Mediterranean, Temperate & Tundra Regions

5. The Warm Temperate Western Margin (Mediterranean) Climate

Location: Found between 30° and 45° N and S on the western sides of continents. Examples: Areas bordering the Mediterranean Sea, California (USA), Central Chile, Cape Town area of South Africa, and South-Western Australia.

Climate:

• Dry, warm summers: Caused by the shifting of the off-shore trade winds to this latitude in summer.
• Wet, mild winters: The region comes under the influence of the on-shore westerly winds in winter, bringing cyclonic rain.
• Abundant sunshine.

Vegetation & Wildlife:

• Mediterranean Vegetation: Trees have adapted to survive the long, dry summer. Features include thick barks, small leathery leaves, and deep taproots (e.g., Cork Oak, Olive).
• Shrublands: Known as Maquis (France), Chaparral (California), Matorral (Chile).

Human Adaptation:

• Ideally suited for Orchard Farming (citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits).
• Viticulture (cultivation of grapes) is highly developed here (wine production in France, Italy, California).
• Tourism is a major industry due to the pleasant, sunny climate.

6. The Temperate Continental (Steppe) Climate

Location: Found in the interiors of continents, far from maritime influences (35° to 55° N and S). Examples: Steppes (Eurasia), Prairies (North America), Pampas (Argentina), Veld (South Africa), Downs (Australia).

Climate:

• Extreme, continental climate: Very warm summers and very cold winters (in the Northern Hemisphere).
• Light rainfall, mainly in late spring and early summer.

Vegetation & Wildlife:

• Temperate Grasslands: Almost entirely treeless due to low rainfall. Short, nutritious grasses.
• Wildlife: Bison (historically in N. America), wild horses, antelopes, coyotes, kangaroos (Australia).

Human Adaptation:

• The Steppes/Prairies are known as the "Granaries of the World."
• Highly mechanized, extensive wheat cultivation.
• Large-scale livestock ranching (cattle in Pampas and Prairies, sheep in Downs).

7. The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin (China Type)

Location: Found on the eastern margins of continents in warm temperate latitudes (20° to 35° N and S). Examples: Central/North China, SE USA (Gulf Coast), Natal (South Africa), Eastern Australia, Pampas margin.

Climate:

• Warm, humid summers and mild winters.
• Rainfall occurs throughout the year, but with a summer maximum.
• Frequently affected by severe tropical storms (Typhoons in China, Hurricanes in USA).

Vegetation & Wildlife:

• Evergreen Broadleaf Forests: Dense forests including oak, camphor, magnolia. Pines and cypresses are also common.

Human Adaptation:

• Most intensively cultivated region. High population density (China).
• Rice, tea, cotton, and tobacco are major crops.
• USA Gulf coast is famous for cotton and tobacco. Australian region for dairy and timber.

8. The Cool Temperate Western Margin (British Type)

Location: Western margins of continents between 45° and 65° N and S. Examples: North-West Europe (UK, France, Norway), British Columbia (Canada), Southern Chile, Tasmania, New Zealand.

Climate:

• Under the permanent influence of the Westerlies throughout the year.
• Mild winters and cool summers (moderate climate due to the ocean and warm ocean currents like the North Atlantic Drift).
• Rainfall throughout the year (cyclonic/frontal). No dry season.

Vegetation:

• Deciduous Forests: Trees shed their leaves in autumn to prepare for cold winter (Oak, Elm, Beech, Birch).

Human Adaptation:

• Highly industrialized and urbanized economies (Western Europe).
• Mixed farming (growing crops and raising animals simultaneously) is very common.
• Dairying is highly organized (e.g., New Zealand, Denmark).

9. The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian/Taiga) Climate

Location: Found only in the Northern Hemisphere (50° to 70° N). Spreads across Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia (Siberia). Absent in the Southern Hemisphere due to lack of landmass at these latitudes.

Climate:

• Bitterly cold, long winters and short, cool summers.
• Largest annual range of temperature.
• Precipitation is low, mainly falling as snow in winter.

Vegetation:

• Coniferous Forests (Taiga): Evergreen, softwood trees with needle-like leaves (to prevent water loss and let snow slide off) and sloping branches. Pine, Fir, Spruce, Larch.
• The Taiga is the largest contiguous forest biome in the world.

Human Adaptation:

• Lumbering: The most important occupation. Softwood is used for paper, pulp, matches, and construction.
• Trapping of fur-bearing animals (mink, silver fox, ermine).
• Agriculture is minimal due to the short growing season and poor Podzol soils.

10. The Arctic and Polar (Tundra) Climate

Location: Found north of the Arctic Circle (66.5° N) and south of the Antarctic Circle (66.5° S). Northern coasts of Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Eurasia, and Antarctica.

Climate:

• Extreme cold throughout the year. 9-10 months of freezing winter.
• Extremely low precipitation (cold desert).
• Phenomenon of the "Midnight Sun" during summer.

Vegetation & Wildlife:

• Tundra: Treeless landscape. Vegetation is limited to mosses, lichens, and stunted dwarf willows during the brief summer.
• Subsoil remains permanently frozen (Permafrost).
• Wildlife: Animals have thick fur or blubber. Polar bears, walruses, seals, Arctic foxes, reindeer (caribou).

Human Adaptation:

• Very sparse population.
• Traditional livelihoods include hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding by indigenous peoples (Inuits/Eskimos in America, Lapps/Sami in Scandinavia, Samoyeds in Siberia).
• Recent discovery of minerals (oil in Alaska, iron ore) has brought modern settlements.