climatic zone. The entire territory of northern Australia is under the influence of the warm South Equatorial Current. In summer (December-February), the territory is in the zone of distribution of the equatorial air mass, bringing with it rains, and in winter (June-August) - tropical, forming a clear dry weather.

The climate is characterized by a pronounced seasonality, especially on the mainland. Precipitation falls in summer in large quantities. The winter period is dry, but on the islands it is distinctly expressed only on the slopes of the mountains, leeward with respect to the trade wind.

On the windward slopes of the mountains, precipitation also occurs in winter, although their amount is significantly reduced compared to summer. The annual amount of precipitation in areas where there are orographic obstacles in the path of moist winds is exceptionally high. The amplitudes of temperature fluctuations on the mainland are significant, but still, the average temperature of the coolest month is almost never below 20 °C.

The equatorial belt is missing

Comparative analysis of the zone of savannas and light forests of the Southern continents.

Africa. In the cereal savanna, where the rainy season lasts 8-9 months, cereals grow 2-3 m high, and sometimes up to 5 m: elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), bearded vulture with long hairy leaves, etc. Individual trees rise among the continuous sea of ​​​​grasses : baobabs (Adansonia digitata), doom palms (Hyphaene thebaica), oil palms.

To the north of the equator, the cereal savannahs reach approximately 12°N. In the southern hemisphere, the zone of savannas and light forests is much wider, especially off the coast of the Indian Ocean, where it extends in places to the tropic. The difference in moisture conditions in the northern and southern parts of the zone suggests that mesophilic deciduous forests grew in the more humid northern regions, while xerophytic light forests with a predominance of representatives of the legume family (Brachystegia, Isoberlinia) occupied only the southern regions of their modern distribution. To the south of the equator, this plant formation was called the "miombo" woodlands. The expansion of its range can be explained by resistance to fires, high rate of renewal. In eastern South Africa, woodlands occur in combination with other types of vegetation well south of the tropic.

Under grass savannahs and light forests, special types of soils are formed - red soils under savannahs and red-brown soils under forests.

With the reduction of the wet period to 3-5 months and the general decrease in precipitation, the grass cover becomes more sparse and stunted, various acacias predominate in the composition of tree species, low, with a peculiar flat crown (Acacia albida, Acacia arabica, etc.). These are the so-called typical or dry savannas.

In areas with a wet period of 2-3 months, typical savannahs turn into thickets of thorny bushes and hard grasses with sparse sod. These plant communities are called deserted savannas, form a relatively narrow strip north of the typical savannas in the northern hemisphere. This strip expands from west to east in the direction of decreasing annual precipitation.

In the east of the mainland, desert savannahs occupy especially large areas, covering the Somali peninsula and extending to the equator and south of it.

Dry and desert savannahs are characterized by red-brown soil, which differ from the soils of typical savannahs and tropical light forests by a weaker leaching regime and a somewhat higher content of soluble compounds.

All types of savannas and tropical woodlands occupy up to 40% of the mainland's surface. There is a point of view that most of the savannahs of Africa arose on the site of exterminated forests and only deserted savannahs can be considered natural.

According to climatic and soil conditions, savannahs are favorable for tropical agriculture. At present, significant areas of savannas have been cleared and plowed up. The most common crops in this zone are cotton, peanut, corn, tobacco, and sorghum.

South America. As the climate changes, i.e. with the advent of the dry season, tropical rainforests are moving into savannas and tropical woodlands. In the Brazilian Highlands, between the savannahs and the tropical rainforest, there is a strip of almost pure palm forests. Savannahs are common in a large part of the Brazilian Highlands, mainly in its interior regions. In addition, they occupy large areas in the Orinok Lowland and in the central regions of the Guiana Highlands. In Brazil, typical savannahs on red ferralite soils are known as campos. Their herbaceous vegetation consists of high grasses of the genera Paspalum, Andropogon, Aristida, as well as representatives of the legume and Compositae families. Woody forms of vegetation are either completely absent, or are found in the form of individual specimens of mimosa with an umbrella-shaped crown, tree-like cacti, spurges and other xerophytes and succulents.

