Climate Factors and Elements in Spain
Key Factors Influencing Spain’s Climate
1. Location and General Climate: Spain is located in the temperate-warm climate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, near the Tropic of Cancer. The Northern Hemisphere generally experiences warm summers and cold winters, unlike the Southern Hemisphere. The Canary Islands, however, enjoy a milder, more temperate climate.
2. Climatic Factors: Several factors influence Spain’s climate over time:
- Latitude: Temperatures generally decrease as you move towards the poles. Southern regions in Spain are warmer.
- Altitude: The temperature decreases by approximately 1 degree Celsius for every 160 meters of elevation gain.
- Distance from the Sea: Large bodies of water regulate temperature. Coastal areas have smaller temperature variations, while inland areas experience greater temperature swings.
- Relief Configuration and Organization: Spain’s solid geography limits maritime influence inland.
- Topography: Major relief units bordering the plateau and coastal areas cause sea winds to collide, preventing wind from reaching inland areas.
- Influence of Ocean Currents: Spain is moderately affected by two main currents: the cold Canary Current, which softens temperatures in the Canary Islands, and the warm Gulf Stream, which moderates temperatures along the northern shores.
3. External Factors:
- Upper Atmospheric Circulation: The jet stream, a fast-flowing air current (300-4000 km/h) at approximately 10 km altitude and 40° latitude, significantly affects Spain.
- Surface Atmospheric Circulation: At sea level, air masses play a crucial role. Cold northern air masses dominate in winter, while warm southern air masses prevail in summer. Fronts (contact areas between warm and cold air) generate polar cold fronts and warm fronts of tropical origin.
Elements of Spain’s Climate
Spain’s climate elements constantly change, influencing weather forecasts.
Temperature: The degree of heat in the air, measured in Celsius.
- Variability: Daily (day and night), monthly, or annually (difference between the warmest and coldest day or month).
- Thermal Amplitude: Maximum temperature minus the minimum temperature.
- Average Annual Temperature: Sum of the thermal amplitude of each month divided by 12.
- Seasonality: In the Northern Hemisphere, winters are cold, and summers are warm.
- Cold Season: Months where the average temperature does not exceed 6°C.
Precipitation: Water falling to Earth from clouds.
- Annual Quantity: The sum of all precipitation over 12 months.
- Regularity and Irregularity: Monthly distribution of rainfall; the rainiest seasons are typically spring and autumn.
- Types: Rain in southern areas, snow in northern areas, hail, etc.
- Dry Season: When temperatures exceed double the precipitation, typically during summer months.
Humidity: The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere due to evaporation.
- Humidity (%): Percentage of water vapor the air contains; it increases with temperature.
- Fog: Condensation of moisture.
- Calima: Dry haze in summer, caused by warming in the lower layers of the soil.
Evaporation: The physical process where high temperatures cause surface water to turn into vapor and rise into the atmosphere.
- Evapotranspiration: Moisture loss due to high insolation (the amount of solar radiation received by a surface, which is higher in summer and lower in winter).
- Aridity: The relationship between heat and moisture.
Barometric Pressure: Varies with the weight of the air.
- Anticyclone: Centers of action where the barometric pressure is higher than 1013 mbar (A-point, common in summer).
- Extra-tropical Cyclones: Centers of action where the pressure is less than 1013 mbar (B-point, common in spring and autumn), causing changes in temperature and rainfall.
Clouds: Tiny water droplets suspended in the air by wind. Cloud cover is the proportion of the sky that is overcast, which is higher in winter.