Oceanic climate

Regions where oceanic or subtropical highland climates (Cfb, Cfc, Cwb, Cwc) are found.

An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate or maritime climate, is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification represented as Cfb, typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool to warm summers and cool to mild winters (for their latitude), with a relatively narrow annual temperature range and few extremes of temperature. Oceanic climates can be found in both hemispheres generally between 40 and 60 degrees latitude, with subpolar versions extending to 70 degrees latitude in some coastal areas. Other varieties of climates usually classified together with these include subtropical highland climates, represented as Cwb or Cfb, and subpolar oceanic or cold subtropical highland climates, represented as Cfc or Cwc. Subtropical highland climates occur in some mountainous parts of the subtropics or tropics, some of which have monsoon influence, while their cold variants and subpolar oceanic climates occur near polar or tundra regions.

Precipitation

Locations with oceanic climates tend to feature frequent cloudy conditions with precipitation, low hanging clouds, and frequent fronts and storms. Thunderstorms are normally few, since strong daytime heating and hot and cold air masses meet infrequently in the regions, but are more common in subtropical highland climates where these air masses meet more frequently due to the influence of hotter weather in the subtropics or tropics, especially in monsoon-influenced climates. In most areas with an oceanic climate, precipitation comes in the form of rain for the majority of the year. Most oceanic climate zones, however, experience at least one snowfall per year. Snowfall is more frequent and commonplace in the subpolar oceanic climates due to the colder weather in those locations.

Temperature

Overall temperature characteristics of the oceanic climates feature cool temperatures and infrequent extremes of temperature. In the Köppen climate classification, oceanic climates have a mean temperature of 0 °C (32 °F) or higher (or −3 °C (27 °F) or higher) in the coldest month, compared to continental climates where the coldest month has a mean temperature of below 0 °C (32 °F) (or −3 °C (27 °F)) in the coldest month. Summers are warm but not hot, with the warmest month having a mean temperature below 22 °C (72 °F). Poleward of the latter is a subtype of it and is the subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc), with long but relatively mild (for their latitude) winters and cool and short summers (average temperatures of at least 10 °C (50 °F) for one to three months). Examples of this climate include parts of coastal Iceland, the coast of Norway north of Bodø, the Scottish Highlands, the mountains of Vancouver Island, and Haida Gwaii in Canada, in the Northern Hemisphere and extreme southern Chile and Argentina in the Southern Hemisphere (examples include Punta Arenas and Ushuaia), the Tasmanian Central Highlands, and parts of New Zealand.

Cause

Oceanic climates are not necessarily found in coastal locations on the aforementioned parallels; however, in most cases oceanic climates parallel higher middle latitude oceans. The polar jet stream, which moves in a west to east direction across the middle latitudes, advances low pressure systems, storms, and fronts. In coastal areas of the higher middle latitudes (45–60° latitude), the prevailing onshore flow creates the basic structure of most oceanic climates. Oceanic climates are a product and reflection of the cool ocean adjacent to them. In the autumn, winter, and early spring, when the polar jet stream is most active, the frequent passing of marine weather systems creates the frequent fog, cloudy skies, and light drizzle often associated with oceanic climates. They are typically found poleward of Mediterranean climates, except in Australia where they are poleward of both such climates and humid subtropical climates due to the shape of the continent. Only in Europe do they penetrate far inland, where they eventually transition into warm-summer humid continental climates; in other continents, they are blocked by a large mountain range or limited by nearby oceans.

The North Atlantic Gulf Stream, a tropical oceanic current that passes north of the Caribbean and up the East Coast of the United States to North Carolina, then heads east-northeast to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, is thought to greatly modify the climate of northwest Europe. As a result of the North Atlantic Current, west coast areas located in high latitudes like Ireland, the UK, and Norway have much milder winters (for their latitude) than would otherwise be the case. The lowland attributes of western Europe also help drive marine air masses into continental areas, enabling cities such as Dresden, Prague, and Vienna to have maritime climates in spite of being located well inland from the ocean.

Locations

Europe

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     67     6 1     55     7 1     52     10 3     40     14 5     54     18 9     65     20 11     82     23 14     99     22 13     84     19 11     87     15 8     85     10 5     82     7 2 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.6     43 34     2.2     44 34     2     50 37     1.6     58 41     2.1     64 47     2.6     69 52     3.2     73 56     3.9     72 56     3.3     67 52     3.4     58 46     3.4     50 40     3.2     44 35 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Oceanic climates in Europe occupy a large stretch of land, from Norway's Atlantic coast, Ireland and the United Kingdom and southeast to some parts of Turkey.