In the dry northeast of the Brazilian Highlands, a significant area is occupied by the so-called caatinga, which is a sparse forest of drought-resistant trees and shrubs on red-brown soils. Many of them lose their leaves during the dry period of the year, others have a swollen trunk in which moisture accumulates, for example, the cottonwort (Cavanillesia platanifolia). The trunks and branches of Caatinga trees are often covered with creepers and epiphytic plants. There are also several types of palm trees. The most remarkable caatinga tree is the carnauba wax palm (Copernicia prunifera), which produces vegetable wax, which is scraped or boiled from its large (up to 2 m long) leaves.

On the Gran Chaco plain, in especially arid regions, on brown-red soils, thickets of thorny bushes and sparse forests. In their composition, two species belong to different families, they are known under the common name "quebracho" ("break the ax"). These trees contain a large amount of tannins: red quebracho (Schinopsis Lorentzii) - up to 25%, white quebracho (Aspidosperma quebracho blanco) - somewhat less. Their wood is heavy, dense, does not rot and sinks in water. Quebracho is heavily cut down. At special factories, tanning extract is obtained from it, sleepers, piles and other items are made from wood, designed for a long stay in water. Algarrobo (Prosopis juliflora) is also found in the forests - a tree from the mimosa family with a twisted trunk and a strongly branching spreading crown. The fine, delicate foliage of the algarrobo leaves no shade. The low tiers of the forest are often represented by thorny shrubs that form impenetrable thickets.

SUTour Kstovo > Country Studies > Climate > Subtropical

The subtropical climate is formed as a transition between temperate and tropical. Depending on the position on the continents in relation to the oceans, the strip formed by it is divided into sectors or regions. The Mediterranean sectors are distinguished, named after the sea, on the shores of which similar climatic conditions, continental inside the continents, and monsoonal in their eastern parts. The full name of the territory's climate consists of the names of the zone and sector in which it is located.

The subtropical Mediterranean climate is one of the best for a beach holiday on the globe. It is characterized by warm, and even hot, long summers, which is good, and cool, rainy winters, which can be tolerated.

According to the science of dynamic climatology, which was initiated by the Russian scientist B.P. Alisov, transitional climatic zones are formed due to a change in the position of the sides of the globe relative to the Sun, which leads to a change in seasons. The subtropical climate zone is tropical in summer and temperate in winter. Therefore, in the summer there are usually areas of high pressure characteristic of the tropics. Clear, dry weather is formed in them, with strong heating of the Earth's surface from the Sun. Daytime air temperatures are kept at +25 +30°С. Ideal for sunbathing and swimming. In the tropics at this time it is even hotter, during the day +35 +40 ° С in the shade. This is already a lot for a vacationing tourist.

In winter, the weather in the subtropical climate zone is typical for a temperate climate. Dominate atmospheric vortices, and cyclones predominate - areas of low pressure with cloudy weather and precipitation. Average air temperatures do not drop below 0°C because the Earth's surface does not have time to cool very much, as happens in most temperate regions.

The described weather changes are typical for the western parts of the continents, the Mediterranean regions of the subtropical climate. annual course air temperatures in other sectors of the same belt are similar, but the humidification regime is different. In the continental region, there is little precipitation even in winter, because air from the ocean rarely reaches it. Summer is hotter because the earth warms up more. This is the case in Turkmenistan, for example.

In the eastern parts of the continents, monsoon circulation is clearly manifested, when in winter the winds blow from land to sea, and in summer from sea to land. Therefore, the winters are dry and the summers are rainy. This is the case in eastern China, for example.

The best subtropical Mediterranean climatic zone for beach tourism includes the following territories:

- the European and Asian coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the seas of the Adriatic, Aegean and others connected with it, the countries of Spain, the south of France, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel;

- part of the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which is closed from the south by the Atlas Mountains, belonging to the countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia;

- part of the Black Sea coast where average winter temperatures are above 0 °, which include Bulgaria, the southern coast of Crimea, Black Sea coast Caucasus, Georgia, Turkey;

– Pacific coast of the USA and southern part of Chile;

- and others.

