(7) Mediterranean Climate Type (Köppen Csa and Csb)

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This climate IS named after its prototype, the climate zone around the Mediterranean Sea in southeastern Europe 

The mediterranean climate zones comprise very small areas, generally near the sea

  • Parts of Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Syria, Israel, N. Africa

  • S Australia, tip of S Africa

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Mediterranean Climate, Csa; Csb:  Eastern Hem.

Climate #7, the very hard to see "avocado" colored strips are narrow because of precipita- tion inducing mountains immediately interior on these continents' west coasts.  Remem- ber that these climate zones are induced by the warm/hot drying air flows from Subtropical High pressure cells located over the oceans to the west at about 30º Latitude.

Very small mediterranean climate areas in the Western Hemisphere

  • Thin slivers in Chile in S America, and in California and Baja California

Mediterranean Climate, Csa; Csb:  Western Hem.

Climate #7, the very hard to see "avocado" colored strips are narrow because of precipitation inducing mountains immediately interior on these continents' west coasts.  Remember that these climate zones are induced by the warm/hot drying air flows from Subtropical High pressure cells located over the oceans to the west at about 30º Latitude.

Monterey, CA

  • Monterey is an especially moderate mediterranean example, temperature-wise.

  • Annual temperature range = 13° F (7° C); ocean limits the temperature range

  • Precipitation  = 17 in (42 cm), quite dry for so near the sea

  • On the coast, very moderate temperatures, but very dry summers

  • The wonderful "California" climate

Köppen Csb:  Monterey, CA

In Köppen's system, "C" means middle temperature, "s" means a dry summer; "a" means a hot summer.  "b" means a cool summer. Monterrey does not fit the normal scheme of this climate type, being located by the Pacific Ocean.  Interior stations in California's Central Valley show much hotter summers.  Remember that a summer dry season is NOT the norm around the world where wet summers are much more common.  The Pacific/Hawaiian Subtropical High is responsible for the dry summers and hot temperatures.  Winter precip comes from mid latitude cyclones that manage to migrate this far south.

 
Characteristics of mediterranean climates in general

  • Moderate annual temperature range

  • But summers can be quite hot in some locales; winters mild

  • Cooler version along coasts and at northern limits (N Hemisphere)

  • Precipitation pattern is unusual for the world at large

    • Precipitation pattern has an unusual summer drought

    • Summer drought dominated by SubTropical High pressure zone

    • Precipitation comes in the cool season, from cyclonic activity

  • Natural vegetation adapted to drought: brush, oaks

    • Tough, thick-skinned vegetation called schlerophylls, to resist moisture loss: Chaparral in California

    • Eucalyptus in Australia

  • Commercial agriculture with irrigation very important

    • Fruits and vegetables for off-season, northern markets

    • Also citrus, olives, avocados

 Vegetation adapted to low soil moisture and hot temperatures

Vegetation seeks higher-moisture bearing ravines and slopes not facing the Sun with their reduced  evaporation.

 

Eucalyptus from Australia

While these trees are found in California, they are "exotic" plants there.  They are natives of Australia.

 

Citrus and Avocado

These are highly prized commercial crops grown in several mediterranean climate zones of the world.  This is a California example.

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