Subtropics

The subtropics refers to the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the two tropic zones, which are bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitude 23.5 ° north and south. The term 'subtropics' describes the climatic region found adjacent to the tropics, closer to either the north or south pole latitudinal.

The term can be used loosely to mean a range of latitudes between 23.5 and approximately 35 degrees. These areas typically have very warm to hot summers, but non-tropical winters. A subtropical climate implies that the air temperature usually does not go below freezing (0°C). This is a threshold temperature for a gamut of plants, and applies to coastal California, southern Florida, coastal Australia, and coastal South Africa, for example. The poleward limit of such climates is higher on the west coasts of the northern continents and lower on the east coasts, because occasional Winter cold snaps reach farther south in the east. Some subtropical cities include New Delhi, Athens, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Sydney and Brisbane.

In certain areas of the world the subtropics are plagued by tropical cyclones that originate in the tropics in the summer and fall.

At latitudes closer to the poles, the subtropical climate gives way to a 'temperate' climate, characterised by annual mean temperatures of less than 20°C and warmest month average temperatures of over 10°C. (E. Linacre 12/98)