Spain’s Climate & Vegetation: Analysis and Water Policy

Posted on Dec 4, 2024 in Geology

Climatic Regions of Spain: Analysis

Commentary on climograms: analysis of temperature, rainfall, and aridity according to Gausse, Draft-Meyer according to Lautensach; classification according to Köppen.

  • Oceanic Climate: Average annual temperature (AAT) 15ºC, maximum not exceeding 22ºC, minimum 6-10ºC, range 9-12ºC; precipitation: more than 800mm, maximum in winter, minimum in summer, maximum two dry months.
  • Coastal Mediterranean Climate (Typical): AAT 17-17.5ºC, minimum 11-11.5ºC, maximum can exceed 25ºC, range 14ºC; precipitation: 400-500mm, maximum in the equinoxes, five dry months.
  • Girona Mediterranean Climate: AAT 15-15.5ºC, minimum in July, maximum less than 23ºC, range 16ºC; precipitation: more than 600mm, one dry month.
  • Subtropical: AAT 18-18.5ºC, minimum more than 11.5ºC, maximum can reach 25ºC, range 13.5ºC; precipitation: 400-500mm, maximum at the equinoxes, five dry months.
  • Climate of the Gulf of Cadiz: AAT 17.5-18ºC, minimum over 10ºC, maximum less than 25ºC, range 13.5ºC; precipitation: 500-600mm, maximum at the equinoxes, four dry months.
  • Mediterranean Climate (Northern Sub-Plateau): AAT between 9.9-10.4ºC, minimum 2ºC, maximum 20ºC, range 16-17ºC; precipitation: 400-600mm, maximum at the equinoxes, two dry months.
  • Mediterranean Climate (Southern Sub-Plateau): AAT between 15-10ºC, minimum between 2.5-8.7ºC, maximum from 22.4-26.5ºC, range 16 to 19ºC; precipitation: between 335 and 570mm, maximum in the equinoxes.
  • Ebro Valley Weather: AAT 13-14ºC, minimum around 6ºC, maximum between 13-14ºC, range more than 18ºC; precipitation: around 315mm.
  • Climate inside the Guadalquivir Valley: AAT 17 to almost 19ºC, minimum 6.7-10ºC, maximum 24.4-27.2ºC, range 16-18ºC; precipitation: 600mm, three dry months, maximum rain in equinoxes.
  • Southeast Arid Climate: AAT 17-18ºC, maximum can exceed 25ºC; precipitation: less than 300mm.
  • Canary Climate: AAT 21.1ºC, range less than 8ºC; precipitation: between 150-300mm, maximum in winter.
  • Mountain Climate: AAT less than 10ºC, maximum does not exceed 22ºC, minimum 0ºC or below; precipitation: excess of 1000mm per year.

Vegetation of Spain

The Bush: Occurs when the forest is degraded. There are three characteristic types:

  • The Bush: Dense, almost impenetrable, more than two meters high, formed by sclerophyllous scrub, broom, and heather.
  • The Garrigue: Formed by shrubs and low-lying bushes, leaving uncovered areas where the rock appears.
  • The Steppes: Consisting of grasses interspersed with thorny bushes, low and discontinuous, exposing poor soils, highlighting palmetto and thyme.

Vegetation of Castile and León

  • Encinas (Holm Oaks): The oak colonized the region, but due to human action, most have disappeared and been replaced by farmland. In the western peneplain, pastures have formed (with jaws and cork). The oaks are denser at the contact between plains and mountains.
  • Oak or Rebollo: Occupy plains and foothills on siliceous soils at 100m altitude with rainfall above 500mm. The landscape of this more stable Pyrenean between 700-9000m altitude in the Zamora regions of the recruitment and Sayago and west of Salamanca peneplain.
  • Quejigo: Well-suited to the climate, is a species in clear progression. It developed especially in the colder limestone moorlands of the north and also in the limestone south of the Duero.
  • Sabina Albar: This tree has a preference for limestone materials on poor soils.
  • Pine: Reforestation with pines has turned back to oak and mixed forests. The species used are mostly resinero pine, stone pine used in the south, and Valsaín pine in mountain areas.

Lakes of Spain

In Spain, there are small lakes with limited dimensions and some seasonal character, their lifespan is short. There are two main types of lakes:

a) Endogenous Lakes (formed by forces inside the earth)

  • Tectonic Lakes: Form in land sunk by the action of folds or faults.
  • Volcanic Lakes: Formed in volcanic craters of ancient volcanoes.

b) Exogenous Lakes (caused by external forces)

  • Glacial Lakes: Formed from excavation by ice in the cirque or valley glacier.
  • Karst Lakes: Originate in the basins created by the dissolution of limestone or gypsum.
  • Arheic Lakes: Characteristic of arid or semi-arid plains. Their sparse water evaporates before reaching the sea.

Wetlands are areas of land covered by shallow water. During the summer drought, the water level is low and may even disappear. They have great biological interest because they are home to many animal and plant species.

Water Policy in Spain

Water policy aims to regulate and manage water resources. The regulation is carried out by the Law of Gauges. This is done through water policies.

The River Basin Management Plan identifies work needed in each basin and is transmitted by the Ministry of Environment.

The National Hydrological Plan

This was in force until 2008 and involved an investment of €18 billion to reach certain targets by 2020. The Water Plan includes 105 actions to increase water resources, improve its management, and improve water quality. The politically abandoned water transfer from the Ebro was replaced by a focus on obtaining water through desalination plants.