Oceanic climate
560047
225285112
2008-07-12T21:56:01Z
Booshank
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/* Southern hemisphere */
[[Image:Koppen classification worldmap CfbCfc.png|250px|thumb|World map showing the oceanic climate zones.]]
An '''oceanic climate''' (also called '''marine west coast climate''' and '''maritime climate''') is the [[climate]] typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of all the world's continents, and in southeastern [[Australia]]. Oceanic climates are characterized by a narrower annual range of [[temperature]]s than are encountered in other places at a comparable latitude, and do not have the extremely dry summers of [[Mediterranean climate]]s.
Similar climates, at least in thermal range, are also found in tropical highlands even at considerable distance from any coastline. Generally, they fall into [[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'' or ''Cwb''. The narrow range of temperatures results not from proximity to a coastline but instead to the slight thermal range of temperatures between seasons characteristic of tropical lowlands; altitudes are high enough that such places have at least one month cooler than 18 °C and do not qualify for grouping in the true tropical climates. Unlike the norm in true oceanic climates, these moist highland tropical climates may have a marked winter drought, as in [[Mexico City]]. As with oceanic climates, winters are relatively warm and summers are comparatively cool, so the agricultural potential in both oceanic climates and moist tropical highland climates is practically identical.
==Precipitation==
Precipitation is both adequate and reliable at all times of the year in oceanic climates, except in certain tropical highland areas, which would have tropical [[savanna]] or [[steppe climate|steppe]] climates (with a dry season in winter) if not for the high altitude making them cooler (Koppen ''Cwb''). The [[Pacific Northwest]] and south-central [[Chile]] is often considered as having an Oceanic climate, although the dry summers in parts of this area actually fit the [[Mediterranean climate]] (Koppen "Csb").
==Temperature==
Overall [[temperature]] characteristics vary among oceanic climates; those at the lowest latitudes are [[subtropical climate|subtropical]] from a thermal standpoint, but more commonly a [[mesothermal]] regime prevails, with cool, but not cold, winters and warm, but not hot, summers. Summers are also generally much cooler than in areas with a [[humid subtropical climate]]. Average temperature of warmest month must be less than 22 °C, and that of the coldest month warmer than -3 °C (Although American scientists prefer 0 °C in the coldest month). Poleward of the latter is a zone of '''subpolar oceanic''' climate (Köppen ''Cfc''), with relatively mild winters (coldest month warmer than -3) and cool summers and a summer season (average temperature at least 10 °C or 50 °F) of less than four months; examples of this climate include parts of coastal [[Iceland]] in the [[Northern Hemisphere]] and extreme southern [[Chile]] in the [[Southern Hemisphere]] (the fact that this form of climate exists in both hemispheres ruling out the use of such terms as [[subarctic climate|subarctic]] or [[boreal]] to denote it; even though these terms are used to refer to climates characterized by short summers, they are also synonyms for "northern" and therefore inappropriate).
==Additional information==
The [[British Isles]] experiences a typically maritime climate, with prevailing south-westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The annual average temperature range in the [[UK]] is only about 10 °C. Although the west coast of [[Alaska]] experiences a maritime climate, the absence of an equally significant warm Pacific current in the upper-mid latitudes means that these regions are generally colder in winter, with more precipitation falling as snow.
All mid-latitude oceanic climates are classified as [[humid]]. Some rainshadow climates with thermal régimes similar to those of oceanic climates but [[steppe]]-like (BSk) or even [[desert]]-like (BWk) scarcity of precipitation include lowland valleys of [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Oregon]] to the east of the [[Cascade Range]], [[Patagonia]] in southern [[Argentina]], and the [[Atacama Desert]] in northern Chile. Another example are coastal areas in southeast [[Western Australia]].
==Countries/Regions with mild maritime climate==
* Northern and southwest [[France]]
* The [[Netherlands]]
* [[Belgium]]
* Western [[Germany]]
* Western [[Switzerland]] (Lowland areas)
* Northwest [[Spain]] (often as ''csb'')
* Northern [[Portugal]] (often as ''csb'', too)
* [[Andorra]]
* Southwest [[Norway]]
* Parts of [[Denmark]]
* [[Ireland]]
* [[Great Britain]]
* [[New Zealand]]
* [[Tasmania]], [[Australia]]
* Southern parts of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
* Coastal areas of southwestern [[South Australia]], [[Australia]] (as ''csb'')
* Western areas of the south coast of [[Western Australia]]
* Central [[Argentina]]
* Southern and central [[Chile]] (''as csb'')
* Western parts of [[Oregon]] and [[Washington]] ([[U.S.A.]]) and [[British Columbia]] ([[Canada]]) (as ''csb''; ''cfb'' in most of British Columbia)
* Northwest [[California]] (as ''csb'') and the mildest coastal areas of the [[Alaska]]n panhandle ([[U.S.A.]])
