BSh

BSh is a hot semi-arid climate in the Köppen climate classification. The code consists of three parts: B for an arid climate, S for steppe or semi-arid conditions, and h indicating hot summers with a mean annual temperature above 18°C. BSh climates are characterized by low and often irregular precipitation and a pronounced dry season, with hot daytime temperatures and comparatively milder winters.

In terms of climate, BSh regions experience limited rainfall that is typically concentrated in a brief wet season. Evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation for most of the year, producing arid to semi-arid conditions. Vegetation is generally drought-tolerant and sparse, ranging from grasses and scrub to thorny shrublands. Land use commonly includes grazing and drought-resistant agriculture, with irrigation playing a role in some areas where water resources permit. The climate is vulnerable to drought and heat, and rainfall variability can have significant impacts on water supply and ecosystems.

Geographically, hot semi-arid climates occur on subtropical desert margins and in belt-like zones near the Sahel, as well as in parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and some continental interiors. They are distinct from hot deserts (BWh), which have even less precipitation, and from cold semi-arid climates (BSk), which have cooler average temperatures.

In climate studies, BSh is used to describe semi-arid regions with hot temperatures, helping to inform water management, agricultural planning, and ecological assessments in semi-arid environments.