Climate and Relief of Spain: Analysis

Posted on Mar 4, 2025 in Geology

Climate Factors in Spain

Rainfall

Total Precipitation:

  • Very abundant: More than 1000mm (Climatic mountain).
  • Abundant: Exceeds 800mm (Oceanic climate).
  • Low: 300-800mm (Coastal/continentalized Mediterranean climate).
  • Very little: Less than 300mm (Sub-desert/steppe).
  • Desert: Less than 150mm.

Distribution of Precipitation:

  • Regular: No dry months (less than 2 months > 30mm) (Oceanic climate).
  • Fairly regular: Maximum of 2 dry months (Oceanic transition to continentalized Mediterranean).
  • Irregular: More than 2 months with drought (Mediterranean), more than 7 dry months (Sub-desert/steppe).

Forms of precipitation.

Temperature

Average Annual Temperature Amplitude (difference between the hottest and coldest months):

  • Coastal zones:
    • Very low: Less than 8ºC (Canaries).
    • Low: Between 9ºC and 12ºC (Cantabrian coast).
    • Medium: 13-16ºC (Mediterranean and South Atlantic coast).
  • Interior areas:
    • High: 16-18ºC.
    • Very high: >18ºC.

Summer Temperature:

  • Warm: ≥ 22ºC.
  • Cool: < 22ºC.

Winter Temperature:

  • Mild: The coldest month does not fall below 10ºC.
  • Moderate: The coldest month is between 10ºC and 6ºC.
  • Cold: The coldest month is between 6ºC and -3ºC.

Aridity

Aridity is the relationship between heat and moisture; it increases with temperature and scarcity of precipitation.

Monthly Aridity:

Gaussen Index (2TºC ≥ P mm). If this condition is met, the month is considered dry.

General Aridity:

Lautensach: 0 dry months (wet weather), 1-3 dry months (semi-arid), 4-7 dry months (semi-arid), 7-11 dry months (extreme semi-arid).

Climate Classification

Analysis of precipitation, temperature, and aridity data to determine the climate type and relate it to geographic factors such as storms and reliefs.

Geographical Location of Climate

Relationship with Natural Elements

Vegetation, rivers, soils, etc.

Major Relief Units of Spain

The Plateau

The fundamental peninsular relief unit is a high plain, the remnant of the old Hesperian Massif, which emerged during the Hercynian orogeny in the Primary Era. It was ravaged by erosion and became a plateau. During the Tertiary Era, the plateau was largely destroyed during the Alpine orogeny. Within it, we can differentiate the old Paleozoic socle, inland mountain ranges, and sedimentary basins.

Old Paleozoic Socle

It is just west of the peninsular afloat today (Zamora-Salamanca and Extremadura peneplains).

Inner Mountain Ranges of the Plateau

These are the Central System and the Montes de Toledo. They were formed in the Tertiary Era by the Alpine orogeny.

  1. Central System: Divides the plateau in half. It includes the Sierras of Guadarrama and Gredos.
  2. Montes de Toledo: Divide the southern sub-plateau into two, separating the basins of the Tajo and Guadiana rivers. It includes the Guadalupe mountains.

Inland Sedimentary Basins

Formed in the Tertiary Era with the Alpine orogeny:

  1. Basin of the northern sub-plateau.
  2. Basin of the southern sub-plateau (divided into two by the Montes de Toledo: the Tajo and Guadiana basins).

Mountain Ridges of the Plateau

Formed in the Tertiary Era by the rejuvenation of blocks on the plateau or the folding of deposited material.

  1. Galician-Leonese Mountains: Formed in the Tertiary Era by rejuvenation. Includes Sierras such as Cabrera and Segundera.
  2. Cantabrian Range:
    1. Western Sector: Asturian Massif, rejuvenated materials from the Alpine orogeny.
    2. Eastern Sector: Cantabrian Mountains, formed by folding.
  3. Iberian System: Secondary materials, folded in the Alpine orogeny.
    1. Northern Sector: Moncayo.
    2. Southeastern Sector: The Iberian System is divided into two branches:
      • Internal branch (Albarracín).
      • External branch (Sierra de Gúdar).
  4. Sierra Morena: Produced by the thrust of the Betic Cordillera (Sierra Madrona).

External Depressions of the Plateau

The Ebro and Guadalquivir depressions are triangular-shaped, filled by Tertiary and Quaternary sediments. Today, they are horizontal reliefs.

  1. Ebro Depression: In the middle of it, there is a badlands relief.
  2. Guadalquivir Depression: Clay materials lead to rolling countryside.

Outer Ridges of the Plateau

Formed by the Alpine orogeny during the Tertiary Era, by folding the material of the Betic and Pyrenean zones.

  1. Pyrenees:
    1. Axial zone: Highest area (Aneto peak).
    2. Pre-Pyrenees: South of the axial zone.
    3. Depression: Separating the pre-Pyrenean and outer mountain ranges.
  2. Basque Mountains: Limestone crag, low height, Gorbea.
  3. Catalan Coastal Range: Divided into two alignments:
    • One parallel to the coast, of low altitude (Garraf).
    • A higher internal one (Montserrat).
  4. Betic Cordillera:
    1. Penibetic Cordillera: Along the coast, of Paleozoic materials (Sierra Nevada).
    2. Subbetic Cordillera: Sierra de Ubrique.
    3. Intrabetic Depression: Between the two cordilleras, leading to badlands landscapes.