Climate change in the history of the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by the European continent to the north, the African continent to the south, and the Asian continent to the east. The Mediterranean Sea is the oldest sea in the world, older than the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot and dry summers with little rain and warm and humid winters, which makes the surrounding rivers flood with rain in winter and dry up in summer.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by westerly winds in winter, frequent frontal cyclone activity, mild climate, average temperature between 4 10 in the coldest month, and abundant precipitation. In summer, under the control of the subtropical high pressure, the air flow sinks, and the climate is hot and dry, with few clouds and abundant sunshine.

The annual precipitation is 300 1000 mm, accounting for about 60 to 70 per cent in the winter half and only 30 to 40 per cent in the summer half. The climatic characteristics of winter rain and summer dry are unique among the various climate types in the world. The Mediterranean climate is mainly caused by the westerly wind belt in winter, and frontal cyclone activity is frequent. In summer, it is controlled by the subtropical high pressure belt, and the airflow sinks.

Among the more than 10 climate types in the world, in addition to the Mediterranean climate, there are also tropical savannah climate (alternately controlled by the equatorial low pressure zone and the trade wind belt) and tropical desert climate (the trade wind belt alternately controlled by the subtropical high pressure zone). The climate controlled by the westerly wind belt throughout the year is temperate oceanic. The Mediterranean climate is located on the west coast of the continent between 30 and 40 degrees north and south latitudes.

The Mediterranean climate is the only type of climate found on all continents of the world except Antarctica. The Mediterranean climate is most pronounced along the Mediterranean coast. Other regions include the coast of California in North America, central Chile in South America, the Cape of Good Hope region at the southern tip of Africa, and the southwest and southeast coasts of Australia.

Most of its distribution areas are relatively economically developed and are also hot spots in the world.

Before continental drift, the Mediterranean Sea was an inland piece with a temperate continental climate with four distinct seasons, cold winters and hot summers. After the tectonic plate drifted, there was a sea, and a thermodynamic circulation was formed, so the climate changed, with hot and dry summers and mild and rainy winters.

The Mediterranean climate is distributed in the mid-latitudes (about 30-40 degrees north and south) on the west coast of the continent, including the Mediterranean coast, the Black Sea coast, and the United StatesCalifornia, Perth in southwestern AustraliaRepublic of South Africain the southwest, as well as in central Chile and other regions.

These areas are dominated by westerly winds and subtropical high pressure bands.

and alternate control of trade winds. In winter, the westerly wind belt moves southward into this climate zone, bringing moist air currents from the ocean, plus frontal cyclones.

There is a lot of activity, so the climate is mild and rainy.

In summer, the subtropical high or trade winds move northward to this climate zone, and the airflow is mainly sinking, and it is not easy to form precipitation due to the action of coastal cool currents, so the climate is dry and hot.

Impact

The Mediterranean climate is a unique one, with hot, dry summers and mild and rainy winters. The peculiarity of the climatic conditions has led to the peculiarity of the type of agricultural production in the Mediterranean climatic zone, with typical agriculture being fruit horticulture, represented by citrus, grapes, olives.

In summer, it is hot and dry, and the water evaporates violently, resulting in the accumulation of sugar in the fruit, and the mild climate in winter is conducive to the safe wintering of the plants, and the sufficient water resources meet the water needs of the plants.