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Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate Distinctive climatic type, which occurs around latitude 35° N and 35° S, and which is associated with warm-temperate west coasts. Summers generally are hot and dry, winters mild to cool and rainy. The climate is strongly influenced by westerly airstreams in winter, and subtropical high pressure in summer. In the type area, the Mediter-ranean basin, there is a variety of climatic regimes owing to the complex configuration of seas and mountainous peninsulas in the 3000 km incursion into Eurasia. Annual rainfall is broadly 500–900 mm, but less in more continental locations. Other areas of this type include the coasts of Chile in corresponding latitudes, southern California, south-western Africa, and south-western Australia. Cool ocean currents offshore bring lower temperatures to parts of the Chilean and Californian coasts, but rainfall and temperatures are much affected by the differences of slope and elevation inland.
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mediterranean climate." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mediterranean climate." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Mediterraneanclimate.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mediterranean climate." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Mediterraneanclimate.html |
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Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate The distinctive climatic type which occurs around latitude 35°N and 35°S, and is associated with warm-temperate west coasts, Summers generally are hot and dry, winters mild to cool and rainy. The climate is strongly influenced by westerly air-streams in winter, and subtropical high pressure in summer. In the type area, the Mediterranean basin, there is a variety of climatic regimes owing to the complex configuration of seas and mountainous peninsulas in the 3000 km incursion into Eurasia. Annual rainfall is broadly 500–900 mm, but less in more continental locations. Other areas of this type include the coasts of Chile in corresponding latitudes, southern California, south-western Africa, and south-western Australia. Cool ocean currents offshore bring lower temperatures to parts of the Chilean and Californian coasts, but rainfall and temperatures are much affected by the differences of slope and elevation inland.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mediterranean climate." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mediterranean climate." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Mediterraneanclimate.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mediterranean climate." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Mediterraneanclimate.html |
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