Semi-arid climate: Difference between revisions

To determine if a location has a semi-arid climate, the precipitation threshold must first be determined. The method used to find the precipitation threshold (in millimeters):{{cn|date=April 2024}}

** add 280140 if at least 7030–70% of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the year (April–September in the northern hemisphere, October–March in the southern hemisphere)

** add 140nothing if 30–70less than 30% of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the year

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map BSh presentGeiger_Map_v2_BSh_1991–2020.svg|thumb|upright=1.7|Regions with hot semi-arid climates]]

Hot semi-arid climates (type "BSh") tend to be located from the high teens to mid-30s latitudes of the [[tropics]] and [[subtropics]], typically in proximity to regions with a [[tropical savanna climate]] or a [[humid subtropical climate]]. These climates tend to have hot, or sometimes extremely hot, summers and warm to cool winters, with some to minimal precipitation. Hot semi-arid climates are most commonly found around the fringes of subtropical deserts.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

Hot semi-arid climates are most commonly found in [[Africa]], [[Australia]], and [[South Asia]]. In Australia, a large portion of the [[Outback]] surrounding the central desert regions lies within the hot semi-arid climate region.<ref>[http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cgi_bin_scripts/clim_classification.cgi Bureau of Meteorology – climate classification maps<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>{{Clarify|date=September 2013}} In South Asia, both [[India]] and parts of [[Pakistan]] experience the seasonal effects of [[monsoon]]s and feature short but well-defined [[wet season]]s, but are not sufficiently wet overall to qualify as either a [[tropical savanna climate|tropical savanna]] or a [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] climate.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

Hot semi-arid climates can be also found in parts of [[North America]], such as most of northern [[Mexico]], the [[ABC islands (Leeward Antilles)|ABC Islands]], the [[rain shadow]]s of [[Hispaniola]]'s mountain ranges in the [[Dominican Republic]] and [[Haiti]], parts of the [[Southwestern United States]] including California's [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], and sections of [[South America]] such as the ''[[sertão]]'', the [[Gran Chaco]], and the poleward side of the arid deserts, where they typically feature a [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] precipitation pattern, with generally rainless summers and wetter winters. They are also found in few areas of [[Europe]] surrounding the [[Mediterranean Basin]]. In Europe, BSh climates are primarilypredominantly found in southeastern [[Spain]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ATLAS CLIMÁTICO IBÉRICO|url=http://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/Atlas-climatologico/Atlas.pdf|website=administracion.gob.es/|publisher=Instituto de Meteorologia de Portugal|access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Evolucion de los climas de Koppen en España: 1951-2020 |url=https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia]]}}</ref> It can also be found onprimarily somein parts of south [[Greece]] but also in marginal areas of [[Thessaloniki]] and [[Chalkidiki]] in north [[Greece]], <ref name="Climate Atlas of Greece (Hellenic National Meteorological Service)">{{cite web | url=http://www.hnms.gr:80/hnms/greek/pdf/Climate_Atlas_Of_Greece.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921184739/http://www.hnms.gr:80/hnms/greek/pdf/Climate_Atlas_Of_Greece.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 September 2017 | title=Climate Atlas of Greece | publisher=Hellenic National Meteorological Service | access-date=30 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="Monthly Bulletins">{{cite web | url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm | title=Monthly Bulletins | publisher=[[National Observatory of Athens]] | accessdate=9 April 2023}}</ref> most of [[Formentera]], marginal areas of [[Ibiza]]<ref name=":0" /> and marginal areas of [[Italy]] in [[Sicily]], [[Sardinia]] and [[Lampedusa]].

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map BSk presentGeiger_Map_v2_BSk_1991–2020.svg|thumb|upright=1.7|Regions with cold semi-arid climates]]

Cold semi-arid climates (type "BSk") tend to be located in elevated portions of [[temperate zones]] generally from the mid-30s to low 50s latitudes, typically bordering a [[humid continental climate]] or a [[Mediterranean climate]]. They are also typically found in continental interiors some distance from large bodies of water. Cold semi-arid climates usually feature warm to hot dry summers, though their summers are typically not quite as hot as those of hot semi-arid climates. Unlike hot semi-arid climates, areas with cold semi-arid climates tend to have cold and possibly freezing winters. These areas usually see some [[snowfall]] during the winter, though snowfall is much lower than at locations at similar latitudes with more humid climates.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

Areas featuring cold semi-arid climates tend to have higher elevations than areas with hot semi-arid climates, and tend to feature major temperature swings between day and night, sometimes by as much as 20 °C (36 °F) or more. These large [[diurnal temperature variation]]s are seldom seen in hot semi-arid climates. Cold semi-arid climates at higher latitudes tend to have dry winters and wetter summers, while cold semi-arid climates at lower latitudes tend to have precipitation patterns more akin to [[Mediterranean climate]]s, with dry summers, relatively wet winters, and even wetter springs and autumns.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

Cold semi-arid climates are most commonly found in central Asia and the western US, as well as the Middle East and other parts of Asia. However, they can also be found in Northern Africa, South Africa, Europe, sections of South America and, sections of interior southern Australia (e.g. [[Kalgoorlie]] and [[Mildura]]) and southern New Zealand ([[Alexandra, New Zealand|Alexandra]]) and sections of Europe.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

|[[Jaipur]] (Sanganer), [[India]]

|8.4|1922.5|85.9

|712|2226.1|1210.2

|1217.4|2932|64.4

|1722.8|3437.6|47.1

|2127.1|3841.1|1612.2

|2327.9|3839.7|6661.9

|2226.2|3134.8|216190.5

|2024.9|2932.7|231203.4

|1924|3032.2|8079.6

|1520.1|3034.1|2319.4

|914.4|2529.6|31.9

|59.9|2025.1|3.8