Describe the Warm Temperate, Western Margin climate (Mediterranean type) under the following headings: (a) location; (b) climatic characteristics (c) vegeta...

The Warm Temperate Western Margin (Mediterranean) climate

(a) Location: it is found on the western sides of continents between about \(30^\circ\) and \(45^\circ\) north and south of the Equator. The main areas are the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea (Spain, Italy, Greece, North Africa), central and southern California, central Chile, the Cape region of South Africa, and south-western and southern Australia.

(b) Climatic characteristics:

• Hot, dry summers: summer temperatures are high (about \(21^\circ C\) to \(27^\circ C\)) with clear, sunny skies, because the belt comes under the influence of the dry off-shore trade winds and high pressure.
• Warm, wet winters: rain falls mainly in winter (about \(500\ mm\) to \(750\ mm\)) when the westerlies and depressions move over the region; winters are mild, around \(10^\circ C\).
• Winter rainfall maximum and abundant sunshine: the dry summer and wet winter regime is the key feature, with bright sunshine for most of the year.

(c) Vegetation: the natural vegetation is drought-resistant scrub and woodland known as maquis (or chaparral, matorral). Plants are adapted to the summer drought: they have small, thick, leathery or waxy leaves, deep or wide roots, thick bark and thorns to reduce water loss. Evergreen oaks, olive, cork oak, pines, and aromatic shrubs such as lavender and rosemary are typical, together with grasses and bulbous plants that flower in the wet season.

(d) Human activities:

• Mediterranean agriculture: cultivation of citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), olives, grapes (viticulture) for wine, figs and vegetables; the sunny summers ripen the fruit.
• Irrigated farming and market gardening where summer water is available.
• Sheep and goat rearing on the poorer scrub land.
• Tourism and wine-making industries, favoured by the warm, sunny climate and attractive coasts.