Oceanic climate

An oceanic climate is the climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of all the world's continents, and in southeastern Australia; similar climates are also found at high elevations within the tropics.

Oceanic climates are characterized by a narrower annual range of temperatures than are encountered in other places at a comparable latitude, and differ from Mediterranean climates in that significant amounts of precipitation are received in summer. This means that precipitation is both adequate and reliable at all times of the year in oceanic climates, except in certain tropical highland areas, which would have tropical savanna climates (with a dry season in winter) if not for the high altitude making them cooler.

See climate. Compare continental climate; Mediterranean climate.

External link

• EPIC Data Collection (http://www.epic.noaa.gov/epic/ewb/) On-line ocean observational data collection

fr:Climat tempéré