In G.C. Leong’s Certificate Physical and Human Geography (2nd Edition, 2025), Chapter 19: The Warm Temperate Western Margin (Mediterranean) Climate provides a detailed analysis of regions characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
I. Distribution
- Latitude: Typically found between 30° and 45° North and South of the equator on the western margins of continents.
- Key Regions:
- Mediterranean Basin: Largest area, surrounding the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.
- California: Specifically around the central and southern coastal areas.
- Central Chile: Notable for having the most distinguished characteristics of this climate.
- South Africa: Located at the Cape of Good Hope.
- Australia: Southern and southwestern coastal areas, including Perth and Adelaide.
II. Climatic Characteristics
- Seasonal Pattern: Characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
- Dry Summer: Caused by the offshore trade winds (Easterlies) that blow from land to sea, carrying no moisture.
- Rainy Winter: Result of the shifting of wind belts. In winter, the onshore Westerlies bring cyclonic rain from the ocean to the land.
- Local Winds:
- Sirocco: A hot, dry, dusty wind blowing from the Sahara Desert toward the Mediterranean Sea.
- Mistral: A cold, dry wind that blows from the north down the Rhone Valley in France.
- Bora: A cold, northeasterly wind along the Adriatic coast.
III. Natural Vegetation
- Adaptations: Vegetation must survive long summer droughts. Features include small, leathery leaves, thick bark, and long taproots.
- Evergreen Forests: Open woodlands with trees like evergreen oaks (notably cork oak for wine bottle corks), eucalyptus (Australia), and giant sequoias (California).
- Scrub Vegetation: Known by local names: Maquis (France), Macchia (Italy), Chaparral (California), and Mallee Scrub (Australia).
IV. Economic Development
- Orchard Lands of the World: Renowned for specialized citrus fruit cultivation, including oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit.
- Viticulture: The region is the world’s leading producer of wine, utilizing roughly 85% of its grape harvest for this purpose.
- Crop Varieties:
- Olives: Most typical cultivated tree, highly drought-resistant.
- Cereals: Hard winter wheat (used for pasta) and barley are primary cereal crops.
- Nuts and Fruits: Chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, peaches, apricots, and figs.
