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Not so fast lol, under Trewartha's definition, NYC falls short of being subtropical by a minuscule 1.75°F (0.97°C). November, which would be NYC's 8th month above 10°C, averages 48.25°F (9.03°C). And under the Köppen definition, Wellington falls short of being subtropical as its warmest month, February, averages 62.8°F (17.11°C), which is 8.8°F (4.89°C) below the 71.6°F (22°C) threshold. So, NYC's climate is closer to subtropical on both fronts.
You can't mix apples and oranges. Trewartha is the more widely accepted climate classification system than Köppen and Trewartha mentions nothing about a summer heat requirement for his "C" climate classification. Hence, Wellington qualifies but NYC does not make the grade for a C climate
Wellington but for heavens sake, please stop treating NYC as if it's the tundra! It's not that cold! It can get cold snaps in the single digit F's at night in winter but it can also get warm spells of 60 F in winter as well. Average winter daytime temps are above freezing. It even gets down to freezing here at night in the mild Bay Area in winter. It's perfectly manageable winter weather.
It's colder than Vancouver in winter and Vancouver is barely tolerable to me as it is... remember I wear a spacesuit throughout the winter
It's a toss-up, really as mean annual temps are nearly identical, but I'd give the edge the Wellington. From the standpoint of subtropical flora winter mildness (lack of frost) is far more important than summer heat, so Wellington wins on that score. Similarly, I would consider San Francisco as being more subtropical than NYC.
Wellington but for heavens sake, please stop treating NYC as if it's the tundra! It's not that cold! It can get cold snaps in the single digit F's at night in winter but it can also get warm spells of 60 F in winter as well. Average winter daytime temps are above freezing. It even gets down to freezing here at night in the mild Bay Area in winter. It's perfectly manageable winter weather.
I don't think people think that New York is some kind of frozen wasteland, it does regularly fall below freezing in the winter months though, this means that tropical fauna/flora would die, therefore you can't claim New York as being sub-tropical. I think a good measure of 'sub-tropical' is the type of flora/fauna that grows in the immediate area.
actually NYC is now considered to be 'subtropical' one has to be very careful with climate definitions. Remember that Shanghai China is considered 'subtropical'- yet it experiences cold in the winter. Subtropical climates can vary from the very mild- either humid -like Savannah GA or sub humid like cool San Francisco. Washington DC is now considered 'Subtropical'- while NYC is the current far north of this broad climatic definition. Wellington NZ by the way is not considered 'sub tropical- but 'temperate oceanic'.
You can't mix apples and oranges. Trewartha is the more widely accepted climate classification system than Köppen and Trewartha mentions nothing about a summer heat requirement for his "C" climate classification. Hence, Wellington qualifies but NYC does not make the grade for a C climate
Where? Köppen always seems to be the default climate classification system. And I didn't mix apples and oranges, I considered both classifications for both cities, NYC is subtropical under the Köppen defintion and is on the borderline of subtropical/continental under Trewartha's defintion, it falls short of subtropical by a fraction of a Celsius degree. Wellington is subtropical under Trewartha's definition, but under Köppen's definition, it's not even close to humid subtropical. When you consider both climate classification systems, NYC is closer to subtropical.
Last edited by Infamous92; 06-18-2013 at 05:53 AM..
Intuitively, I guessed it would be New York, and then, based on this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Infamous92
Not so fast lol, under Trewartha's definition, NYC falls short of being subtropical by a minuscule 1.75°F (0.97°C). November, which would be NYC's 8th month above 10°C, averages 48.25°F (9.03°C). And under the Köppen definition, Wellington falls short of being subtropical as its warmest month, February, averages 62.8°F (17.11°C), which is 8.8°F (4.89°C) below the 71.6°F (22°C) threshold. So, NYC's climate is closer to subtropical on both fronts.
It doesn't matter how cold it gets in January. It's the overall climate (of the whole year) that counts.
Another way of looking at it is by taking the subtropical and tropical boundary of 18C in the coldest month. NY has 4 months that meet the tropical criterion (June, July, August and September). NY is temporarily "tropical" in the summer, Wellington never gets remotely close...
Neither. NYC has a humid continental climate and Wellington by the looks of it has an oceanic climate
The above is just about how I see it:
In the case of Wellington (and really all of New Zealand) it's just too cool in summer and there is no real long bouts of sultry weather to to call Wellington "subtropical". Still, most months in Wellington are warm(ish) and none are truly cold. New Zealand climates are warm temperate climates.
In the case of NYC - it's another variation of Temperate climates, this time a hot summer version/cold winter version. Summers are hot, but winters are cool - cold.
They are both really temperate climates.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superluminal
Intuitively, I guessed it would be New York, and then, based on this:
It doesn't matter how cold it gets in January. It's the overall climate (of the whole year) that counts.
Another way of looking at it is by taking the subtropical and tropical boundary of 18C in the coldest month. NY has 4 months that meet the tropical criterion (June, July, August and September). NY is temporarily "tropical" in the summer, Wellington never gets remotely close...
That's funny you look at it that way.....as I thought that was my little invention - lol.
I consider a climate to have a "tropical month" if they have a month(s) with a mean temp of 65 F/18 C. or higher..
I consider a climate to have a "subtropical month" if they have a month(s) with a mean temp of 47 to 64 F...
I consider a climate to a " temperate month" if they have a month(s) with a mean temp of 32 to 46 F....
I consider a climate to have a "cold continental month" if they a month(s) with a mean temp of 21 to 32 F/0 C .
and I consider a climate to have a"subarctic month" if they a month(s) with a mean temp 20 F or less...
Last edited by wavehunter007; 06-18-2013 at 07:00 AM..
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