| Month | Temperature (°C) | Rainfall (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| J | 9.4 | 12.2 |
| F | 10.6 | 9.1 |
| M | 11.7 | 7.9 |
| A | 12.2 | 2.5 |
| M | 13.3 | 1.0 |
| J | 13.9 | 0.3 |
| J | 13.9 | - |
| A | 14.4 | - |
| S | 15.6 | 0.8 |
| O | 15.0 | 2.5 |
| N | 13.3 | 6.1 |
| D | 10.6 | 11.7 |
Average rainfall: 54.9 cm per annum
Identify the region having the above climatic patterns from amongst the following:
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: The Mediterranean region is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Rainfall is concentrated in the winter months (e.g., December: 11.7 cm, January: 12.2 cm) and significantly decreases during the summer months (e.g., June: 0.3 cm, July-August: no rainfall). The temperatures remain moderate year-round, ranging from 9.4°C to 15.6°C, consistent with the Mediterranean region. Winters are mild, while summers are warm but not excessively hot, due to the maritime influence. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:
Monsoon regions have rainfall concentrated in the summer months (opposite to the Mediterranean pattern). Steppe regions are semi-arid with low annual rainfall (<50 cm) and higher temperature extremes, unlike the given data. North-West Europe experiences rainfall distributed evenly throughout the year, unlike the dry summers shown in the data.