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Temperate climate

Middle-latitude climates with distinct seasons and moderate temperatures.

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Temperate climate

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These zones have wider temperature ranges and more distinct seasonal changes than tropical climates.[1] Between 23.5° and 66.5° north and south of the Equator, in the middle latitudes, is where temperate climates are found.[1] The Northern Hemisphere contains the largest share of the global population because it has more land and fewer temperature extremes, and most people live in temperate zones.[2]

Quick Facts

Latitudinal range
23.5° to 66.5° N/S
Köppen classification
C (mean coldest month above -3°C but below 18°C)
Subtypes
  • subtropical
  • middle latitude
  • subpolar
Key influences
  • sea currents
  • wind direction
  • continentality
  • altitude
Notable subzones
  • humid subtropical
  • Mediterranean
  • oceanic
  • humid continental
  • subpolar oceanic

Facts from the source article.

Key facts and history

Sea currents, prevailing wind direction, continentality, and altitude all influence temperature changes in temperate climates.[3] These can include subtropical zones and cool temperate zones.[4] Humid subtropical climates have long, hot, humid summers with frequent convective showers.[5] Mediterranean climates have a dry summer and wet winter, the opposite rainfall pattern.[6]

The five main Mediterranean regions are the Mediterranean basin, coastal California, southern and western Australia, the Western Cape of South Africa, and central Chile.[6] Oceanic climates have cool but not cold winters and warm summers, with a relatively narrow annual temperature range.[7] From the Tropic of Cancer (roughly 23.5° north) up to the Arctic Circle (roughly 66.5° north) is the north temperate zone.[8] Smaller climate zones within the temperate region can be created by some classification systems, using criteria like monthly temperature averages, the temperature of the coldest month, and precipitation amounts.[4]

In humid subtropical climates, winter temperatures are usually above freezing and are not severe.[5]

What the research sources say

The "Climate Types for Kids" website describes Mediterranean climate as very pleasant with warm, dry summers and cool, mild winters.[9] That source notes Mediterranean climate is found between 30 and 45 degrees latitude, often on western sides of continents.[9] The WorldAtlas account states that in oceanic climates, the mean temperature of the coldest month is 0 °C or higher, and the warmest month averages below 22 °C.[7] Precipitation in oceanic climates is sufficient, reliable, and evenly distributed throughout the year, with no dry season.[7]

The WorldAtlas account also notes that subtropical highland climates within the tropics have spring-like weather year-round with relatively constant temperatures and no snowfall.[7] The National Geographic Society resource notes that elevation can affect the climate of a tropical region.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Temperate climate" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Weather & Climate Change: Climates around the world", Education Scotland; "Tropics", National Geographic Society, 2011-01-21 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Temperate climate" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cohen, "Hypsographic demography: The distribution of human population by altitude", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 24 November 1998, p. 14009–14014; "Plants of Southern Africa: An Annotated Checklist", National Botanical Institute, January 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Temperate climate" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "What Are the Forty Factors That Influence OurWeather?", Education – Seattle PI, 19 December 2013 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Temperate climate" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "What Are The Four Temperate Climates?", Lisbdnet, 2024-01-30 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Temperate climate" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "humid subtropical climate climatology", Britannica (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Temperate climate" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Climate Types for Kids Mediterranean Climate", www.climatetypesforkids.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. "What Are The Characteristics Of An Oceanic Type Of Climate?", WorldAtlas, 2018-02-05. facts only, no text reused. worldatlas.com
  8. Wikipedia, "Temperate climate" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: McColl, "Encyclopedia of World Geography, Volume 1", Facts on File, 2005, p. 918–919; "Solar Illumination: Seasonal and Diurnal Patterns", Encyclopedia.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  9. "Climate Types for Kids Mediterranean Climate", www.climatetypesforkids.com. facts only, no text reused. climatetypesforkids.com
  10. "Tropics", National Geographic Society, 2011-01-21. facts only, no text reused. education.nationalgeographic.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Temperate climate (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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