Western Europe is almost exclusively oceanic between 45°N to 54.913°N; including most of France (away from the Mediterranean), nearly all of Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, most of Luxembourg, most of Denmark, western Germany, northwestern Switzerland, south coast and western areas of Norway north to Skrova and extreme southern Sweden.

While most of Southern Europe is climatically Mediterranean, some parts of Southern Europe also have oceanic climates. However, these instances of the climate are highly variable, and often somewhat anomalous. The north coast of Spain, the western Azores off the coast of Portugal are too wet in summer to be Mediterranean, and too mild in summer to be humid subtropical, though they often have winter means above 9 °C (48 °F), unusual for European oceanic climates.

Another anomalous case can be found in northwestern Turkey, including northern Istanbul. These places are, in a strict air-mass sense, not oceanic: they are affected by southerlies directly from the Mediterranean, and polar intrusions from Siberia. Yet their position near the Black Sea makes them too wet in summer to be Mediterranean, too mild during winter to be humid continental, and not hot enough in summer to be humid subtropical; therefore Köppen classifies them as oceanic. Despite their anomalous position, however, their temperatures, around 4–5 °C (39–41 °F) in winter and 20–22 °C (68–72 °F) in summer, are not wholly atypical for European oceanic climates.

Some Eastern European regions such as the north of Croatia and Serbia and some parts of the Czech Republic, also have oceanic climates; these are generally near the boundary for being humid continental.

The line between oceanic and continental climates in Europe runs in a generally north to south direction. For example, western Germany is more impacted by milder Atlantic air masses than eastern Germany. Thus, winters across Europe become colder to the east, and (in some locations) summers become hotter. The line between oceanic Europe and Mediterranean Europe normally runs west to east and is related to changes in precipitation patterns and differences to seasonal temperatures; although intrusions of polar air, remnants of marine air-masses, and higher summer precipitation can create oceanic climates in Eastern Europe and transcontinental regions as far south as 40°N.

The Americas

Vancouver, Canada
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     179     7 3     184     8 3     156     11 5     118     14 7     87     17 10     70     20 12     53     22 14     51     22 14     73     19 12     148     14 8     239     9 5     231     7 3 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Environment Canada
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     7     44 37     7.2     47 38     6.1     51 40     4.6     56 44     3.4     62 49     2.8     67 54     2.1     72 57     2     72 58     2.9     66 53     5.8     57 47     9.4     49 41     9.1     44 37 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

The oceanic climate exists in an arc spreading across the northwestern coast of North America from the Alaskan panhandle to northern Washington. In addition, some east coast areas such as Block Island, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket have a similar climate. And in the highlands of Central and South America with the variant Cfb. An extensive area of oceanic climates distinguishes the coastal regions of southern Chile and extends into bordering Argentina.

Africa

The only noteworthy area of maritime climate at or near sea-level within Africa is in South Africa from Mossel Bay on the Western Cape coast to Plettenberg Bay (the Garden Route), with additional pockets of this climate inland of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal coast. It is usually warm most of the year with no pronounced rainy season, but slightly more rain in autumn and spring. The Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic also has an oceanic climate.

Asia and Oceania

Christchurch, New Zealand
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     37     23 12     41     22 12     41     20 10     55     18 7     56     15 5     61     12 2     57     11 1     51     13 3     36     15 4     49     17 6     41     19 8     52     21 11 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: CliFlo
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.5     73 53     1.6     72 53     1.6     69 49     2.2     64 44     2.2     58 40     2.4     53 35     2.2     53 34     2     55 37     1.4     59 39     1.9     62 42     1.6     67 46     2     70 51 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Although oceanic climate is rare in Asia, subtropical highland climates and cold subtropical highland climates can be found in parts of Southwestern China, and the Himalayan regions of the northern Indian subcontinent.

The oceanic climate is prevalent in the more southerly parts of Oceania. A mild maritime climate is in existence in New Zealand. In Australia, the climate is found in Tasmania, southern half of Victoria and southeastern New South Wales (southwards from Wollongong).

Some parts of the northeastern coast of Honshu, such as Mutsu, Aomori in Japan, feature this climate, which is rare in Asia due to the lack of a west coast in the middle latitudes.

Indian Ocean

Île Amsterdam and Île Saint-Paul, both part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, are located in the subtropics and have an oceanic climate (akin to Tristan da Cunha; see above).

