Humid Subtropical Climate is NOT experienced in which one among the following regions?
- (a)Coastal South Africa
- (b)East coast of Australia
- (c)South Japan
- (d)South Argentina
Correct — D, South Argentina. Humid subtropical climate occupies the eastern, sub-tropical margins of continents, with hot humid summers and mild winters: coastal South Africa (the Natal coast), the east coast of Australia and southern Japan all fit that pattern. Argentina's humid subtropical belt lies in the north, over the Pampas around Buenos Aires; southern Argentina is Patagonia, a cold, dry, semi-arid region, so it does NOT experience humid subtropical climate.
- (a)Coastal South Africa — The Natal coast around Durban is a classic humid subtropical zone with warm, wet summers, so it does experience the climate the question is looking to exclude.
- (b)East coast of Australia — The eastern seaboard from Brisbane to Sydney is humid subtropical, so it is not the exception.
- (c)South Japan — Southern Japan (Kyushu and southern Honshu) has a humid subtropical climate with hot, rainy summers, so it also fits the type.
The humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa/Cwa) is found on the south-eastern sides of continents, roughly 25°–35° from the Equator. It brings hot, humid summers and mild winters with rainfall spread through the year, often reinforced by monsoon or on-shore moist air.
The four options all name south-eastern continental margins, which is why they look alike. The catch is the word 'South' with Argentina: the country's humid subtropical belt is in the NORTH (the Pampas), while the far south, Patagonia, sits in the rain shadow of the Andes and is cold and semi-arid — the odd one out.
- Humid subtropical climates lie on the eastern margins of continents in the subtropics.
- They feature hot, humid summers, mild winters and year-round rainfall.
- Examples include south-east USA, coastal south-east South Africa, east-coast Australia and southern Japan.
- In South America the humid subtropical belt is the northern Pampas, not southern Patagonia.
Argentina's humid subtropical belt is in the north; southern Patagonia is the exception.
- Humid subtropical climate hugs eastern continental margins, not western ones.
- In South America the belt is the northern Pampas; southern Patagonia is cold and arid.
The type is tested as a 'which region does NOT have it' item, slipping in a poleward or rain-shadow location as the exception.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The humid subtropical climate is typically found on which side of a continent?
- (a)Western margin
- (b)Eastern margin
- (c)Interior
- (d)Polar margin
Answer(b) Eastern margin — the type occupies the south-eastern sides of continents in the subtropics.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The cold, dry, semi-arid climate of southern Argentina (Patagonia) is mainly due to
- (a)the ITCZ
- (b)the rain shadow of the Andes
- (c)cold ocean upwelling only
- (d)high altitude alone
Answer(b) the rain shadow of the Andes — the mountains block moist westerlies, leaving Patagonia dry.