In Syria and Israel, even in winter it is hot. Where should they be attributed, to the subtropical Mediterranean climate or already to the tropical one? This is how scientists agree.

Climate in tropical and subtropical zones.

They form in areas of dominant tropical air masses.

Continental tropical climate. This climate is observed in North and South Africa, Arabia, most of Australia, in Mexico, in the middle of South America, i.e. in areas on both sides of the equator where there is no change in the monsoon, where tropical air prevails throughout the year. The wind regime in these inland areas is not typical and stable, as it is in the trade winds over the oceans, since these areas can be affected not only by the anti-cycle, which (during the summer months) and diffuse depression.

These areas are tropical desert groups which include Sahara, Arabian Desert, Australian Desert etc.

This is why a tropical continental climate is sometimes called a tropical desert climate. Clouds and rain are very small, the state of radiation of the earth's surface due to dry air and a large surface of the albedo is less than in the equatorial belt.

However, the air temperature is very high because the cost of evaporation is low. Very hot summers average temperature in the hottest months is at least +26°C and sometimes up to +40°C in the tropical desert the highest temperature in the world is from +57+58°C. Winter is warm, with the temperature of the coldest months between + 10 … + 22 ° C.

Oceanic tropical climate. This type of climate determines the properties of maritime tropical air, which is formed in those latitudes of subtropical anticlones, to which the zone of intracontact convergence does not reach a seasonal shift.

On the periphery of the subtropical anticlones facing the equator, a constant trading wind regime with significant weather and climatic conditions prevails throughout the year.

This also includes interior parts of subtropical anti-clones that are close to the terms of trade in terms of temperature and rainfall conditions. Because the oceanic tropical climate lies in the trade winds, it is sometimes called a commercial wind climate.

If the direction of the groove in the bottom layer is away from the component at the equator, t. E. In order to create strong stratification against the temperature gradient of the sea surface and commercial air winds, strong instability develops intense convection.

However, the presence of an anticyclic wind inversion at low altitudes does not allow convection to develop at altitude.

In subtropical latitudes, i.e., in latitudes of the order of 25-40 °, climatic conditions are determined by a pronounced seasonal change in circulatory conditions, the researcher

but a sharp change in the prevailing air masses.

In summer, high pressure zones and polar fronts move to higher latitudes.

In this case, the subtropics capture tropical air from lower latitudes or become centers of tropical air masses. Due to the mixing of subtropical anticlones with high latitudes, the pressure in the subtropical waters of the oceans increases in the summer months. It travels down the earth because low pressure areas called thermal depressions appear in the summer of the earth.

In winter, the polar fronts move to low latitudes, so the subtropics are covered with temperate air.

In this case, cyclone activity spreads across the ocean to the subtropics. On the continents, the pressure in subtropical soils increases in winter, as continental winter anticyclones spread to the subtropical latitudes of cold continents, although cyclone activity is sometimes observed.

Therefore, seasonal differences in weather conditions and, consequently, in climatic conditions.

There are four main subtropical climates: subtropical continental, oceanic subtropical, subtropical west coast or Mediterranean, subtropical east coast or monsoon.

Continental subtropical climate.

In summer, the subtropics within the continents are influenced by low-pressure, diffuse areas of low pressure, the so-called thermal depression. They form masses of continental tropical air with high temperature, low moisture content and low relative humidity.

The weather is cloudy in summer, dry and hot. The average summer temperature is close to +30°C or higher. In winter, cyclone activity extends to these areas, as cyclones often form or polar fronts. Time is unstable, with drastic changes

temperature and precipitation.

The annual rainfall is no more than 500 mm, but sometimes less. This is a region of steppe, semi-desert and desert.

Subtropical climate of the west coast (Mediterranean). In summer, the western shores are continents in the subtropical regions of the eastern periphery of subtropical cyclones or in their ridge.

Clear and dry weather prevails. In winter, polar fonds often occur or occur with cyclonic activity on it and precipitation. Thus, summers in Mediterranean climates are quite hot and dry, while winters are rainy and mild.

