Re: OT: Weather (was: Re: questions)

CONLANG@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU writes:
>I thought you were in the Northern hemisphere? Wouldn't that make it drier
>at this time of the year? Or am I entirely confused by my knowledge of
>what
>passes for 'seasons' in Melbourne and the various equivalents worldwide?
>
>Tristan
Nope, not in California :).

Our rainy season begins late October, lasting until early April, sometimes
May. It's this time of year when high pressure zones weaken, and allow the
jet stream to carry storms into California (most from Alaska, but we get
what we call the "Pineapple Express" which is warm subtropical moisture
streaming in from around Hawaii).

This is why i live in what's known as a "Mediterranean" climate.

Here's a description of what a mediterranean climate is like:

Worldwide mediterranean climates are characterized by cool, wet winters
and summer drought. Temperatures may vary considerably, some areas have
hard frosts in winters, others barely any frost at all; in some, summers
are unbearably hot and dry, others mild and foggy. Plants native to these
areas are genetically programmed to withstand these specific conditions.
One common form of adaptation is a summer dormancy period as our arid
summers are the most difficult season to survive (as opposed to a freezing
winter). This is a wide range of other conditions in the various
mediterranean climates, creating a variety of plant adaptations that are
particularly useful for gardeners to understand.

The 5 mediterranean climates of the world are, of course, the area
surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, the South African Cape, Southern and
Western Australia, Central Chile, and much of California. There are other
areas 'allied' with these climates as well. Gardeners in these areas enjoy
a diversity of native plants (the South African Western Cape endemic flora
is the most diverse in the world), as well as beautiful and interesting
plants of other similar climates which sometimes become naturalized ("No,
Eucalyptus is not native to California").

All of these zones have a very similar look, which is why tourists from
Europe will often say California resembles parts of Spain or Italy (a
family friend says Tuscany looks very much like Central California
(Montrei :)).
____________________________________________

Did I see a moment with you, in a half lit world?
I'm frightened to believe
I must try, If i stumble or if i fall
I'm reaching out, in this mourning air

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