Subtropical zone: features and characteristics. Subtropical zone of Russia

The subtropical zone is present in the Northern and Southern hemispheres of the Earth. Within the belt there are several types of climate, which largely depends on the local characteristics of the territory. Subtropics are typical for the south of Australia, the north and the extreme south of Africa, the coast of the Balkans, but they are in Russia.

Subtropical zone

The climate on Earth is not the same. In some places it is unbearably hot, others are covered with perpetual ice and pierced by cold, in the third a lot of heat and moisture. Based on the peculiarities of weather conditions, several climatic zones are distinguished on our planet.

The subtropical belt is present both in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. It extends from 30 degrees north latitude to 40 degrees south, is a transition between the tropical and temperate belt. They study the features of the subtropical zone in the 4th grade.

The conditions of the belt are determined by the two main air masses, replacing each other. In winter, they come from a temperate zone, bringing with them coolness and precipitation, in summer the wind comes from the tropics, saturating the air with heat.

The winters of this belt are usually soft, with an average temperature of +4 .. + 5 degrees. Serious cold snaps happen extremely rarely, and frosts usually do not exceed -10 degrees. The summer of the subtropical zone is hot, sunny and dry. The average temperature is +20 degrees.

Variety of subtropics

Despite the presence of common features, the climate of the subtropical zone differs in different regions. In addition to seasonal winds, it is influenced by local landscapes, as well as the presence or absence of a number of seas and oceans. Thus, within the belt, moist, semi-moist and arid regions are distinguished. They differ in the amount of precipitation and are present on each of the continents.

In the depths of the continents are stretches of regions with arid climate throughout the year. Within their boundaries are zones of deserts, semi-deserts and steppes with sparse forests, shrubs and grasses.

In the east and southeast of the continents, humidity is increased during the summer period, winters without precipitation, and seasonal temperature differences are practically absent. Subtropical natural areas of the eastern part are represented by mixed forests with bamboos, magnolias, pines, oaks, firs, palms; Broadleaf semi-deciduous forests - gemigilems, with ferns, bamboos and lianas.

On the western side are regions of semi-humid subtropics with a Mediterranean climate. It's wet winters and dry summers. Areas of hardwood forests with evergreen oaks, pines, firs, junipers, olives and other plants predominate.

Subtropical zone of Russia

For Russia, the subtropics are not typical. Most of its territory lies in the temperate zone, and in the north it covers the subarctic and arctic belts. But there are also warmer regions, where even in winter there are often positive temperatures.

The subtropical zone of Russia occupies a very small space and stretches along the Black Sea coast. Such conditions from Sochi to Anapa formed due to the mountains and the sea.

The Caucasian ridge is a natural shield, a kind of barrier that prevents cold severe winds from the east and the north, and in the summer detains sea air masses, preventing them from passing further to the continent.

The mountains of the Caucasus form a boundary between the temperate zone from the north and the subtropical zone from the southern slopes. Moving from east to west, this difference becomes stronger due to the increase in the height of the mountains.

Climate and vegetation of the subtropics of Russia

The natural conditions of the Black Sea coast of Russia vary from dry steppe regions to heavily humid areas. From Taman to Anapa, the climate is arid, steppe. There are floodplains and estuaries, so vegetation is predominantly aquatic.

Subtropics start from Anapa. Approximately to Tuapse, the climate is Mediterranean. In winter, a lot of precipitation falls. The average annual temperatures range from +12 to +14 degrees. In this part of the coast grow olives, pitsundskie pines, juniper woodlands, Crimean pines, wild pistachios. The climate is similar to the coast of the Balkans or the southern coast of the Crimea. In the mountains, vegetation also changes with rising to the altitude. Where the mountains are not very high, cold currents from the continent still find loopholes. They meet with the warm sea air of the coast, forming local winds, burs. When the bora is blowing, it often happens that tornadoes, tornadoes and hurricanes.

From Tuapse, the wet subtropical zone begins, similar to the climate of the coast of Georgia, Abkhazia, Colchis. In this area the mountains are higher, so the barrier from the winds is more reliable. On the western slopes for the whole year, up to 3000 mm of precipitation falls. This is the most humid place in the European part of the world.

On the coast of precipitation too much - up to 2000 mm / year. In the region grow multi-tiered evergreen forests. In the lower limits grows beech, oak, hornbeam, entwined with creepers and with a green undergrowth. In the foothill areas grow fruits, chestnuts, hazel, strawberry trees, silk acacia. In the gardens grow citrus, figs, pomegranate. In mountainous areas vegetation corresponds to a high altitude belt.