Oceanic climate

Locations with oceanic climates tend to feature frequent cloudy conditions with precipitation, low-hanging clouds, and frequent fronts and storms. Thunderstorms are normally few except in the hot-summer Doak variety seen under the Trewartha climate classification system, 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==

Under the Köppen climate classification system 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 or higher (or or higher) in the coldest month, compared to continental climates where the coldest month has a mean temperature of below (or ). Summers are warm but not hot, with the warmest month having a mean temperature below . with long but relatively mild (for their latitude) winters, and cool and short summers with average temperatures of at least for one to three months. Examples in the Northern Hemisphere include parts of coastal Iceland, the coast of Norway north of Bodø, the mountains of Scotland, parts of Shetland, and the British Columbian coast in Canada. In the Southern Hemisphere, examples include extreme southern Chile and Argentina (such as Punta Arenas and Ushuaia), the Falkland Islands, parts of southeastern Australia, and much of New Zealand. Under the Trewartha climate classification system Oceanic climates are defined very differently under the Trewartha climate classification system. In temperate areas, oceanic climates exist where four to seven months average at least regardless of summer heat or lack thereof, so long as the coldest month averages at least . This allows some places like New York City and the District of Columbia with hot summers to have oceanic climates under the Trewartha system, although these climates are considered humid subtropical under the Köppen system due to summer heat instead of the length of the growing season being the trigger for Köppen. In boreal/subpolar areas, Trewartha defines areas like Anchorage that have winters averaging over as oceanic climates even if they're insufficiently mild to be classified as oceanic under Köppen too like Reykjavík is, as opposed to the freezing isotherm used in temperate climates. Nonetheless, Köppen and Trewartha concur on the summer temperature of a subpolar climate, with one to three months averaging over being the trigger for both. ==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. In some parts of central and eastern North America such as the Upland South and Mid-Atlantic States regions, Doak climates under the Trewartha climate classification system exist as a transition between the humid subtropical climates further south and the hot-summer humid continental climates seen further north, with growing seasons insufficiently long for a subtropical classification but winters too mild for a continental classification. Notable examples of such climates are St. Louis, Louisville, the District of Columbia and New York City. A similar transition zone also exists in Japan. 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 Oceanic climates in Europe occupy a large stretch of land, from Norway's Atlantic coast, the British Isles and southeast to some parts of northern 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 , 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 in winter and 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 northwest to southeast 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. Under the Trewartha climate classification system, Milan also has a temperate oceanic climate despite its hot summers due to its insufficient growing season length to be considered subtropical. Tromsø has a boreal oceanic Eolo climate due to Trewartha's lower winter temperature threshold in subpolar climates compared to Köppen. The Americas 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. Under the Trewartha climate classification system, the oceanic climate zone is far more broad in North America, with many areas of the Mid-Atlantic States such as New York City, Philadelphia, the District of Columbia and Roanoke Va. being classified as temperate oceanic due to having insufficient growing seasons for a humid subtropical climate classification but winters too mild to be hot-summer humid continental climates. North American transition zone also extends west of the Appalachia to include cities such as Louisville, Murfreesboro, St. Louis and Wichita Kan.. Anchorage has a boreal oceanic Eolo climate due to Trewartha's lower winter temperature threshold in subpolar climates compared to Köppen. 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 }} 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). The hinterland of the northern coast of Turkey, features this climate. Additionally, 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. Under the Trewartha climate classification system, numerous cities in northern Honshu in Japan have a hot-summer version of oceanic climates due to winters being too mild to be continental but growing seasons not being long enough to be subtropical, although the transition zone is narrower than it is in North America due to Japan's higher seasonal lag pushing November over the threshold to be considered subtropical more readily. Examples of Japanese cities with a Doak climate include Sendai and some cooler neighborhoods in Niigata City. A similar transition zone exists in lowland regions of Mainland China, including Shangqiu and Pingdingshan. 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) 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 , and at least four months feature average temperatures higher than . The average temperature of the coldest month must not be colder than , or the climate will be classified as continental. The average temperature variations in the year are between , with average annual temperatures between . Rain values can vary from , 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.) and the southern Appalachians (a highland alteration of the lowland’s humid subtropical climate), 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), Brønnøy Municipality in Nordland at 65.28 °N (Norway north-central coast), the provinces of 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). These climates are classified as Dobk under Trewartha if their growing seasons aren't long enough for a humid subtropical climate. 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 but above either or depending on isotherm used. At least one month's average temperature is below . 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. It also exists in the exposed areas of the High Atlas, some mountainous areas across southern Europe, and 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, the Venezuelan Coastal Range, the highest elevations of Serra do Mar in Southeastern Brazil and the Brazilian Highlands, the tepuis of the Guiana Shield, and due to variations in rainfall and temperature patterns in some places of the Tropical Andes in Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. Throughout Asia, most of Yunnan and the mountainous areas across Southeast Asia, parts of the Himalayas, parts of the Western Ghats, parts of Sri Lanka, and parts of the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Hawaii experience the climate as well. 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. These climates are classified as Dobk under Trewartha if their growing seasons aren't long enough for a humid subtropical climate. }} , 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 polar regions. Snowfall tends to be more common here than in other oceanic climates. Subpolar oceanic climates are less prone to temperature extremes than humid continental climates or subarctic climates, featuring milder winters than these climates. Subpolar oceanic climates feature only one to three months of average monthly temperatures of 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 . 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. This is the cold variant of the monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate. El Alto, Bolivia is one of the few confirmed cities that features this variation of a cold subtropical highland climate. These climates are mostly classified as Eolk under Trewartha. However, a cold-winter Eolo variant including cities such as Anchorage and Tromsø also exists under Trewartha due to that system using a -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) winter isotherm specifically for boreal climates. Hot-summer Temperate Oceanic Climates Although hot-summer climates with mild winters averaging above freezing are classified as humid subtropical climates under Köppen, some of these in areas with lukewarm springs and autumns are considered Doak climates under Trewartha due to their mediocre growing season length, with only four to seven months averaging above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). This transition zone between unequivocally subtropical climates and hot-summer humid continental climates includes small areas in northern Honshu, some lowland areas of Mainland China, the city of Milan in Italy and some Mid-Atlantic and Upland Southern North American areas such as New York City, the District of Columbia, Louisville and St. Louis, even reaching into the Sun Belt in Murfreesboro and some Appalachian and Ozark plateau or mountain areas. ==See also==