• Mediterranean Summer
• The Mediterranean
• Climate & Habitats

The Mediterranean - Climate and Habitats

California

The Mediterranean climate here exists between the Sierra Nevada mountains and the coast. This is one of the world's most productive farming regions, as well as containing oak woodlands and chaparral in the foothills of the mountains. The northern part of the state receives more rainfall than the south, with San Diego having up to eight months without significant or reliable rainfall. The difference between winter and summer temperatures can be quite small varying by only 10°C in many coastal areas. Inland temperatures vary more widely and summers can be 25°C hotter than at the coast. The coast, and bay area of San Francisco in particular, is cooled by frequent fogs, noted for their important effect on the wine-growing regions of the state.

Habitats in Californian Mediterranean climate regions consist of chaparral, coastal scrub, oak woodland and redwood forests. The composition of these varies from north to south, and from east to west. The largest diversity of plants can be found near the coast.

Fires play a significant part in the habitats here and usually occur in the autumn when hot winds blow in from the deserts inland. Fires are an important part of the regeneration of this scrub-land, and plants here are adapted to them.

Chaparral species include:

• Californian Lilac (Ceonothus)
• Coffeeberry (Rhamnus)
• Larkspur (Delphinium)
• Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum).