The subtropical zone is present in the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth. Within the belt, there are several types of climate, which largely depends on the local characteristics of the territory. Subtropics are typical for the south of Australia, the north and extreme south of Africa, the coast of the Balkans, but they are also in Russia.
Subtropical zone
The climate on Earth is not the same. In some places it is unbearably hot, others are covered with eternal ice and pierce with cold, in others there is a lot of heat and moisture. Based on the characteristics of weather conditions, several climatic zones are distinguished on our planet.
The subtropical belt is present in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It extends from 30 degrees north latitude to 40 degrees south latitude, and is transitional between the tropical and temperate zones. Studying the features of the subtropical zone in grade 4.
The conditions of the belt are determined by two dominant air masses, replacing each other. In winter, they come from the temperate zone, bringing with them coolness and precipitation; in summer, the wind comes from the tropics,saturating the air with warmth.
Winters of this zone are usually mild, with an average temperature of +4..+5 degrees. Serious cold snaps are extremely rare, and frosts usually do not exceed -10 degrees. Summers in the subtropical zone are hot, sunny and dry. The average temperature is +20 degrees.
Subtropical diversity
Despite the presence of similarities, the climate of the subtropical zone in different regions is different. In addition to seasonal winds, it is influenced by local landscapes, as well as the presence or absence of seas and oceans nearby. So, inside the belt, humid, semi-humid and arid regions are distinguished. They differ in the amount of rainfall and are present on each of the continents.
In the depths of the continents, regions with a dry climate stretch throughout the year. Within their boundaries are zones of deserts, semi-deserts and steppes with light forests, shrubs and grasses.
In the east and southeast of the continents, humidity is increased in summer, winters are without precipitation, and there is practically no seasonal temperature difference. The subtropical natural zones of the eastern part are represented by mixed forests with bamboos, magnolias, pines, oaks, firs, palms; broad-leaved semi-deciduous forests - hemihylaea, with ferns, bamboos and lianas.
On the western side are regions of semi-humid subtropics with a Mediterranean climate. It has wet winters and dry summers. Hardwood forest zones dominate with evergreen oaks, pines, firs, junipers, olives and other plants.
Subtropical zone of Russia
For Russia, the subtropics are not typical. Most of its territory lies in the temperate zone, and in the north it covers the subarctic and arctic zones. But there are also warmer regions, where even in winter there are often positive temperatures.
The subtropical zone of Russia occupies a very small space and stretches along the Black Sea coast. Such conditions from Sochi to Anapa were formed thanks to the mountains and the sea.
The Caucasus Range is a natural shield, a kind of barrier that does not let cold severe winds from the east and north pass, and in summer it delays sea air masses, preventing them from passing further to the continent.
The Caucasus Mountains form the border between the temperate zone from the north of them and the subtropical zone from the southern slopes. Moving from east to west, this difference becomes stronger due to the increase in the height of the mountains.
Climate and vegetation of subtropics of Russia
The natural conditions of the Black Sea coast of Russia vary from dry steppe regions to highly humid areas. From Taman to Anapa, the climate is arid, steppe. There are floodplains and estuaries, so the vegetation is predominantly aquatic.
Subtropics start from Anapa. Approximately up to Tuapse, the climate is Mediterranean. In winter, there is a large amount of precipitation. Average annual temperatures range from +12 to +14 degrees. Olives, Pitsunda pines, juniper sparse forests grow in this part of the coast,Crimean pines, wild pistachios. The climate is similar to the coast of the Balkans or the southern coast of Crimea. In the mountains, vegetation also changes with elevation. Where the mountains are not very high, cold streams from the continent still find loopholes. They meet with the warm sea air of the coast, forming local winds, boras. When the bora blows, tornadoes, tornadoes and hurricanes often occur.
From Tuapse begins the zone of humid subtropics, similar to the climate of the coast of Georgia, Abkhazia, Colchis. In this area, the mountains are higher, so the wind barrier is more reliable. On the western slopes, up to 3000 mm of precipitation falls throughout the year. It is the wettest place in the European part of the world.
There is also a lot of precipitation on the coast - up to 2000 mm / year. Multilayered evergreen forests grow in the region. In the lower limits grows beech, oak, hornbeam, entwined with lianas and with green undergrowth. Fruits, chestnuts, hazel, strawberry trees, silk acacias grow in the foothill areas. Citrus fruits, figs, and pomegranates are grown in the gardens. In mountainous areas, vegetation corresponds to the altitudinal zone.
