Semi-arid climate

A semi-arid climate, also called a semi-desert or steppe climate, is a type of dry climate. It happens in places that get less rain than they could evaporate, but they still get more rain than very dry desert areas. These climates are special because they are not as dry as deserts, but they are still quite dry.

There are many different kinds of semi-arid climates. They can change based on things like temperature. Because of these climates, different kinds of plants and animals live there, forming special areas called biomes. Understanding semi-arid climates helps us learn about how nature survives in places with less water.

Defining attributes of semi-arid climates

A semi-arid climate is a type of dry climate. It is not as dry as a desert but gets less rain than it needs. The Köppen climate classification helps us understand these climates. It places them between desert climates and more humid climates. These areas usually have short, thorny plants or scrubby bushes. They are often covered with grasses or shrubs instead of tall trees.

To know if a place has a semi-arid climate, we look at how much rain it gets and when the rain falls. We start by multiplying the average yearly temperature by 20. Then we add extra numbers depending on when the rain mostly falls. If the yearly rain is less than this number but more than half of it, the area is considered a semi-arid climate.

Hot semi-arid climates

Hot semi-arid climates (type "BSh") are found between the high tens to mid-30s latitudes near the tropics and subtropics. These places usually have hot summers and warm to cool winters with only a little rain. They are often near the edges of subtropical deserts.

These climates are common in Africa, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and around the Iranian plateau. In Australia, many parts of the Outback near the central deserts have this climate. In South Asia, countries like India and Pakistan have short, rainy seasons due to monsoons but stay dry overall. Hot semi-arid climates also appear in North America, such as northern Mexico, parts of the Southwestern United States including California's Central Valley, and sections of South America. They can also be found in parts of Europe, especially around the Mediterranean Basin, including southeastern Spain and some areas of Greece, Italy, and other nearby islands.

Cold semi-arid climates

Cold semi-arid climates (type "BSk") are found in higher areas of temperate zones, between about 30 to 50 degrees latitude. These places have warm, dry summers but much colder winters, sometimes with a little snow. Unlike warmer semi-arid areas, these places can have big temperature changes between day and night.

These climates are common in central Asia, parts of the western US, the Middle East, and other areas in Asia. They can also be found in Northern Africa, South Africa, some parts of South America, southern Australia (like Mildura), and several European countries including Spain, Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Romania, Italy, Portugal, and North Macedonia.

Charts of selected cities

Hot semi-arid

Cold semi-arid