{"id":23899,"date":"2025-12-05T10:54:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T18:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geocurrents.info\/?p=23899"},"modified":"2025-12-05T10:54:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T18:54:35","slug":"the-incoherent-concept-of-the-subtropics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geocurrents.info\/blog\/2025\/12\/05\/the-incoherent-concept-of-the-subtropics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Incoherent Concept of the Subtropics"},"content":{"rendered":"

The previous GeoCurrents<\/em> post harshly criticized several climate maps for extending the subtropical zones too far toward the poles. But after doing a little casual research, I was chagrined to discover that these maps largely fit the formal, or \u201cgeographical,\u201d definition of the term. The Wikipedia article on the subtropics<\/a> states that \u201cthey cover the middle latitudes\u00a0from 23\u00b026\u203209.3 to approximately 35\u00b0 to 40\u00b0 north and south.\u201d Both ChatGPT and Grok give the same figures. But in the United States, the subtropics are seldom if ever imagined in such terms. The idea that Chattanooga, Tennessee (35\u00b0N) is subtropical, let alone Columbus, Ohio (40\u00b0N), would strike most Americans as absurd. It is also noteworthy that very few maps that purport to depict the subtropics follow this latitudinal definition \u2013 and for good reason.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Problematic Latitudinal Definition of the Subtropics in the United States<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

The main reason why the common conception of the subtropics does not match the formal definition is because the former is based on climate and climatic zones do not rigidly follow latitudinal belts. As can be seen below, the Wikipedia map of subtropical climates strays far from the lines of latitude that supposedly bound them. Although the Wikipedia article on the subtropics does not specify that the latitude-based definition of the term is quite different from the climatological definition, both ChatGPT and Grok do so. \u00a0As a result, they give a better sense of what the term actually means.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Wikipedia Map of the Subtropics<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

But even if we limit ourselves to the climatological subtropics, conceptual problems remain. To begin with, the definition of the term varies significantly from source to source. Such definitions, moreover, are often too vague to be useful. ChatGPT, for example, tells me that \u201cSome meteorological sources define the subtropics as the region where [the] mean annual temperature is above 18\u00b0C (64\u00b0F) [and] winters are not cold enough for snow to be reliable,\u201d but as this definition also includes the tropics. ChatGPT further claims that subtropical summers are hot, but that is not the case in many west-coast locations. In Walvis Bay, Namibia, which at 22\u00b057\u2019 is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, not a single month has a mean daily maximum temperature above 68.5\u00b0 F (20.3\u00b0 C). Grok\u2019s climatological definition of the subtropics, in contrast, is precise and seemingly scientific: \u201cRegions where the average temperature of the coldest month is between 0\u201318 \u00b0C (32\u201364 \u00b0F) and the average temperature of the warmest month is above 22 \u00b0C (72 \u00b0F), following modified K\u00f6ppen climate classification criteria.\u201d But the \u201c0\u201318 \u00b0C (32\u201364 \u00b0F)” coldest-month range is how the K\u00f6ppen system defines temperate<\/em> climates, not subtropical ones.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Walvis Bay Climate<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

The Wikipedia article on the subtropics rests on more solid climatological grounds. It follows the Trewartha climate classification system<\/a> in defining a subtropical climate as one \u201cthat has at least eight months with a mean temperature greater than 10\u00a0\u00b0C (50.0\u00a0\u00b0F) and at least one month with a mean temperature under 18\u00a0\u00b0C (64.4\u00a0\u00b0F).\u201d The main problem with this definition is that it fails to exclude areas with short but chilly winters that have regular bouts of extreme cold \u2013 conditions that few people would regard as \u201csubtropical.\u201d Chattanooga, Tennessee, for example, easily slots into Trewartha\u2019s humid subtropical zone, but its mean monthly minimum temperature in January is a frosty 15.9\u00b0 F (-9.5\u00b0 C) and its record low is a frigid -10\u00b0 F (-23\u00b0 C).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Chattanooga Climate<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Another way to define the subtropics is by the geographical ranges of certain perennial plants, generally those that require a long period of relatively warm weather but can tolerate cool winters with occasional light frost. The Wikipedia article, for example, tells us that \u201cThese [subtropical] climates do not routinely see hard freezes or snow due to winter on average being above freezing, which allows plants such as palms and citrus to flourish.\u201d By this criterion, my own home on the Stanford campus near Palo Alto, California (37\u00b0 N), is definitely subtropical. But I doubt that anyone who grew up in the area would regard it as such. Most local people whom I queried seemed puzzled that I would even ask such a silly question. Several of them replied that Hawaii is the quintessential subtropical location. Actually, Hawaii is fully tropical (the northernmost point on Kauai is at 22\u00b013\u2032 N latitude).<\/p>\n

My own personal definition of the subtropics is keyed to a more comprehensive botanical list found in the same Wikipedia article: \u201cplants such as palms, citrus, mango, pistachio, leechee, and avocado are grown in the subtropics.\u201d Avocado trees cannot be successfully cultivated in Palo Alto, as they succumb to periodic frosts (Palo Alto\u2019s mean annual minimum temperature is 28.1\u00b0 F [-2.2\u00b0 C]). When driving south, I can only start to imagine that I have entered the subtropics when I have rounded Point Conception and see the avocado orchards of southern California. Santa Barbara\u2019s mean annual minimum temperature is 36.6\u00b0 F (2.3\u00b0 C) and frost-sensitive plants abound. But good luck with mangos and leechees.*<\/p>\n

I do think that the \u201csubtropics\u201d is an indispensable geographical category. But it is necessary to clearly distinguish the \u201clatitudinal subtropics\u201d from the \u201cclimatological subtropics.\u201d I also think that it is essential to consider regularly occurring extremely low temperatures when defining the subtropics on climatic grounds. These topics will be considered in greater length in coming GeoCurrents<\/em> posts.<\/p>\n

* As the map posted below shows, avocado orchards are found north of Point Conception in San Luis Obispo County, but I have never seen them.<\/p>\n

**ChatGPT tells me that \u201cYou\u00a0can<\/em>\u00a0grow mango trees in Santa Barbara if you have a warm microclimate and are willing to protect the tree during cold spells. They are not guaranteed producers\u2026\u201d It essentially gives the same answer for leechees.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Avocado Cultivation in California, Map<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The previous GeoCurrents post harshly criticized several climate maps for extending the subtropical zones too far toward the poles. But after doing a little casual research, I was chagrined to discover that these maps largely fit the formal, or \u201cgeographical,\u201d definition of the term. The Wikipedia article on the subtropics states that \u201cthey cover the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":23901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4549,1825,4101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article-grid","category-environmental-geography","category-geographical-education"],"geo":null,"yoast_head":"\nThe Incoherent Concept of the Subtropics - GeoCurrents<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geocurrents.info\/blog\/2025\/12\/05\/the-incoherent-concept-of-the-subtropics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Incoherent Concept of the Subtropics - GeoCurrents\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The previous GeoCurrents post harshly criticized several climate maps for extending the subtropical zones too far toward the poles. 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Lewis","author_link":"https:\/\/www.geocurrents.info\/blog\/author\/martin-lewis\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The previous GeoCurrents post harshly criticized several climate maps for extending the subtropical zones too far toward the poles. But after doing a little casual research, I was chagrined to discover that these maps largely fit the formal, or \u201cgeographical,\u201d definition of the term. 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