* Mountainous locations in some tropical countries (e.g. [[Indian subcontinent]], [[Latin America]], southern and central [[Africa]]; often as ''cwb'')
* Some mountainous areas across [[southern Europe]]
* Parts of [[Himalayas]]
The 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm (freeze line) or the -3 °C (26.6 °F) isotherms (persistent snow line) are the possible lines dividing the oceanic and the warm summer humid continental (''Dfb'') climates, in between which are the following regions:
* Eastern [[Germany]]
* [[Luxembourg]]
* [[Liechtenstein]]
* Western [[Poland]]
* Eastern [[Switzerland]] and parts of [[Austria]]
* Western [[Alps]] between 700 and 1000 meters.
* Central and Eastern [[Alps]] between 500 and 800 meters.
* Southern [[Sweden]]
* Fjord areas inland from the coast of southwest [[Norway]] and parts of the southeast coast of [[Norway]]
* Much of [[Denmark]]
* Southern coastal areas of the [[Alaskan Panhandle]]
* Most of the [[Czech Republic]]
* Parts of western [[Slovakia]]
* Northwest [[Romania]]
* Most of [[Hungary]]
* [[Slovenia]]
* Parts of [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]]
* Mountainous areas across [[southern Europe]]
* [[Himalayas]]
* Some southern coastal areas of [[New England]]
==Notable cities with oceanic climates==
Notable cities which have oceanic climates include:
===Africa===
* [[Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape|Port Elizabeth]], [[South Africa]]
* [[Tristan da Cunha]]
* [[Addis Ababa, Ethiopia]] '''Cwb'''
* [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]] '''Cwb'''
Note that the latter two locations are high-altitude locations in the tropical areas that would be in savanna (Aw) or steppe (BSHw) zones except for high altitude.
===Europe===
* [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]]
* [[Bergen]], [[Norway]]
* [[Berlin]], [[Germany]]
* [[Bilbao]], [[Spain]]
* [[Bordeaux]], [[France]]
* [[Bratislava]], [[Slovakia]]
* [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]
* [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]]
* [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]]
* [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
* [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]
* [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]
* [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]
* [[Grenoble]], France
* [[Hamburg]], Germany
* [[London]], [[England]]
* [[Ljubljana]], [[Slovenia]]
* [[Paris]], France
* [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]]
* [[San Sebastián]], Spain
* [[Sarajevo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
* [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]
* [[Vigo]], Spain '''csb'''
* [[Wrocław]], [[Poland]]
===North America===
* [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]] '''cwb'''
* [[Portland, Oregon]], [[United States|USA]] '''csb'''
* [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia]], [[Canada]]
* [[Seattle, Washington]], USA '''csb'''
* [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada
* [[Victoria, British Columbia]], Canada '''csb'''
===Central America===
* [[Guatemala City, Guatemala]] '''cwb'''
Note that these locations have moist tropical highland climates.
===South America===
* [[Curitiba]], [[Brazil]]
* [[Mar del Plata]], [[Argentina]]
* [[Castro, Chile|Castro]], [[Chile]]
* [[Puerto Montt]], Chile
* [[Valdivia, Chile]] '''csb'''
The following have moist tropical highland climates:
* [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]]
* [[Quito]], [[Ecuador]]
* [[Sucre]], [[Bolivia]] '''cwb'''
===Asia===
* [[Thimphu, Bhutan]] '''cwb'''
===Oceania===
* [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]
* [[Christchurch]], New Zealand
* [[Dunedin]], New Zealand
* [[Hobart]], [[Australia]]
* [[Melbourne]], Australia
* [[Sydney]], Australia
* [[Wellington]], New Zealand
===Exceptions and borderline cases===
[[Porto]] and [[San Francisco]] have a temperature range characteristic of an oceanic climate but so little rainfall during summer that they must be considered part of a Mediterranean climate zone, despite their milder summer temperatures.