Snow can fall every year, but without creating a snow cover. Precipitation is usually not very high. A small amount of precipitation in summer gives a climate characteristic of some aridity. A large amount of precipitation can only occur on the winds of the mountains, for example, on the Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia.

The subtropical climate includes the Western Caucasus, in particular the Kolchish plains, where the special influence of climate is due to the special distribution of land and sea in combination with orography.

Winter here is the warmest on the entire Black Sea coast, and summer is not too hot, but very crowded due to high humidity.

The Mediterranean climate is also observed outside the Mediterranean, creating a similar crossing environment.

Especially on the coast of California, Oregon and Washington in North America, in the middle of Chile, in southern Australia, in the extreme south of Africa (on the Cape Peninsula).

Oceanic subtropical climate. In the subtropical latitudes of the oceans, an anticyclone regime with slight cloudy and dry weather with light winds prevails in summer, and cyclonic activity with rain and strong winds, frequent storms. Annual temperature amplitudes are, of course, less than in the continental, averaging about 10 ° C.

In the eastern parts of the oceans, summers are relatively cool, as higher latitude air currents (along the eastern periphery of the subtropical anticlones) often occur and flow through these cold ocean currents.

Summer in the western regions of the ocean is warmer. In winter, on the contrary, cold masses from the continents (Asia, North America) enter parts of the western ocean, and the temperature is lower than in the east.

There are significant climate change on the western and eastern edges of temperate continents.

The climate of the western coasts, which are subject to the dominant influence of maritime air masses, varying from the sea to the continental; It is often called the sea. On the eastern shores there is a monsoon type of climate, especially in Asia.

In the temperate zone B.

P. Alisov defines the following four types of climate: continental, maritime climate of the western parts of the continents, monsoon atmosphere eastern parts continents and ocean climate.

East coast subtropical climate (munsun).

On the eastern edge continents in subtropical regions we see monsoon climate. In winter, these areas are affected by cold northwesterly air currents from the continent; In the southeast currents, air from the ocean falls out in summer. The annual course of precipitation contrasts with the Mediterranean type. In winter, the weather is clear and dry; In summer, on the contrary, heavy cyclones fall into a cyclone, partly partly convective, partly frontal. An important role is played by the orographic increase in precipitation on the slopes of the wind.

Precipitation is usually plentiful, so the type of climate is characterized by richly developed forest. broadleaf trees with undulating and climbing plants (vines, ivy).

Snow falls, but the snow cover does not hold.

Climate of the temperate zone.

In temperate latitudes, large weather differences in radiation conditions are observed.

In summer, the radiation balance of the lower surface is large and in areas with little

air masses from the Pacific Ocean, deserts and steppes predominate, in the east - deciduous.

North of most of Canada is taiga, which is especially far north of Alaska. Respectively climatic climate also spreads.

Subtropical oceanic climate

Give some information about some stations.

specific type continental climate- the climate of mountainous regions with a moderate width. In the mountainous regions of the Tien Shan, precipitation is more extensive than in the Turan lowland and the Pamirs. Under favorable conditions, they can exceed 2000 mm; precipitation from west to east. Temperatures are naturally lower than in the lowlands.

Temperature regime in high mountains Sayan and Altai is very diverse and depends on the height and topography. Precipitation is important on windy slopes (up to 1500 mm and higher in western Altai), and small on southern slopes and indoors (less than 200 mm in Altai).

In the Sayans, on the western and northwestern slopes, the annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm. Therefore, a large snow cover accumulates on the slopes of the wind, and the snow line decreases.

Continental climate of temperate latitudes. This type of climate exists on the continents of Eurasia and North America. It is characterized warm summer and cold winters with stable snow cover. The annual temperature amplitude is high and grows by moving away during inner part continent.

Moisture conditions vary from south to north and from west to east.

