Which climate on the western coast of continents features hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters?

• A. Desert
• B. Savannah
• C. Tropical Rainforest
• D. Mediterranean (Western Coast)

Answer: (D)

Understanding climate types by precipitation patterns and seasonality helps explain this. On the western coasts of continents, the pattern is a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. This occurs because summer is dominated by a persistent subtropical high that suppresses rainfall, while winter brings westerly winds and storms that deliver moisture and milder temperatures. You can see this climate in places like parts of California, central Chile, southwestern Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin. The other options don’t fit because deserts stay arid most of the year, savannahs have a tropical wet-dry cycle with warmer winters, and tropical rainforests receive heavy rain year-round with no distinct dry season.