==Countries/Regions with subpolar oceanic climate==
* Parts of coastal [[Iceland]]
* [[Faroe Islands]]
* Northwestern coastal areas of [[Norway]] reaching to 70°N on some islands
* Southern islands of [[Alaska]] and parts of the [[Alaskan Panhandle]]
* Far south of [[Chile]] and [[Argentina]]
* Parts of the [[Andes]] and [[Himalaya]] (as ''cwc'')
* Mountainous areas of [[Europe]], including highlands in [[Scotland]], southwestern [[Norway]]
Some notable cities with the subpolar ''Cfc'' climate are:
* [[Harstad]], [[Norway]]
* [[Thorshavn]], [[Faroe Islands]]
* [[Unalaska, Alaska|Unalaska]], [[Alaska]] (also known as Dutch Harbor)
* [[Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego]], [[Argentina]]
* [[Vestmannaeyjar]], [[Iceland]]
* [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]] '''cwc'''
== Examples ==
===Northern hemisphere===
{{climate chart|[[Seattle|Seattle, USA]]
|2|8|130
|3|10|107
|4|12|97
|6|14|66
|8|18|46
|11|21|38
|13|24|20
|13|24|25
|11|21|41
|8|16|81
|4|11|150
|2|8|142
|float=left
|clear=none
|source=[http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USWA0395]
}}
{{climate chart|[[London|London, United Kingdom]]
|0.4|6.7|78.0
|0.5|7.1|51
|1.5|9.9|61
|3.4|12.6|54
|6.3|16.3|55
|9.3|19.6|57
|11.3|21.7|45
|10.9|21.4|56
|8.8|18.8|68
|6.4|15|73
|2.8|10.1|77
|1.3|7.7|79
|float=left
|clear=none
|source=[http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/u/UK03776.html]
}}
{{clear}}
===Southern hemisphere===
{{climate chart|[[Valdivia, Chile]]
|11|23|66
|11|23|74
|9|21|132
|8|17|234
|6|13|361
|6|11|550
|5|11|394
|4|12|328
|5|14|208
|7|17|127
|8|18|125
|10|21|104
|float=left
|source=[http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT001780]
}}
{{climate chart|[[Tsitsikamma|Tsitsikama, South Africa]]
|17|23|77
|17|22|70
|16|21|81
|14|20|80
|12|19|86
|10|18|75
|10|17|78
|10|17|111
|11|17|66
|13|19|83
|14|20|78
|16|22|60
|float=left
|clear=none
|source=[http://www.weathersa.co.za/Climat/Climstats/TsitsikamaStats.jsp]
}}
{{climate chart|[[Sydney|Sydney, Australia]]
|19|26|112
|19|26|113
|17|25|148
|14|23|121
|11|20|88
|8|17|128
|7|17|54
|8|18|90
|10|20|60
|13|22|79
|15|24|101
|18|26|81
|float=left
|clear=none
|source=[http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/a/AU94767000660370.html]
}}
{{climate chart|[[Aukland|Aukland, New Zealand]]
|15|23|75
|16|24|65
|15|22|94
|12|20|105
|10|17|103
|8|15|139
|7|15|146
|8|15|121
|9|16|116
|11|18|91
|12|20|93
|14|22|91
|float=left
|clear=none
|source=[http://www.niwascience.co.nz/edu/resources/climate/]
}}
{{-}}
==See also==
* [[Continental climate]]
* [[Mediterranean climate]]
* [[Polar climate]]
==External links==
* [http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/climate_systems/marine_west_coast.html University of Wisconsin Stevens Point: Marine (Humid) West Coast Climate]
* [http://www.epic.noaa.gov/epic/ewb/ EPIC Data Collection] On-line ocean observational data collection
* [http://dapper.pmel.noaa.gov/dchart/ NOAA In-situ Ocean Data Viewer] Plot and download ocean observations
* http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Climate/Older/Maritime_Climate.html
{{Koppen}}
[[Category:Climate]]
[[cs:Oceánské klima]]
[[da:Kystklima]]
[[de:Seeklima]]
[[es:Clima oceánico]]
[[fr:Climat océanique]]
[[gl:Clima oceánico]]
[[ko:서안 해양성 기후]]
[[it:Clima oceanico]]
[[lt:Jūrinis klimatas]]
[[nl:Zeeklimaat]]
[[ja:海洋性気候]]
[[no:Maritimt klima]]
[[nn:Maritimt klima]]
[[pl:Klimat morski]]
[[pt:Clima oceânico]]
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[[ru:Морской климат]]