In the southern part of the temperate latitudes of Eurasia, winter is dominated by high pressure. On climatic maps, in these latitudes, there is the center of the famous winter Asian anticyclone with an ascent to the southern part of Europe. Therefore, winter precipitation is low and decreases with distance to the interior of the continent. Because of this, the snow cover is low, in Transbaikalia, not far from the center of the anticyclone, despite the very harsh winter, it reaches insignificant values.

Education

Subtropical climate in the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa and Russia. Features of the subtropical climate

The subtropical climate zone is located between thirty and forty degrees south and north of the equator. In some places, it can go even higher, but these are exceptions caused by the features of the relief and other factors.

The belt is located between the temperate and tropical climate zones, which has a significant impact on it. It is believed that in the regions the globe it was with such conditions (since they are the most comfortable for living and agriculture) that the birth of mankind took place.

Geography

As mentioned above, the subtropical belt runs relatively close to the equator.

Subtropical Mediterranean climate for a beach holiday

Therefore, it is not surprising that the climate within its limits is very warm. It is typical for the following regions of the Earth: the Mediterranean, the north of New Zealand, almost completely the United States of America, as well as the south of Australia and southern part Russia. It is also found in certain regions of Africa and Asia (for example, in Japan).

Features and types

As the main type of subtropical climate, the Mediterranean is usually distinguished.

It is typical for the western coasts of the continents. There is also a monsoon subtropical. It is distributed mainly on the east coast.

Subtropics of Africa also have their own characteristics. As the name implies, a typical Mediterranean subtropical climate is typical for areas adjacent to the sea of ​​the same name. It also occurs in some parts of the United States, such as California.

Basically, this is the coast of such seas as the Aegean, Black, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Azov, and also Marmara.

The distinctive features of the subtropical climate are warm (often hot) dry summers. This is primarily due to the hot air that comes from the tropics. It seems to “hang” over the wet sea, and makes the probability of precipitation almost zero.

Winters are cool, with significant precipitation. And this is due to the northern air masses. They come from temperate latitudes, and, cooling in the south, fall in the form of rain and sleet.

But this is typical, rather, for the coast. Inside the continents, there is little precipitation even in winter. The latter often fall in the form of snow in the subtropics, but no cover is formed. There are, of course, anomalies.

average temperature in summer in the subtropical zone 30-35 degrees above zero. In winter, at night, however, it can drop to minus four. Despite this, temperature differences are relatively small.

Let's not forget about the difference in seasons in the hemispheres.

And if in the north the coldest time is January and February, then in the south it is July and August. The same can be said about summer.

Related videos

Subtropical climate in Russia

In this area are the North Caucasian republics, the Lower Volga region, as well as the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

On the administrative map of Russia, they are all included in the Southern Federal District. In addition, these are the so-called subtropics of Russia.

The climate here, however, is different. And the reason for this is the high Caucasus mountains. In winter, they do not let the winds that blow from Kazakhstan and Georgia. So at this time in the Lower Volga region dominated by air masses coming from other places.

In summer, the Caucasus also retains moisture from the Atlantic, due to which a significant amount of precipitation falls on its foothills.

The same is happening in the Crimea. The lowest precipitation falls on the Lower Volga region and the Don basin - from about 200 to 300 millimeters a year. And most of them are in the Sochi region - more than 2000 mm.

For southern regions Russia is characterized by long, warm summers and short, not cold winters.

In some places, the latter is completely absent. So, there is practically no climatic winter in Sochi and in the southern part of Crimea.

The temperature regime is different for coastal zones and areas located inland. So, in winter, the temperature of the coldest month in the north ranges from eight to three with a minus sign. In the more southern republics and on the coast at this time it is not lower than -1 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures also vary in summer. High in the mountains in July, on average +15. AT Krasnodar Territory the temperature this month is already from +21 to +24.

The hottest thing at this time is in the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions. The air there warms up to plus 24-27 degrees Celsius on average. These are the subtropics of Russia.

mediterranean

Countries and regions with such a subtropical climate are characterized by classic hot summers with low rainfall and warm winters. Snow falls only in the mountains. In general, in summer precipitation may be absent for up to five months. They fall no more than 800 millimeters a year, depending on the region.

Temperatures are generally high in summer.

