Climate and Geography of Spain: A Comprehensive Overview
Geography of Spain
Latitude and Climate Zones
Spain’s location in the Northern Hemisphere’s temperate zone influences its climate, resulting in diverse weather patterns. The Canary Islands, closer to the intertropical zone, experience less contrast. The peninsula’s position between two large bodies of water and two continents makes it a crossroads of varied air masses.
Influence of the Sea and Relief
The sea’s influence on the peninsula is limited due to its narrowness, indented coastline, and mountain ranges parallel to the coast. These mountains create a barrier, affecting the penetration of maritime air masses. Some mountain ranges, however, favor the influx of moist air, while enclosed basins like the Duero and Ebro depressions experience less rainfall. Altitude also plays a role, with lower temperatures and orographic precipitation creating contrasts between sunny and shady areas.
Thermodynamic Factors
Jet Stream and Air Masses
The jet stream, a strong wind current flowing from west to east, separates low-pressure polar air from higher-pressure air. Its fluctuating velocity and path influence surface weather. Ridges and valleys in the jet stream create high and low-pressure systems, respectively. Seasonal shifts in the jet stream’s latitude affect Spain’s weather in winter and summer.
Atmospheric Pressure
Atmospheric pressure, measured in millibars, is the weight of air above a unit area. Thermal anticyclones form when air cools, while thermal lows form when air warms. Dynamic action centers develop in areas where the jet stream forms ridges.
Climate Types
Oceanic Climate
- Atlantic Coast: This climate affects the Cantabrian and Atlantic coastal strips, with inland penetration varying. Abundant rainfall peaks in winter due to Atlantic storms and reaches a minimum in summer due to the Azores High. This climate has the lowest thermal amplitude in the peninsula, with mild winters and cool summers.
- Northern Atlantic (Galicia): This area experiences the highest rainfall.
- Southern Atlantic (Andalusian Coast): This area has higher average temperatures and lower precipitation.
- Transitional Climate: Bordering the other oceanic climates, this zone has less maritime influence, a higher temperature range, and decreased precipitation.
Mediterranean Climate
This climate, characterized by mild winters and hot summers, has varying thermal amplitude depending on the penetration of maritime influences. Precipitation is minimal in summer due to the Azores High and peaks in autumn and spring. Four sectors exist within this climate:
- Northeastern Sector (Catalan): Wetter with a higher risk of frost.
- Valencian-Balearic: Less oceanic influence, increasing temperatures southward, and decreasing precipitation.
- Southeastern Peninsular: Semi-arid with the peninsula’s lowest precipitation levels.
- Southern Coast: Highest average temperatures, influenced by the Alboran Sea, with some precipitation in autumn and winter due to westerly winds.
Peninsular River Basins
- Cantabrian: Short, fast-flowing rivers with high erosive power, regulated flow due to abundant rainfall.
- Atlantic: Long rivers originating near the Mediterranean and emptying into the Atlantic, with irregular regimes, summer droughts, and flooding in autumn and spring.
- Mediterranean: Short, often gullied rivers with irregular regimes, summer droughts, and torrential autumn rains causing floods.
Lakes
Spain has two main types of lakes:
- Endogenous Lakes: Formed by internal forces, including tectonic lakes (e.g., Laguna de la Janda) and volcanic lakes.
- Exogenous Lakes: Formed by external forces, including glacial lakes (e.g., Pyrenean lakes), karst lakes, and coastal lagoons.