Mediterranean or Dry Summer 
Subtropical Climate (Csa, Csb)

Latitude/Longitude = 37.45^o N; 122.26^o W
Average Annual Temperature (^oC) = 13.75
Annual Temperature Range (^oC) = 9
Total Annual Precipitation (mm) = 475
Summer Precipitation (mm) = 54
Winter Precipitation (mm) = 421

Small, thick evergreen leaves of the sclerophyll forest combats water loss during the drought conditions of the dry summer found in the Mediterranean climate. The picture depicts a sclerophyll scrub forest in the subalpine zone in New Zealand.

Photo credit: T. Detwyler
Used with permission

Geographic Distribution

• Central California

• central Chile

• Mediterranean Sea borderlands

• Iranian Highlands

• Capetown area of South Africa

• southwestern Australia

Controlling Factors

• West coast location between 30^o and 40^o N and S latitude.

• Alternating between Subtropical High in summer and Polar Front/Westerlies in winter.

• Cyclonic precipitation during the winter.

• Summer air masses: mT_s, cT

• Winter air masses: mT, mP, cP

Characteristics

• Mild, moist winters, hot dry summers inland

• Cool, often foggy coasts

• High percentage of sunshine

• High summer diurnal temperature range

• Frost danger during winter