And only in places it is reduced by sea air. The temperature in winter rarely drops below zero.

Africa

The north and southwest of the continent is characterized by a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and wet winters.

Here the average annual temperature plus twenty. For example, on the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea, this figure is +28 and +12 degrees Celsius, respectively, for July and January.

But in these places, temperature fluctuations over the seasons are more noticeable. Monsoons are already in the southeast. In summer, they draw in moisture from the Indian Ocean. The Dragon Mountains stand in her way. Therefore, it is rainy here all year round, and the climate is subtropical humid.

There is also a lot of precipitation at the southern and northern ends of the mainland.

In the first case, their peak occurs in the winter, in the second - in the summer.

Asia

Here the subtropical climate is presented in several variations.

This is the Mediterranean - on the coast of Asia Minor. Moreover, its main features are the same: hot and dry summers plus wet winters. There is little precipitation on the plains, but in the mountains up to three thousand millimeters a year. In the east, there is a subtropical monsoon climate. Its zone includes some of the Japanese islands, part of China and South Korea.

Here precipitation is more evenly distributed within the calendar year. However, most of them will fall in warm weather. These areas have hot summers and rather cool winters. The latter is connected with the continental monsoon, which drives Siberian cold masses here.

But for the central part of Asia Minor, the climate is rather subtropical continental.

In some areas, annual temperature fluctuations reach ninety degrees. This is observed, for example, in the Near Asian highlands. It is very cold there in winter, and in summer the air warms up, as in the tropics.

Moreover, there is very little precipitation: from 100 to 400 millimeters will fall in a year, depending on the place.

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the subtropical climate is very different. And although it has the main features characteristic of its latitudes, in some places it will seem not at all as comfortable as in the Mediterranean resorts.

Mediterranean climate is ? The climate is mainly determined by its position in the subtropical zone and is distinguished by its great specificity. Thanks to this peculiar specificity, climatologists distinguish it as an independent Mediterranean type of climate. Characteristics of the Mediterranean climate . Characteristic features unique in its kind mediterranean climate are: mild winters and hot dry summers.
In winter, a hollow of low temperature is established over the Mediterranean Sea. atmospheric pressure. This contributes to unstable weather. Heavy rainfall is observed here, accompanied by frequent storms.
Also over mediterranean sea In winter, cold northern winds blow, which significantly lower the air temperature. Above mediterranean sea develop local winds: Mistral wind - in the region of the Gulf of Lion and the forest in the east.
During the summer, most mediterranean sea covers the crest of the Azores anticyclone, as a result of which predominantly clear weather prevails with little cloudiness and low rainfall.
During the summer months over mediterranean sea there are dry fogs and a dusty haze, which is brought from the south wind of the sirocco. In the Eastern Basin mediterranean sea stable northerly winds - etesias - develop.
Mediterranean climate description . The average air temperature over the Mediterranean Sea in January ranges from +14 °C to +16 °C near the southern coasts, in the north the air temperature drops to +7 °C- +10 °C, in August the air temperature in the north fluctuates within - from +22 °C-+24 °C, and in southern regions sea ​​temperature rises to +25 °C-+30 °C. Evaporation of the water surface mediterranean sea reaches 1250 mm per year (3130 km³). Relative Humidity air fluctuates in summer from 50-65%, in winter from 65-80%. In summer, cloudiness over the Mediterranean Sea reaches 0-3 points, in winter - about 6 points.
Based on the above, it is possible describe the mediterranean climate can be as quite conducive to human health.
Mediterranean climate . The average annual rainfall over a fairly large area mediterranean sea is approximately 400 mm (about 1000 km³), the amount of precipitation varies from 1100-1300 mm in the northwest to 50-100 mm in the southeast. The minimum amount of precipitation falls in July - August, the maximum - in December.
Mediterranean climate. Mirages . The warm Mediterranean Sea is characterized by mirages, which are often observed in the Strait of Messina. Such mirages are quite rare and represent a complex optical phenomenon in the atmosphere, which consists of several forms of mirages, where distant objects are repeatedly seen with various distortions.