Varieties

Marine west coast (Cfb)

Plymouth, United Kingdom
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     108     9 4     84     9 4     78     11 5     67     13 6     64     16 9     57     18 11     62     20 13     67     20 13     74     18 12     113     15 9     113     12 6     119     10 5 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Hong Kong Observatory
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     4.3     48 39     3.3     48 38     3.1     51 41     2.6     55 43     2.5     60 48     2.2     64 52     2.4     68 56     2.6     68 56     2.9     65 53     4.4     59 49     4.4     53 44     4.7     49 40 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Temperate oceanic climates, also known as "marine mild winter" climates or simply oceanic climates, are found either at middle latitudes. They are often found on or near the west coast of continents; hence another name for Cfb, "marine west coast climates". In addition to moderate temperatures year-round, one of the characteristics is the absence of a dry season. Except for Europe, this type of climate is confined to narrow bands of territory, largely in mid or high latitudes, although it can appear in elevated areas of continental terrain in low latitudes, e.g. plateaus in the subtropics. It exists in both hemispheres between 35° and 60°: at low altitudes between Mediterranean, humid continental, and subarctic climates.

Western sea breezes ease temperatures and moderates the winter, especially if warm sea currents are present, and cause cloudy weather to predominate. Precipitation is constant, especially in colder months, when temperatures are warmer than elsewhere at comparable latitudes. This climate can occur farther inland if no mountain ranges are present or nearby. As this climate causes sufficient moisture year-round without permitting deep snow cover, vegetation typically prospers in this climate. Deciduous trees are predominant in this climate region. However, conifers such as spruce, pine, and cedar are also common in few areas, and fruits such as apples, pears, and grapes can often be cultivated here.

In the hottest month, the average temperature is below 22 °C (72 °F), and at least four months feature average temperatures higher than 10 °C (50 °F). The average temperature of the coldest month must not be colder than −3–0 °C (27–32 °F), or the climate will be classified as continental. The average temperature variations in the year are between 10–15 °C (50–59 °F), with average annual temperatures between 6–13 °C (43–55 °F). Rain values can vary from 50–500 cm (20–197 in), depending on whether mountains cause orographic precipitation. Frontal cyclones can be common in marine west coast regions, with some areas experiencing more than 150 rainy days annually, but strong storms are rare.

Zennor, United Kingdom

Cfb climates are predominant in most of Europe except the northeast, as global temperatures became warmer towards late 20th and early 21st century. They are the main climate type in New Zealand and the Australian states of Tasmania, Victoria, and southeastern New South Wales (starting from the Illawarra region). In North America, they are found mainly in Vancouver Island and neighbouring parts of British Columbia, as well as many coastal areas of southeast Alaska. There are pockets of Cfb in most South American countries, mostly in regions of southern Chile and Argentina, parts of the provinces of Chubut, Santa Cruz, and southeast Buenos Aires province in Argentina, the highest elevations of the Brazilian Highlands, and due to variations in rainfall and temperature patterns in some places of the Tropical Andes in Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. In Western Asia, the climate can be found on the Black Sea coast of northern Turkey and Georgia, often transitional to humid subtropical. While Cfb zones are rare in Africa, one dominates the coastline of the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

The climate subtype can also be found in Nantucket, Massachusetts (in the immediate west and northwest in transition for humid continental, the remainder of Cape Cod) and northeastern Georgia both in the eastern United States. It is also found in the highest portions of the Brazilian state of Bahia and Roraima (in transition or strongly influenced for Cwb), Cuyuni-Mazuruni in Guiana, Brønnøy Municipality in Nordland at 65.28 °N (Norway north-central coast), South Sudan (border with Uganda), Central Province of the Sri Lanka, the provinces of Bình Định and Quảng Ngãi in Vietnam, Sabah (northeastern Malaysia), and Baluchistan, Pakistan. Although there are more or less rare places associated with relatively isolated mountainous regions (e.g., North Oceania islands and China).

Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb)

Bogota, Colombia
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     88     18 6     100     19 7     100     20 9     101     23 11     100     23 12     135     23 12     175     22 12     169     21 12     145     18 12     102     18 10     90     18 8     90     18 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: WMO
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.5     65 42     3.9     66 45     3.9     69 49     4     73 51     3.9     73 53     5.3     73 54     6.9     72 53     6.7     70 53     5.7     65 53     4     65 50     3.5     64 46     3.5     64 44 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

The subtropical highland climate is a climate variety, often grouped together with oceanic climates, which exists in some mountainous or elevated portions of the world in either the subtropics or tropics. Despite the latitude, the higher elevations of these regions mean that the climate shares characteristics with oceanic climates.

Subtropical highland climates with uniform rainfall (Cfb) usually have rainfall spread relatively evenly throughout the year, similar to other oceanic climates, but unlike these climates, they have a high diurnal temperature variation and low humidity, owing to their inland location and relatively high elevation. Subtropical highland climates with monsoon influence (Cwb) have distinctive wet summers and dry winters.

In locations outside the tropics, other than the drying trend in the winter, subtropical highland climates tend to be essentially identical to an oceanic climate, with mild summers and noticeably cooler winters, plus, in some instances, some snowfall. In the tropics, a subtropical highland climate typically features mild weather year-round. Temperatures there remain relatively constant throughout the year and snowfall is seldom seen due to warmer winters than most oceanic climates.

