Subtropics - the climatic zone located in the interval between the equatorial tropics and the moderate latitudes of the southern and Northern Hemispheres. Depending on the average annual number and season of falling precipitation, subtropics are divided into:

- Wet. Characterized by year-round abundance atmospheric oyphans Without a pronounced dry season - black Sea coast Caucasus, southeastern regions of China and Japan;

- seasonally wet. They are distinguished by hot and arid summer and rainy, cool winter - Crimea, the Mediterranean zone;

- monsoon. Dominate by eastern coasts continents. Climate feature is dry I. clear weather In winter and abundant precipitation in summer period - North Florida, east End Central China, South Korea, Central Argentina;

- Dry. Roast and long summer and short dry winter - Fergana Valley, Pyrenees, Morocco Mountains.

Mediterranean natural zone is a subzone subtropical belt. Sometimes mediterranean zones Highlight B. separate zones Forest subtropics. Widged in the pool Mediterranean Sea, northern and South America, in the southwest and south of Australia.

In the area of \u200b\u200bthe Mediterranean dominated by the harsh evergreen forests And shrubs typical of which are wide crown, a powerful bark or tube in the stem, tight perennial leaves. The structure of the leaves is as adapted as possible to reduce evaporation: green matte color, shiny wax, high content essential oils. Root system Many trees are able to penetrate the rocks by 10-20 m. The varieties of stone and cork oak grew on the shores of the Mediterranean, 3-4 thousand years ago. Currently such forests frequency. Seats free from crops and plantations cultural plants, occupied mainly trees and bushes are resistant to fires: heather, strawberry tree, wild olives, myrth, pistachios. Shrubs are often collapsed by barbed curly plants. In places, the cutting of the trees grow communities of low shrubs and herbatous plants. Here it grows Kermesum oak - shrub tall up to 1.5 m.

For mediterranean type of soilsFormed with dry forests and shrubs, characterized by high humus content and increased carbonation. In the mountains of the Mediterranean, the soil color changes its color with brown on the coast on the forest brown. Fires, grazing animals, and operation land plots led to the development of the erosion of the soil layer.

Formation mediterranean climate Defended by the Nordic Winds by Alpine and Pyrenean Mountains. Prolonged dry and hot summer is replaced by rainy and cool in winter. The average annual precipitation on the plains is 300-400 mm, in the mountains - comes to 3000 mm. In warm periods there is a significant deficit of moisture. Winter snow cover It is installed only high in the mountains. The growing season is over 200 days. For many areas of the Mediterranean are characteristic local winds - Sirocco, Mistral, Bora, and others.

Subtropical zones such as India Central America, China, Mediterranean - was the place of the origin of the main civilizations on Earth. Favorable conditions To live, still make them the most densely populated areas of the world.

Russians, as residents of the country stretching their for the most part to live in moderate latitudes With continuous cold winter, I like to relax in hot countries, especially where round year summer. When choosing a place of recreation, managers from travel agency Be sure to talk about climate and weather features One or another resort, but for the final decision-making, knowledge of the differences of climatic belts determining the seasons of the year favorable for rest.

Most of the popular resort areas are located in a tropical and subtropical climate. Although both climatic belts belong to the zones of hot climate, they differ in some geographical signs.

How are climatic belts form?

Above the mainland and oceans are formed large air arrays, homogeneous properties. Properties are expressed in the ratio of heat and moisture. If the air mass was formed over a cold mainland, then it will be dry and cold by properties. The ocean satures the atmosphere of moisture. In hot latitudes, the air heats up and loses moisture.

On the globe there is an alternation of warm and cold belts, so aerial masses Also alternate in the direction of the Pole to the Equator. Air massifs, similar to properties, as if they like the planet and determine the type of climatic belt.

Tropical climate is characteristic of tropical breadth, and subtropical for subtropics. By geographic classification, the climate belt in the tropics refers to the main belts, and subtropical - to transition.

The main characteristics of the tropical climate

The tropical climate area is between the equator and the tropical lines in the northern and southern hemisphere. Tropic line is a parallel 23,5 0 , last of the equator, where the solstice is observed 2 times a year.

Tropic zone is geographical latitudes with elevated atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the air is spreading from here to those directions where the pressure is low. For the tropics zone is characteristic permanent traffic The air caused the cause of the formation of winds called the Passat.

Tropics - this territory the highest year-round temperatures, there the thermometer does not fall below +18 0 s during the year, and in the deserts the temperature can reach the mark +50 0 C. The number of precipitation drops over the year is up to 200 mm.

The climatic belt of tropics is divided into two subzones:

  • With tropical dry climates (continental areas of the mainland);
  • With tropical wet climat (Equator Areas at all continents).

