Understanding Spain’s Climate: Geographical & Thermodynamic Factors
Understanding Spain’s Climate: Geographical and Thermodynamic Factors
Geographical Factors
Geographic factors explaining the Spanish climates are:
Latitude
The latitude of Spain, in the Northern Hemisphere temperate zone, determines the existence of two distinct seasons (summer and winter), separated by two transitional seasons (spring and fall).
Situation
The situation of the peninsula between two large bodies of water of different thermal characteristics (the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea) and
Read MoreEarth’s Internal Heat: Tectonic Plates, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes
Why Is the Interior of the Earth So Hot?
The interior of the Earth is very hot because of the heat generated when the Earth was formed. The temperature is above 6000ºC.
4600 million years ago, meteorites crashed and made the Earth hotter. 4000 million years ago, the heat expanded and formed a core of iron. The Earth today has two cores: the inner core is solid due to the pressure, and the outer core is molten.
- The crust is the external layer and has a depth of 0-35km.
- The mantle is the medial layer
Essential Geography and Climatology Terms: A Concise Dictionary
Geography & Climatology Glossary
Aquifer: A combination of groundwater and the rock that stores and circulates the water.
Afluente (Tributary): A watercourse that flows into a larger body of water.
Temperature Range: The difference between the highest and lowest daily, monthly, or yearly temperatures; also known as thermal oscillation.
Anticyclone: A high-pressure zone surrounded by areas of lower pressure.
Anticline: A fold in the ground.
Aridity: A condition resulting from a lack of water due to
Read MoreSoil Science Concepts and Techniques
6) Eluviation/Illuviation Process
Luvisols vs. Podzols
Eluviation is the leaching or removal/transport of suspended or dissolved soil components to underlying horizons. This includes:
- Degradation (removal of soluble salts)
- Illimerization (removal of clay)
- Podzolization (removal of Fe and Al oxides and organic substances, leading to E horizon formation)
Illuviation is the accumulation of substances removed from the overlaying horizon (eluviation), leading to the formation of argic/spodic/natric horizons.
Plate Tectonics, Solar System Origin, and Life’s Genesis
Plate Tectonics
Continental drift and seafloor spreading unite in a more complete theory known as plate tectonics. Under this theory, the rigid outer layer of the Earth is over a weaker region called the asthenosphere. The lithosphere is divided into several pieces called plates that are moving and continually changing in shape and size. The plates move and deform along their edges.
When the plates separate, mantle material rises, creating new ocean floor. When the plates collide, mountain ranges
Read MoreEfficient Irrigation Methods and Fertilizer Use for Crop Production
Irrigation Systems for Optimal Crop Growth
The sprinkler system artificially incorporates water into the soil to meet plant needs, unlike natural rainwater, where incorporation is often less efficient.
Objective of Irrigation
The primary objective of irrigation is to maintain optimal groundwater levels and soil moisture. This is crucial for economic crop production, especially when considering the resources invested. When crops show signs of water stress, artificial irrigation becomes necessary.