Editing Subtropics (section)

{{Short description|Geographic and climate zone}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
[[File:Subtropical.png|thumb|upright=1.3|Areas of the world with subtropical climates]]
[[File:World map indicating tropics and subtropics.png|thumb|upright=1.3|The subtropics and [[tropics]]]]

The '''subtropical zones''' or '''subtropics''' are [[geographical zone|geographical]] and [[Köppen climate classification|climate zones]] immediately to the [[Northern Hemisphere|north]] and [[Southern Hemisphere|south]] of the [[tropics]]. Geographically part of the [[Geographical zone#Temperate zones|temperate zones]] of both hemispheres, they cover the [[middle latitudes]] from {{circle of latitude|tropical|convert}} to approximately 35° to 40° north and south.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subtropical zone |url=https://content.meteoblue.com/en/research-education/educational-resources/meteoscool/general-climate-zones/subtropical-zone |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=meteoblue |language=en}}</ref> The [[horse latitudes]] lie within this range.

Subtropical climates are often characterized by hot summers and mild winters with infrequent frost. Most subtropical climates fall into two basic types: [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: Cfa/Cwa), where rainfall is often concentrated in the warmest months, for example [[list of regions of China|Southeast China]] and the [[Southeastern United States]], and [[Mediterranean climate|dry summer]] or [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: Csa/Csb), where seasonal rainfall is concentrated in the cooler months, such as the [[Mediterranean Basin]] or [[Southern California]].

Subtropical climates can also occur at high elevations within the [[tropics]], such as in the southern end of the [[Mexican Plateau]] and in [[Da Lat]] of the Vietnamese Central Highlands. The six climate classifications use the term to help define the various [[temperature]] and [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] regimes for planet [[Earth]].

A great portion of the world's deserts are within the subtropics, as this is where the semi-permanent subtropical anticyclone resides (typically inland on the southwest sides of continents).  Areas bordering warm oceans (typically on the southeast sides of continents) have hot and wet summers with frequent (but brief) convective rainfall ([[tropical cyclone]]s can also contribute to annual rainfall).  Areas bordering cool oceans (typically on the southwest sides of continents) are prone to fog, aridity, and dry summers. Plants such as [[palm (plant)|palms]], [[citrus]], [[mango]], [[pistachio]], [[lychee]], and [[avocado]] are grown in the subtropics.