Where are Mediterranean climates typically found, and what are their summers and winters like?

• A. Found in the middle latitudes along the western coast of a continent; summers hot and dry, winters mild and wet
• B. Found near the equator; year-round heat and rain
• C. Found in high latitudes; long, cold winters
• D. Found inland in arid zones; hot and dry year-round

Answer: (A)

Mediterranean climates occur in mid-latitude coastal areas on the western sides of continents. The pattern of summers and winters is distinct: summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild and wet. This happens because the region experiences a seasonal shift in winds and pressure—dry, sinking air from a subtropical high dominates in summer, and moist air from the ocean brought in by westerly winds brings rain in winter. You can see this climate in places around the Mediterranean Basin, as well as coastal California, central Chile, and southwestern Australia. The other options describe tropical, polar, or desert conditions, which don’t match the wet winters and dry, hot summers of this climate.