Spain’s Climate Diversity: Factors and Regional Types

Posted on Mar 29, 2025 in Geology

Spain’s Climate Diversity

Climate Factors

Key aspects influence Spain’s climate:

  1. Geographic Factors

    • Latitude: This causes Spain to experience four distinct seasons.
    • Situation: Being located between the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and two continents (Europe and Africa) allows different air masses to influence the region.
    • Influence of the Sea: The effect of the sea is reduced by coastal mountain ranges, but Spain’s position facilitates the entry of air masses and moderates high temperatures.

  2. Thermodynamic Factors

    These determine weather and climate:

    • The Jet Stream: An East-West wind between 9 and 10 km altitude, responsible for surface weather, depending on its speed and seasonal movement.
    • Surface Circulation: Governed by:
      • Centers of Action: Areas of low and high pressure (pressure is the weight of air at a point on Earth, measured by a barometer). By origin, they can be thermal anticyclones or thermal lows. Key centers affecting the peninsula include the Azores High (moves north in summer), the Scandinavian High (moves south in winter), thermal anticyclones, the Icelandic Low, the Gulf of Genoa depression, North African lows, and peninsular thermal lows.
    • Air Masses: These have specified characteristics and define the prevailing weather.
    • Surface Fronts: Separate air masses with different characteristics (e.g., the polar front).

Elements of Climate

  1. Insolation: Solar radiation received by the surface.
  2. Cloudiness: The state of the atmosphere regarding cloud cover (more or less).
  3. Air Temperature: The degree of heat in the air.
  4. Frosts: Occur when air temperature drops below 0°C, caused by irradiation or advection.
  5. Humidity: The quantity of water vapor in the air.
  6. Fog
  7. Haze: Dust particles suspended in the air.
  8. Atmospheric Pressure
  9. Wind
  10. Evaporation
  11. Evapotranspiration: Moisture loss from the land surface.
  12. Aridity: The relationship between heat and humidity in a given space.

Types of Atmospheric Weather in Spain

  1. On the Peninsula:

    • Winter: Dominated by the jet stream trough, allowing the polar front and Atlantic storms to act.
    • Summer: Dominated by the Azores High and African thermal lows, bringing hot and dry weather.
    • Autumn and Spring: Variable weather, combining anticyclonic situations typical of summer and winter patterns.

  2. In the Canary Islands:

    Weather is typically influenced by the Azores High. Rainfall occurs due to marine polar air masses, and warm conditions are brought by Saharan air.

Climate Types in Spain

  1. Oceanic Climate

    Found in Cantabria and Galicia. Characteristics include:

    • Abundant and regular rainfall (exceeding 800 mm annually).
    • Mild temperatures.
    • Low thermal amplitude (less than 15°C).
    • The influence of the sea leads to moderate winters and summers.

  2. Mediterranean Climate

    Includes most of the Peninsula, Ceuta, and Melilla. Characteristics include:

    • Low and irregular rainfall (less than 800 mm annually).
    • Dry summers due to the Azores High and African thermal lows.
    • Variable temperatures, leading to several subtypes:
    Subtypes of Mediterranean Climate:
    • Maritime Mediterranean: Covers the Mediterranean coast, South Atlantic coast, Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
      • Rainfall is low (300-800 mm), with differences:
        • Mediterranean Coast: Lower rainfall due to storms losing intensity; very hot summers.
        • South Atlantic Coast: More abundant rainfall due to storms; temperatures increase from north to south.
    • Continental Mediterranean: Occupies the interior of the peninsula (excluding the Ebro Valley).
      • Rainfall between 300 and 800 mm (lower in the center, more abundant in the western sector).
      • Extreme temperatures (thermal amplitude above 16°C).
      • Distinguishing subtypes:
        • Northern Plateau, Guadalajara, Teruel Basin: Cool summers and cold winters.
        • Interior of Extremadura and Andalusia: Hot summers and mild winters.
    • Dry Mediterranean (Semi-Arid): Southeast peninsula and middle Ebro Valley.
      • Rainfall below 300 mm annually.
      • Aridity is characteristic in both sectors.

  3. Mountain Climate

    Found in areas with altitudes over 1000m. Characteristics include:

    • Higher altitude leads to higher rainfall and lower temperatures.
    • Rainfall exceeds 1000 mm annually.
    • Mean annual temperatures are low.
    • Variations:
      • Mountains of the Northern Peninsula: No dry month; cool summers.
      • Mountains of the Central and Southern Peninsula: One or two dry months; higher summer temperatures.

  4. Canary Islands Climate (Subtropical)

    Influenced by several factors:

    • Location: Dominated by the Azores High, leading to mild temperatures year-round.
    • Cold Canary Current: Stabilizes the air, especially in summer.
    • Altitude (Relief): Reduces temperatures significantly.

    Characteristics:

    • Precipitation is generally low, ranging from 150-300 mm in western lowlands to potentially 1000 mm in highlands exposed to trade winds.
    • Temperatures are warm in low-lying areas (average 17-22°C) with a small thermal range (around 8°C). Temperature decreases with altitude.