Midlatitude Desert Climate (BWk)

Latitude/Longitude = 32.65^o N; 114.6^o W
Average Annual Temperature (^oC) = 22.8
Annual Temperature Range (^oC) = 20.5
Total Annual Precipitation (mm) = 79.3
Summer Precipitation (mm) = 30.6
Winter Precipitation (mm) = 48.7

Semidesert vegetation, Mahoma County, Arizona

Photo Credit: McKee, E.P. 1967, 
USGS Digital Data Series DDS-21. 
Used with permission

Geographic Distribution

• inner Asia

• (interior) western U.S.

Controlling Factors

• Continentality often linked to rain shadow.

• Subtropical high pressure or high pressure ridging.

• cT air mass during summer.

• mTs air masses; cP air masses especially on northern limits.

Characteristics

• Aridity; low relative humidity.

• Irregular rainfall.

• High percentage of sunshine.

• Larger temperature range than Tropical Desert.

• More precipitation than Tropical Desert.