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Consider the following temperature and rainfall data . The climate to which this data pertains is
Month | Temperature °C | Rainfall cm
January | 6.7 | 1.4
February | 6.7 | 1.3.2
March | 7.2 | 1.1.4
April | 8.9 | 9.4
May | 1.1.1 | 8.1
June | 1.3.9 | 8.1
July | 1.5 | 9.6
August | 1.5 | 1.2.2
September | 1.3.9 | 1.0.4
October | 1.1.1 | 1.4.4
November | 8.9 | 1.4
December | 7.8 | 1.6.8
Explanation
The given seasonal pattern — distinctly dry summers with wetter winters — matches the Mediterranean (Cs) climate, specifically the hot‑summer Mediterranean (Csa) type described as having hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters [1]. The small letter “s” denotes a summer dry season in Köppen notation, which is the defining precipitation signature of Mediterranean climates [2]. Other options are inconsistent: the China (Cfa) or West European (Cfb) types have rainfall throughout the year (no true summer dryness) with summer or winter maxima respectively [1], while the St. Lawrence/Laurentian type features very long cold winters and a large annual temperature range, not a summer‑dry regime [3].
Sources
- [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Köppen–Geiger Climate Classification > p. 422
- [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Climatic Groups According to Koppen > p. 421
- [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > The Asiatic Region > p. 462
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