Iberian Peninsula: Morphostructural Units and Climate Analysis
Morphostructural Units of the Iberian Peninsula
In the document, map 1 shows eight identified locations. For each, we will indicate:
- (a) The morphostructural unit to which it belongs.
- (b) The dominant crag type (siliceous, calcareous, or clay).
- (c) Whether the morphology is ancient, recent, or very recent (with justification if necessary).
- A: Sierra Carrasqueta:
- (a) Subbetic System.
- (b) Predominantly Mesozoic limestones.
- (c) The Subbetic System is somewhat later than the Penibetic, originally beginning in the Miocene but continuing throughout the Tertiary. Recent.
- B: Ebro Depression:
- (a) Ebro Depression.
- (b) Predominantly sedimentary materials: gypsum, limestone, etc., deposited in the Tertiary.
- (c) Recent.
- C: Galician Massif:
- (a) Galician Massif.
- (b) Predominantly siliceous materials. Arises in the primary era with the Hercynian orogeny.
- (c) Ancient.
- D: Guadalquivir Depression:
- (a) Guadalquivir Depression.
- (b) A sunken area due to the Alpine movement in the Tertiary, clogged with marine sediments, predominantly clays and loams.
- (c) Recent.
- E: Duero Basin:
- (a) Duero Basin.
- (b) Consists of Paleozoic material on which there has been significant continental sedimentation during the Tertiary. Clay predominates in the countryside and limestone on the moors.
- (c) Recent sedimentation on ancient materials.
- F: Sierra de Albarracín:
- (a) Part of the Iberian System.
- (b) Composed of siliceous materials, specifically Paleozoic slates.
- (c) Ancient.
- G: Sierra de Gredos:
- (a) Part of the Central System.
- (b) Siliceous materials, mainly granite and other Paleozoic rocks.
- (c) Ancient.
- H: Basque Mountains:
- (a) Basque Mountains.
- (b) Mesozoic materials, mainly limestone, folded with the Tertiary Alpine orogeny.
- (c) Recent.
Rainfall Distribution in the Iberian Peninsula
Document map 1 shows the distribution of average rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. We will analyze the reasons for the location of areas with rainfall below 300 mm and above 1200 mm.
Areas with Less Than 300 mm of Annual Rainfall
The areas with less than 300 mm of annual rainfall include Zamora, lower Aragon, the Segura basin, and the southeastern coast at Cape Gata. The causes are the location of these areas in relation to the general atmospheric circulation and, specifically, moist winds from Atlantic storms.
- The Iberian and Catalan Coastal Range isolates lower Aragon from both Atlantic storms and the less frequent Mediterranean storms.
- The Segura Basin and Cape Gata are also insulated from winds off the Atlantic by the Betic Systems.
- The lands of Zamora are isolated by the Galician-Leonese Massif and the Central System.
Isobaric Chart Analysis
Identify the individuals or elements that are represented in the isobaric chart schemes in Document 1.
Figure 1:
- Scandinavian Anticyclone, along with the central European anticyclone, forming a thermal air mass.
- Azores High, part of the subtropical high-pressure belt.
- Icelandic Low, a permanent low-pressure depression.
- Gulf of Roses, Lyon, and Genoa, a seasonal air mass.
Figure 2:
- Azores High pressure.
- Low thermal origin in Central Europe.
- Low-pressure dynamic origin in the North Atlantic.
Weather Situations Represented by the Charts
Given the disposition of these elements, what weather situations might each of these charts represent? Why?
Figure 1: Winter Situation
This is a winter situation. The presence of the anticyclone in northern Europe and low pressures in the Mediterranean cause a polar air inlet of continental origin. The central European anticyclone is a high-pressure cell of thermal origin that only occurs in winter due to the low temperatures within the European continent. The Icelandic Low is a permanent low pressure that in winter moves south, as reflected in the map, channeling cold air masses, either maritime or continental polar, into the Iberian Peninsula. The map represents the typical situation of a cold wave that usually occurs at least once a year in the Peninsula.
Figure 2: Summer Situation
This is a summer situation. The Iberian Peninsula lies within the influence of the Azores anticyclone. This high-pressure cell causes the Polar Front to move north, preventing storms associated with it from affecting Spain and much of Western Europe (only affecting the British Isles and Scandinavia). The low pressures that exist within the European continent are of thermal origin, occurring due to the heating of the continent’s interior. It is a typical situation for the dry and hot summer characteristic of July and August.