Dry subtropics are characteristic of mainland climatic zone, and wet - for oceanic islands. On the mainland of the tropical belt are the most famous extensive deserts World.

The main characteristics of the subtropical climate

Subtropics extend between tropics and latitudes with temperate climates within the borders of parallel 23,5 0 and 45 0 North and South Hemispheres. As for all transitional beltsThe subtropics are characterized by a change of dominant air masses twice a year. As a result of the global circulation of the atmosphere for half a year in the subtropics, air from the north enters, and for the other six months - from the south. So in the northern hemisphere in subtropics in winter comes cold temperate air, and in summer - dry and hot air tropical zone. Seasons of the year are defined as non-flowing winter and tropical summer.

Hence the large seasonal difference of temperature indicators and the amount of precipitation. But the average annual temperature still remains positive and keeps at +14 0 S.

By the degree of moisturizing in the subtropical belt of each mainland, the following subzones are distinguished:

  • Arid (Mediterranean) climate with maximum number sediments in winter and mild summer.
  • Dry subtropics with a small average annual precipitation.
  • Semi-discharge subtropics.
  • Wet subtropics.

Despite the listed internal differences, there is not a single territory among subtropics, according to the characteristics of a similar tropical.

What features are the tropical and subtropical climates

So, two climatic belts are tropical and subtropical, located in the hot land belts, have significant differences.

  1. Geographical position. Each of the climatic belts has a latitudinal position within the boundaries of certain parallels. They do not intersect and do not overlap on each other.
  2. Dominant air massesForming a climatic belt. The climate of the tropical belt form hot and dry over the mainland and wet over the ocean air masses. In the subtropics, moderate and tropical air are very dominant.
  3. Pronounced seasonality. In the tropics there is no pronounced weather seasonality, as the tropical air yearly has same properties. The subtropics expressed warm and cold periods, although with a small temperature difference and positive average annual temperatures.
  4. Permanent winds. For tropics are characterized by trade winds - permanent winds, all year round in the northern hemisphere from the north to the east, and in South - from the north to the west. The cause of their formation is the pressure difference between the tropics and the equator. In subtropics air flow With a constant directional movement are not formed.
  5. Average annual temperatures. In a tropical belt average annual temperatures make up + 25-30 0 s, maximum indicators - more than +50 0 S. In subtropics, average annual temperatures are also positive, but the contrast between winter and summer temperatures is observed: from +4 0 s to +20 0 C. Absolute values \u200b\u200bof both winter and summer temperatures are very different from the middle a year in both sides.
  6. The number of falling precipaths. Tropical belt - The most dry belt of the Earth, where less than 200 mm of precipitation falls per year. In the subtropics the amount of precipitation changes by season of the year, so within the belt there are zones with their maximum amount from 500 to 700 mm per year, and a zone with a minimum of 100 mm per year.
  7. Fitness for economic use . The zone of tropics due to climate aridness is little suitable for economic activity. In semi-desert areas, only some livestock sectors received development on a large scale. Creation opportunities are limited. The climate of subtropics has all the conditions for the development of agriculture, gardening and recreational economy. Famous major resort centers of the Mediterranean, the North American coast and South-East Asia located in the subtropical belt and accept annually great amount tourists.

LIT: Ivanov N. N., Landscape-climatic zones globe, M.-L., 1948; Walter, the vegetation of the globe, lane. with him., M., 1968; Kalestrik S. V., General geographical patterns of the Earth, M., 1970: Grazing N. A., Nature of the Mediterranean, M., 1971; Glazovskaya M. A., Soils of the world, Part 1-2, M., 1972-73: Ryabchikov A. M., Structure and Dynamics of the Geospheres, its natural development and change by man, M., 1972; Petrov M. P., the deserts of the globe, L., 1973.

Yu. K. Efremov, E. V. Milanova.


Big soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

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Sub tropical climatethe virgin belt is the most submitable for people. It occupies the territory between 30 and 40 parallels, but both in other rules and there are exceptions. Usually, the subtropical climatic belt is characterized by long, sunny, dry and hot summer, short, soft and wet winter and very short transition seasons (spring and autumn). During summer months This climatiysius belt is under the strong influence of tropical air masses. In the winter period, in most cases it is possible to form snow covers.

