Subtropical

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Subtropical (or semitropical) areas are those adjacent to the tropics, usually roughly defined as the ranges 23.5-40° N and 23.5-40° S latitude. These areas typically have very warm to hot summers, but non-tropical winters. In certain areas of the world the subtropics are plagued by tropical cyclones that originate in the tropics in the summer and fall.

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Definitions in climate classification schemes

In most climate schemes, subtropical climates are a subtype of temperate climates:

Köppen climate classification: Average temperature above 22 °C (72 °F) in their warmest months, a coldest month average between -3 °C (or 0 °C in some variants of the scheme) and 18 °C (27 °F and 64 °F), and wet, humid summers with driest winter month average precipitation greater than one-tenth wettest summer month average precipitation.
Trewartha classification: Eight or more months with mean temperatures of 10 °C (50 °F) or warmer, at least one month averaging colder than 18 °C.
John Griffiths classification: Mean temperature in coldest month between 6 °C (42.8°F) and 18°C (64.4°F)

Note that the Mediterranean climate (with a pronounced dry season in the summer) is subtropical from a thermal standpoint, but its vegetation and seasons are not tropical, as it lacks constant humidity - a pillar of tropical regions.

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