Which climate conditions are most common in Mediterranean scrublands?

Mediterranean scrublands are primarily defined by a Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by two distinct seasonal patterns:

• Mild, moist winters: These regions experience the majority of their annual precipitation during the winter months, providing the necessary moisture for plant growth and flowering.123
• Hot, dry summers: During this season, high temperatures and a lack of rainfall create significant drought stress. This leads to high rates of evaporation, causing many scrubland plants to become dormant to conserve water.123

These environments typically occur on the west coasts of continents between 30° and 40° latitude in both hemispheres. Because of the predictable summer drought, these regions are also prone to frequent wildfires, which have shaped the evolution and structure of the vegetation. While these are the most common conditions, some scrublands in Europe and Asia may experience a wider climatic range, including higher proportions of summer rainfall.12