Humid subtropical climate (Cfa)
Also called: China type climate · Topic: World Climate Classification: Koeppen's Scheme · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 11 "World Climate and Climate Change"
Meaning
The humid subtropical climate (Cfa), also called the China type, is found on the east coasts of continents in subtropical latitudes. Warm currents and onshore summer winds keep the air moist and unstable. Unstable air is warm, moist air that rises easily and forms rain clouds. Rain falls all year, 75-150 cm. Summers bring thunderstorms, and winters bring frontal rain (rain where warm and cold air masses meet). Summers average about 27°C and winters 5-12°C. The daily temperature range is small.
Example
Southern and eastern China, on the east coast of Asia, has a Cfa climate. So do the eastern USA, southern Japan, north-eastern Argentina and eastern Australia.
Don't confuse with
- Humid subtropical climate with dry winter (Cwa): in Cwa the monsoon brings rain mainly in summer and winters are dry, as in the north Indian plains. Cfa gets rain all year.
Related concepts
- Warm temperate climates (C)
- Humid subtropical climate with dry winter (Cwa)
- Mediterranean climate (Cs)
- Marine west coast climate (Cfb)