Factors Influencing the Climate of Spain
Climate of Spain
Factors Influencing Climate
Diverse factors influence the climate of any area. The Earth’s movement affects seasons, while rotation causes day and night cycles. Geographical and thermodynamic factors determine each location’s climate type.
Geographical Factors
Geographical factors include:
- Altitude: Higher altitudes have lower temperatures (a decrease of 5°C per 100m).
- Latitude: Spain’s latitude results in two distinct seasons (summer and winter) separated by two transitional seasons (spring and autumn). The Canary Islands experience less contrast between seasons due to their location and the perpendicularity of the sun’s rays.
- Influence of the Sea: The sea’s influence on the peninsula is limited due to its width and topography. The sea acts as a temperature regulator, taking five times longer to cool and warm than land.
- Relief: Relief influences climate through location, height, and orientation. Mountains parallel to the coast hinder the flow of maritime air masses, leading to colder temperatures and less precipitation inland.
Thermodynamic Factors
Thermodynamic factors include general atmospheric circulation, high and low-pressure centers, and polar fronts.
- General Atmospheric Circulation: The jet stream separates low and high pressure, creating areas affected by surface pressure changes.
- Action Centers: Cyclones and anticyclones are the primary action centers affecting the peninsula.
- Anticyclones: High-pressure areas (+1013 mb) that bring stable weather. Clouds have a greater capacity to hold water, and air masses descend and diverge, with winds moving clockwise.
- Storms: Low-pressure areas (-1013 mb) that generate unstable weather. Clouds have less capacity to hold water, and air masses converge and ascend, with winds moving counterclockwise.
Main Action Centers Affecting Spain
- Azores Anticyclone: Provides good weather in summer and moves south in winter.
- Saharan Anticyclone: Seasonal, bringing stable, dry weather and sometimes dust clouds.
- Scandinavian Anticyclone: Provides stable and sunny weather but with low temperatures due to its polar origin.
- European Anticyclone: Seasonal, arriving in central Europe during winter due to low temperatures.
- Meseteño Anticyclone: Similar to the European anticyclone but originates within Spain, providing good weather.
- Bay of Roses Storm: Forms in late summer due to the warming of the Mediterranean Sea and affects the eastern peninsula.
- Convective Storms: Created by summer heating, leading to storms. If combined with the jet stream, they can produce torrential rains and flooding.
- Gulf of Cadiz Low Pressure: Forms in winter due to the displacement of the Azores anticyclone, creating a reservoir of low barometric pressure.
Climates of Spain
The climates affecting Spain are largely determined by the factors mentioned above.
Atlantic or Oceanic Climate
Affects the northern coast, with an average temperature of 15°C, mild winters, and hot summers due to the sea’s influence. The temperature range is between 10 and 15°C. Average annual rainfall exceeds 1000mm, with the highest rainfall in winter. There are no dry months due to temperature and humidity. This climate is also influenced by the polar front. A transitional climate exists in areas inland from the Cantabrian cornice.
Mediterranean Climate
Affects the east coast, with mild winters and hot summers. The temperature range is around 15°C. Precipitation is around 500mm, with maximums at the equinoxes. There are between one and six dry months.
Mediterranean Climate Varieties
- Continental Mediterranean Climate: Affects the North and South Submeseta, the Ebro Valley, and the Guadalquivir Valley.
- North Submeseta: Average temperature of 17°C, harsh winters, and mild, short summers. Rainfall occurs at the equinoxes, with no more than two dry months.
- South Submeseta: Warmer winters than the North Submeseta, but with hot and long summers. Precipitation varies from east to west, with the west being wetter.
- Ebro Valley: Cold winters and hot summers. Affected by the north wind (wind chill). High thermal amplitude due to distance from the sea. Little rainfall, mainly at the equinoxes.
- Guadalquivir Valley: Mild winters and very high summer temperatures. Precipitation is 650mm, with rainfall in winter and at the equinoxes.
- Arid Mediterranean Climate: Affects Almeria and Murcia. Very warm summers and winters. Precipitation is 200mm, with ten dry months, three of which are completely dry due to rapid evaporation.
Canary Islands Climate
Composed of three varieties: Oceanic (smaller islands), Canario (Gran Canaria and Tenerife), and Desert (Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). Hot summers and warm winters, with a temperature range of 7°C. Precipitation is 250mm. These islands are affected by the northeast trade winds, which are fresh and moist, providing moisture.
Mountain Climate
Affects areas above 1000m, with a decrease in temperature (0.6°C/100m). Variable insolation depending on sun exposure. Precipitation increases with altitude. Belongs to wet Spain, with no dry months.