Pyrenees: Geography, Climate, and Characteristics
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are a major Alpine range in southern Europe, stretching approximately 440 km from the Bay of Biscay in the west to Cape Creus in the east. They form the isthmus connecting the Iberian Peninsula to the continent. The highest peaks mark the border between France and Spain in the central Pyrenees. The range is complex and divided into several units:
- Central Pyrenean Axis: This sector contains the highest altitudes, exceeding 3000m.
- Pre-Pyrenees: Organized into two mountain ranges separated by the intrapirenáica depression.
- Interior Sierra: A set of massive parallel ranges cut by rivers forming narrow north-south valleys.
- Depression: A discontinuous series of small depressions between the two mountain ranges.
Atlantic Ocean Climate
This climate features mild temperatures due to Atlantic influences and abundant rainfall, which causes variations in temperature and precipitation. There are two main types:
- Oceanic Mountain: Cold winters and significant precipitation throughout the year, including snow in winter.
- Oceanic Transition: Influenced by the Atlantic but with less rainfall, dry summers, and cold winters.
Mediterranean Climate
Characterized by hot, dry summers and limited rainfall. This climate has three variations:
- Mediterranean with Atlantic Influence: Receives Atlantic storms and fronts, resulting in abundant precipitation in the cold season. Summers are dry and hot due to low latitude and the Azores influence.
- Mediterranean Mountain: Rainfall varies depending on orientation and latitude. Cool winters and mild summers.
- Dry Mediterranean: Precipitation does not reach 400mm.
The following is a representation of a mixed graph showing two variables: temperature (red line) and rainfall (vertical blue bars). This is a climograph for the city of Lugo, which has a transitional oceanic climate.
The total annual rainfall is 1090.2 mm, which is considered heavy (over 800 mm) and is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with a short minimum in summer. Only July has rainfall below 30 mm. The maximum rainfall occurs in winter (January). Given the temperature, most precipitation falls as rain. This total rainfall is characteristic of a transitional oceanic climate.
The average annual temperature is 11.4 degrees, with a low temperature range of 11.7 °C. Summers are cool (no month with an average temperature exceeding 22 °C), and winters are cold (the average temperature of the coldest month is between 6 and -3 °C), but not extremely so, as the coldest month has an average temperature of 5.9 °C. These thermal characteristics suggest a northern and interior position within the Peninsula (cold winters), but not far from the coast, as the winter is not very harsh and the temperature range is low.
The relationship between temperature and rainfall shows that arid conditions exist only in July, which could be described as semi-arid. Based on these characteristics, we can conclude that this is a transitional oceanic climate, located in the north of the peninsula. The abundance and regular distribution of rainfall throughout the year are due to the influence of polar front storms. The July minimum is explained by the influence of the Azores anticyclone, which shifts north at this time of year. This climate is associated with deciduous forest vegetation, heath, and grasslands, and rivers flow abundantly.