Subtrooppinen

Subtrooppinen is a Finnish adjective meaning subtropical. In climatology, geography and biology, it describes the subtropics, the belt surrounding the tropical zone and extending to temperate latitudes. The subtropics lie approximately between 23.5° and 40° latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres, though exact boundaries vary by definition and dataset.

The subtropics are typically characterized by warm to hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall patterns vary: humid subtropical regions receive substantial rainfall year-round or in a summer monsoon, while Mediterranean-type subtropics have hot, dry summers and cooler, wetter winters; arid subtropical zones experience prolonged drought. This mix supports diverse ecosystems, from evergreen forests to shrublands and grasslands.

Crops such as citrus fruits, olives, grapes, tea (at higher elevations), and sugar cane are common in subtropical regions. Vegetation often shows adaptations to seasonal drought or humidity.

In climate classifications, subtropical areas are represented by Köppen types such as Cfa and Cwa (humid subtropical) and Csa/Csb (Mediterranean). The term also appears in horticulture and agriculture to describe species adapted to warm winters. Climate change has effects on subtropical belts, influencing rainfall distribution and the geographic extent of subtropical ecosystems.