What is the climate of Bordeaux?

• A. Continental
• B. Maritime
• C. Mediterranean
• D. Oceanic

Answer: (B)

Bordeaux’s climate is shaped by the Atlantic Ocean, giving it a maritime climate: mild winters, warm but not extreme summers, and rainfall spread fairly evenly throughout the year with a tendency toward wetter periods in autumn and winter. The sea moderates temperatures and keeps humidity relatively high, so you don’t see the big seasonal swings you would get inland. Among the options, this sea- moderated pattern is best described as maritime. Continental would bring larger temperature extremes, Mediterranean would bring hot, dry summers, and while oceanic is a closely related term, maritime is the label most commonly used for Bordeaux’s Atlantic-influenced climate.