Climates of Spain: A Comprehensive Overview
Climates of Spain
Mediterranean Peripheral
Location:
Occurs in coastal areas along the Mediterranean Sea.
Average Annual Temperature:
Fluctuates between 17 and 20°C.
Winter Temperature:
Mild, typically between 11 and 12°C.
Summer Temperature:
Hot, reaching temperatures between 23 and 25°C.
Temperature Range:
Varies between 14 and 17°C.
Total Precipitation:
Not very abundant, but higher than inland areas, ranging between 400 and 600mm. Rainfall is irregular, with periods of drought and occasional floods caused by heavy precipitation.
Vegetation:
Predominantly evergreen sclerophyllous forests, with oak and holm oak being the most representative species. Pine forests occur in coastal and inland sandy areas. Maquis and garrigue shrub vegetation are found on siliceous and limestone soils.
Soil:
Relatively fertile, with the characteristic terra rossa soil formed from the decalcification of limestone. Agricultural terraces are common for optimal land use.
Rivers:
Relatively low flow and irregular, with droughts common in summer.
Mountain
Location:
Higher elevations of major mountain ranges (above 2000 or 2500 meters, depending on latitude and position).
Average Annual Temperature:
Lower than the rest of Spain, around 3 or 4°C.
Winter Temperature:
Very cold, with freezing temperatures around -5 or -6°C.
Summer Temperature:
Mild and cool, around 8 or 10°C.
Temperature Range:
Varies between 14 and 16°C.
Total Precipitation and Distribution:
Rainfall is abundant in mountainous areas, with some regions like the Pyrenees receiving over 1000mm. Sierra Nevada experiences less rainfall. Precipitation is more frequent in lower areas and often falls as snow.
Vegetation:
Phased in altitudinal zones, with different species dominating at various heights depending on thermal conditions.
Soil:
Very poor due to the steep slopes.
Rivers:
Nonexistent, with streams flowing only during snowmelt.
Semi-arid Mediterranean
Location:
Provinces of Almería, Granada, Murcia, and Alicante.
Average Annual Temperature:
17°C.
Winter Temperature:
13.5°C.
Summer Temperature:
25°C.
Temperature Range:
14.5°C.
Total Precipitation:
200-400mm.
Distribution of Precipitation:
Mostly in autumn and spring, nonexistent in summer. Can be torrential.
Vegetation:
Drought-tolerant plants adapted to aridity.
Soil:
Similar to the peripheral Mediterranean.
Rivers:
Very low flow, dry for most of the year (ramblas), overflowing during rainfall.
Subtropical Arid
Location:
Canary Islands.
Average Annual Temperature:
20°C.
Winter Temperature:
18°C.
Summer Temperature:
22°C.
Temperature Range:
7°C.
Total Precipitation:
Low, 200-300mm.
Distribution of Precipitation:
Majority in winter, nonexistent in summer.
Vegetation:
Many endemic species.
Soil:
Characterized by gullies.
Rivers:
Practically nonexistent due to aridity and the small area for water collection.
Atlantic
Location:
Cantabrian coast (Navarre, Basque Country, Cantabria, and Asturias).
Average Annual Temperature:
Mild, between 10 and 14°C.
Winter Temperature:
Moderate, somewhat cold inland.
Summer Temperature:
Mild, rarely exceeding 20°C.
Temperature Range:
Low, around 10°C.
Total Precipitation:
700-1400mm.
Distribution of Precipitation:
Abundant and evenly distributed, with more rainfall in winter and less in summer. Precipitation falls as rain in coastal areas and snow inland.
Vegetation:
Deciduous forests (beech, chestnut, oak).
Soil:
Fertile brown soils.
Rivers:
Regular flow regime, without flooding or drought.
Mediterranean (Inland)
Location:
High central plateau (Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, and Extremadura) and most of the Ebro Valley depression.
Average Annual Temperature:
Variable and extreme due to the limited influence of the sea, ranging between 12 and 15°C.
Winter Temperature:
Cold, 4-5°C.
Summer Temperature:
Hot, 23-24°C.
Temperature Range:
Very strong thermal differences of 17-20°C between the coldest and hottest months, with the largest amplitudes in the La Mancha region (Albacete).
Total Precipitation:
Minimal, 300-500mm per year.
Distribution of Precipitation:
Concentrated in spring and autumn, nonexistent in summer. Precipitation is of frontal origin, and dryness is due to the foehn effect.
Vegetation:
Characteristic of the Mediterranean climate, with steppe vegetation common due to aridity.
Soil:
Infertile, except in areas like river valleys (Duero, Ebro).
Rivers:
Irregular water regime with low flows in summer and high floods in spring due to rainfall.