Most strong influence In this part of the year they have air masses coming from. Interesting the fact that despite the limited territorial distributionSubtropical climatic belt is a habitat of a huge part of the human population. He occupies northern part , southern part , Southern parts, Central parts and, South Outdoor, South Beach, North Island, South, Southeast, Part South-Western, But the most classic and bright rates of subtropical climate at the land around the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, the subtropical climate is often called Mediterranean. But like other climatic zones, the subtropical climate can be very different in
depending on the general geographic characteristics Places where it is. Mediterranean, for example, is characterized by a softer climate compared to other subtropical regions of the planet. One of
the main causes of such a phenomenon are high mountain ranges that separate the coolest northern on the warmer southern part of the continent. These mountains play the role of a serious climatic barrier. Perineia, central array (), Alps and high mountains In the Balkans, stop the cool air masses running out of Northern and it makes the local subtropical climate more warmly better than in other parts of the world. Second important factorSimulating a local subtropical climate - a large openness of the Mediterranean Sea's largest and hot desert of our planet. In North-West Africa, except for the Atlas, there are no other barriers that stop hot and dry air mass running south. The third important factor that forms a mild climate in this part of the world - warm currentscirculating in the Mediterranean Sea. As a result, the climate near the Mediterranean Sea
additionally soften. For example, the capital of the United States Washington and the Spanish island are located almost on the same geographical latitude in subtropical climatic belt. But these two seats only in
this. Winter temperatures in Washington are low - between 0 and 5 ° C. Abundant snowfall happen. Winter in Ibiza is completely different. On this paradise Mediterranean island, the temperature in January + 16 ° C, but in sunny days can reach + 25 ° C. Obviously, Washington and Ibiza conditions, despite one geographic width, are very different. But the differences may be even deeper. Pusan \u200b\u200bcity, located in the southern part South Korea, is in subtropical climatic zoneBut here on the face all four different times of the year. Summer is very roast, and winter can be exclusively harsh. The average temperatures of January between 0 and 5 ° C, but sometimes they can fall below (-10) ° C. Snow storms Not uncommon here. At the same time, on the island, which is located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, very hot and sunny climate is almost all year round. Beach season continues from March until the end of November, but sometimes warm and sunny weather Started until mid-December. January and February almost completely warm and sunny with daytime temperatures up to + 17-18 ° C. Despite the fact that the subtropical climate is wide
distributed on our planet, area with classic subtropical climat quite limited. They occupy the central parts of Chile, the southern, southwestern part of South Africa, south shores Australia. 50% of the regions of the entire planet where there is a classic subtropical climate, are located near the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, this climate is known as Mediterranean. Because of the soft pleasant climate, the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the most desired place in the world is a place for life, like Southern California. The vegetation here is presented mainly by evergreen, severe species, such as orange, lemon, olives, mandarin and some coniferous species, for example, cypress. Animals species are diverse - Puma, lynx, goat, deer, birds, reptiles, etc.

The subtropical belt is located in the north and Southern Hemispheres on latitudes 20 and 30 degrees. Several natural zones of subtropical belt, which have a similar climate.

general characteristics

In these areas, a moderate and tropical climate alternates. This is due to seasonal air circulation:

  • in the summer there is a trade-door climate;
  • in winter, cyclonal air circulation is dominated.

In the summer, the temperature on average reaches the mark +20 degrees Celsius, in winter - does not fall below +4. The level of precipitation depends on the approach to the ocean. In the deep regions, year-round dryness is noted. In the east of temperature differences in winter and in summer there is practically no, noted increased humidity in summer. Western regions They differ in dry hot summer and warm wet winter.

Fig. 1. Subtropics

North hemisphere

Subtropical natural zones Here are:

  • tight forests;
  • subtropical deserts.

Thus, here are semi-dry and dry subtropics. The desert zone is located in the south Central Asia, in Iran, Afghanistan.

The climate of the desert is characterized by a pronounced disadvantage of moisture, significant temperature differences. Daily fluctuations in temperature can reach 30 degrees Celsius.

Such natural conditions Make the desert unsuitable for life and economic activity. Vegetable Pokrov It is very rare here, and there are no completely missing. One-year plants, or perennial, capable of accumulating moisture - aloe and cacti have the greatest previable. There are dry shrubs and trees - Eucalyptus, Saksaul.

Fig. 2. Subtropical desert

Southern Hemisphere

Southern subtropics are presented:

  • steppes;
  • broad forest forests;
  • forest-steppes.

Here alternate wet and semishers subtropics. The steppes have a temperate climate with a frequent moisture deficit. Vegetation here is presented various species Herbs Most steppes are already used for agriculture. Chernozem soils here are distinguished by great fertility. In South America, the steppe is called - Pamppa.

Wide subtropical forests Presented mainly evergreen and deciduous trees. Among them there are many fruit plants:

  • persimmon;
  • walnut;
  • fig;
  • almond;
  • hazelnut.

Grape vines are actively growing here.

Among the thermo-loving subtropical trees can be found and representatives moderate belt - Birch, apple trees, pears.

Forestage are characterized by alternating forest Massives and steppe plains. Accordingly, there is a gray forest and black earth soil. Trees are characterized large variety breed. Here you can meet broader and larch rocks, representatives of moderate and subtropical belts.