Areas with this climate feature monthly averages below 22 °C (72 °F) but above either 0 °C (32 °F) or −3 °C (27 °F) depending on isotherm used. At least one month's average temperature is below 18 °C (64 °F). Without their elevation, many of these regions would likely feature either humid subtropical or tropical climates.

This type of climate exists in parts of east, south and southeastern Africa, interior southern Africa and elevated portions of eastern Africa as far north as Ethiopia and of western Africa (west region of Cameroon) up to the southwestern Angola highlands also share this climate type. It also exists in the exposed areas of the High Atlas, some mountainous areas across southern Europe, mountainous sections of North America, including parts of the southern Appalachians and the Central America Volcanic Arc. In South America, it can be found mainly in temperate mountainous areas in the Tropical Andes, Venezuelan Coastal Range, the highest elevations of Serra do Mar in Southeastern Brazil, and tepuis of the Guiana Shield. Most of Yunnan and mountainous areas across Southeast Asia, parts of the Himalayas, parts of Sri Lanka, and parts of the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Hawaii. In the Caribbean, only the peaks in the highest mountain ranges have this climate (including the Blue Mountains in Jamaica and Cerro Maravilla in Puerto Rico), with only Hispaniola's Cordillera Central and Chaîne de la Selle having significant urban settlements under this climate zone, such as cities like Kenscoff in Haiti and Constanza in the Dominican Republic.

Subpolar oceanic and cold subtropical highland varieties (Cfc, Cwc)

Punta Arenas, Chile
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     42     14 7     31     14 7     38     12 5     40     10 3     41     7 1     27     4 −1     29     4 −1     30     5 0     27     8 1     27     10 3     30     12 5     33     14 6 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Dirección Meteorológica de Chile
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.6     58 44     1.2     57 44     1.5     54 41     1.6     49 38     1.6     44 34     1.1     39 30     1.1     39 30     1.2     41 32     1     46 34     1.1     50 37     1.2     54 40     1.3     56 43 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Ushuaia, Argentina

Areas with subpolar oceanic climates feature an oceanic climate but are usually located closer to polar regions, with long but relatively mild winters and short, cool summers. As a result of their location, these regions tend to be on the cool end of oceanic climates, approaching to polar regions. Snowfall tends to be more common here than in other oceanic climates. Subpolar oceanic climates are less prone to temperature extremes than subarctic climates or continental climates, featuring milder winters than these climates. Subpolar oceanic climates feature only one to three months of average monthly temperatures that are at least 10 °C (50 °F). As with oceanic climates, none of its average monthly temperatures fall below -3.0 °C (26.6 °F) or 0 °C depending on the isotherm used. Typically, these areas in the warmest month experience daytime maximum temperatures below 17 °C (63 °F), while the coldest month features highs slightly above freezing and lows near or just below freezing while keeping the average warm enough. It typically carries a Cfc designation, though very small areas in Argentina and Chile have summers sufficiently short to be Cwc with fewer than four months over 10 °C (50 °F).

This variant of an oceanic climate is found in parts of coastal Iceland, the Faroe Islands, upland/mountainous parts of Scotland and Northern England, northwestern coastal areas of Norway (most of Lofoten, Vesterålen, warmest part of Tromsø reaching to 71°N on some islands), uplands/highlands in western Norway, the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and northern parts of the Alaskan Panhandle, the southwest of Argentina and Chile, and a few highland areas of Tasmania, and the Australian and Southern Alps. This type of climate is even found in very remote parts of the New Guinea Highlands. The classification used for this regime is Cfc. In the most marine of those areas affected by this regime, temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F) are extreme weather events, even in the midst of summer. Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) have been recorded on rare occasions in some areas of this climate, and in winter temperatures down to −20 °C (−4 °F) have seldom been recorded in some areas.

Small areas in Yunnan, Sichuan; parts of Bolivia and Peru; and parts of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania have summers sufficiently short to be Cwc with fewer than four months over 10 °C (50 °F). This is the cold variant of the monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate. El Alto, Bolivia, is one of the few confirmed towns that features this variation of the subtropical highland climate.

See also

• Temperate climate
• Humid temperate climate
• Subhumid temperate climate
• Mediterranean climate
• Köppen climate classification

External links

• "Marine (Humid) West Coast Climate", June 21, 2007, The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography, Michael Ritter, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
• "EPIC Web Browser", NOAA, on-line ocean observational data collection
• "NOAA "Dapper In-situ Ocean Data Viewer", plot and download ocean observations
• "Maritime Climate", Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment, Atmosphere, Climate & Environment Information Programme