Climate Zones of Spain: Characteristics and Varieties
Oceanic Climate, Rivers, and Vegetation
(Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, Navarra, Aran Valley)
Rainfall is abundant year-round. Cloudiness and humidity are high, and temperatures are mild. Because of this climate, there are many rivers that are abundant, very regular, short, and have considerable unevenness with great erosive force. The abundance and strength of the water from these rivers allow for significant energy recovery. Temperate deciduous forests thrive in areas of oceanic climate. There are large plantations of eucalyptus trees. The oceanic climate favors the natural meadow.
Atlantic Oceanic Climate Varieties
Varieties of the oceanic Atlantic climate occur in regions where the influence comes from the ocean. These varieties are:
- Oceanic Mountain Range: (Galician Massif, Cantabrian Mountains, Aragonese Pyrenees, Navarra, and Catalonia). Abundant rainfall and frequent snowfall in winter.
- Variety of Oceanic Transition: (Lowlands of Ourense, Rioja, Navarra, Aragon, Catalonia). The climate presents a transition between the oceanic climate and the interior of the plateau. Lower rainfall volume, dry summers, and very cold winters.
Mediterranean Climate, Vegetation, and Rivers
Hot and dry summers, with winter, autumn, and spring rains accompanied by depressions, predominate. Hot and dry summers, mild winters, and little rain are not abundant. From the Montnegre mountains to the south of Andalusia. The dry Mediterranean summer explains why rivers flowing into this area experience drought. In Mediterranean climate areas, oak forests are very degraded, and maquis, garrigue, and steppe appear.
Varieties of the Mediterranean Climate
- Mediterranean-Atlantic Influence: (Tarifa, Guadalquivir, and Extremadura). Precipitation in the cold season of the year is relatively abundant, with dry and hot summers.
- Mountain-Mediterranean Variety: (Pyrenees, Catalan Mediterranean System, Mallorca, Murcia, Alicante, and Sierra Nevada). Rainfall comes from the Mediterranean Sea. In general, winters are usually cool, and summers are mild.
- Dry Variety with less than 400mm of Rainfall: (Alicante, Murcia, Almeria). A dry climate with a noticeable aridity index and water deficit. Rainfall is scarce and irregular. Summers are hot, and winters are mild.
Interior Continental Climate, Rivers, and Vegetation
Very cold winters, with the minimum absolute temperatures in Spain. Formation of very large banks of fog in winter. Summers are very hot and dry. There is little year-round rainfall. Summer is characterized by extreme dryness, although there may be storms. The rivers are irregular due to the climate. Oak and pine vegetation. Shrubs predominate.
Varieties of Interior Climate
- Cold Winters and Short, Mild, and Dry Summers: (Castile, North Plateau). Unlike other areas, winters are long, and summers are short. In summer, there can be very hot episodes. Rainfall is scarce.
- Mountain Range-Interior: (Iberian System, Central Mountains of Toledo). Significant rainfall. Cold and long winters, short and quite dry summers.
- Areas of Rare Rainfall and Arid Domain: (Ebro, Rioja, Aragon, Lleida, Tarragona). Cold winters with a cooling effect on the high temperatures in summer.
Canary Islands Climate
Warm temperatures throughout the year. Scant rainfall, more abundant in winter months. The variety of the Canary Islands climate is influenced by:
- The situation: The westernmost islands are under the influence of trade winds.
- Altitude and direction of relief: High mountains hinder the passage of winds that are loaded with moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, generating a sea of clouds.
- The cold current that circulates between the islands increases the stability of the air in the summer.
Climatic Varieties of the Canary Islands
- Coastal Variety: Sub-desert and steppe climate, with mild temperatures. Its climate is desert-like.
- Mid-Range of Mountains: The islands in this mountainous area are affected by the sea of clouds.
- Peaks Range: Winter with frequent frost and abundant rainfall. Characterized by intense sunlight.