por He mild weather are the weather conditions that occur periodically in certain areas between the tropics and the polar circles. This type of climate occurs in the geographical areas that lie between the polar and tropical regions.
These areas are characterized by the incidence of lower solar radiation compared to the intertropical strip, with the occurrence of average temperatures. Therefore, the temperate climate occurs on all continents, both in the northern and southern hemispheres.
In America temperate climates occur in the north, from the middle of the Gulf of Mexico to areas of Canada. While in the south there are temperate climate zones from the north of Chile and Argentina to the south, as well as in the south of Paraguay and Brazil.
In addition, much of western Europe has a temperate climate, as does Asia along the eastern Mediterranean and in the south of the continent. In Africa, the temperate climate occurs only north of the Sahara, on the Mediterranean coast, and in the southern African cone, while in Oceania it occurs south of Australia and New Zealand.
However, the temperate climate is not uniform in these sites, varying according to latitude and the relationship between land and ocean masses. Therefore, different types of temperate climate occur, such as the humid temperate climate or oceanic climate and the Mediterranean climate.
On the other hand, the flora and fauna of these regions are less diverse than in the tropical climate, but they are still abundant. Above all, the regions with a Mediterranean climate are considered very important centers of biodiversity.
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Characteristics of the temperate climate
The word «temperate» refers to the moderate condition of something, in this case the temperature. It refers to those regions of the world with moderate annual average temperatures, neither too cold nor too hot, and for this reason the temperate climate is also called mesothermal.
It is important to note that these are annual averages and not the prevailing temperatures throughout the year. Thus, very high temperatures can occur in temperate zones in summer and very low in winter.
Solar radiation
The determining factor for the occurrence of a temperate climate is the amount of incident solar radiation at a point. This is given by the angle at which the sun’s rays reach the Earth’s surface, due to the inclination of the planet’s axis.
In the intertropical region (between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn), the sun’s rays fall vertically, while in the temperate zone they do so obliquely. Therefore, when incident obliquely on the ground, the same amount of solar radiation is distributed over a larger area.
This results in less heating of the soil and therefore less heating of the air. Additionally, the inclination of the Earth’s axis, plus the translation movement of the Earth around the Sun, differentially distributes solar radiation throughout the year. In such a way that in the temperate zone there is a more differentiated seasonality than in the other regions of the Earth.
seasonality
In the two temperate climate zones of the planet there are 4 well-defined seasons in the year. These are spring, summer, autumn and winter, each lasting approximately 3 months.
It should be noted that since the two temperate zones of the planet are in opposite hemispheres, the months in which the seasons occur in each area are exactly opposite. For example, spring in the northern hemisphere occurs between March and June, while in the south it occurs between September and December.
Seasonality also affects the length of day and night in the year, with shorter days and longer nights in winter. While in the summer the nights are shorter and the days tend to be longer.
temperatures
Average annual temperatures in the temperate climate are between 12 and 18 °C. The average is always above 10 °C in the warmest months, with some areas with maximum temperatures above 40 °C. During the winter months, the temperature can drop to -3 °C on average.
precipitation
Precipitation can be in the form of rain or snow, and varies between 400 and 3,000 mm on average per year. Although there are also extremely dry regions, where precipitation can be less than 400 mm.
Altitude
The temperate climate zone is defined in latitudinal strips, although altitude variations generate changes in climatic conditions. In such a way that in very high reliefs of regions with a temperate climate, the prevailing characteristics resemble those of a cold climate.
Location of countries with temperate climate
In general terms, the temperate climate fringes occur between parallels 23° and 66° in each hemisphere. Although this varies, since the inclination of the Earth’s axis changes over time and therefore also the position of both tropics.
In such a way that there are countries defined by having a temperate climate, as well as some by being in the transition between climates.
America
In the American continent, the temperate climate covers a large part of the United States and the southern fringe of Canada in the northern hemisphere. On the other hand, to the northwest of the territory of Mexico there is also a temperate climate.
As for the southern hemisphere of America, a temperate climate is located in the southern cone, mainly in the center and east. It covers part of Argentina, central Chile and southern Paraguay, while in Brazil it is located south of São Paulo. For its part, Uruguay has a temperate climate throughout its territory.
Europe
Almost all of Europe has a temperate climate, be it Mediterranean or temperate continental, except for the north of the continent, which has a cold climate. A particular case in Europe is its extensive zone of temperate Mediterranean climate in the Mediterranean Sea basin.
Asia
Temperate climates are found here in parts of central Asia, in the eastern Mediterranean and northern India, southern and eastern China, southern Taiwan, and Japan. The rest of the continent is dominated by the continental cold climate and by the dry climate, as well as by the tropical climate to the south.
Africa
The great African continent only has a temperate Mediterranean climate north of the Sahara desert and in the southern cone of the continent. The latter covers areas of southern Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique, as well as parts of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.
Oceania
This island continent is mostly dry, with temperate weather found only in southern and western Australia as well as New Zealand.
Types of temperate climate
Within the general characteristics of the temperate climate, there are basically three types according to Köppen: the humid or oceanic temperate climate, the temperate continental and the Mediterranean climate. In the first case, in turn, the humid oceanic climate and the humid subtropical climate are distinguished.
These types are determined mainly by the relationships between land and ocean masses in each case, as well as by the dynamics of temperatures and precipitations.
Humid temperate climate or oceanic climate
Because rainfall occurs throughout the year in these areas due to oceanic incidence, there is no defined dry period. It occurs in mid-latitudes of temperate regions, on the western and eastern sides of the continents.
On the other hand, the marine influence also determines a lower temperature variation between seasons and between day and night. In this case, in the zone bordering on the tropical climate, there is a variant of humid temperate climate called humid subtropical climate.
This is characterized by high rainfall and hot summers, while in the oceanic climate proper summers are mild. An example of a humid subtropical climate occurs in southern China, while the typical oceanic climate is that of Great Britain.
Temperate continental climate
It is characterized by showing marked differences between a severe winter and a very hot summer, with strong temperature variations. This is because as these regions are inland, they lack the moderating effect of the oceans.
Winters feature heavy snowfall and summers are humid. Examples of this climate are found in the north central and northeastern United States, central Europe, and central Asia.
Mediterranean climate
The Mediterranean climate is characterized by winters, which tend to be mild and rainy, while summers are dry and hot. This type of climate occurs only in 5 regions of the planet, located on the eastern flanks of the oceans.
Two of these are the Mediterranean Sea Basin between southern Europe and northern Africa, and southwest of South Africa. In America it occurs in central Chile and in California between the United States and Mexico, while in Oceania it occurs to the southwest of Australia.
Flora of the temperate climate
Plant formations typical of temperate climates are temperate forests, scrublands, and grasslands. There are temperate broadleaf deciduous forests, Mediterranean forests, coniferous forests, and transitional forests.
In deciduous forests, genera such as quercus (oaks, holm oaks, cork oaks), beeches (Fagus spp.) and Acer (the maples). On the other hand, in the southern American cone there are large extensions of forests of Nothofagusa genus of the same family as the fagaceae.
For Australia the prominent gender is eucalyptus with numerous species. The gender quercus It is also the dominant one in the Mediterranean forest as well as abundant ericaceae, among them the strawberry tree (arbutus unedo).
While in coniferous forests inhabit pines (Pinus spp.), firs (open spp.), cypresses (Cupressus spp.) and junipers (Juniperus spp.). On the other hand, in the coniferous forests of the southern hemisphere the dominant conifers are the araucarias (Araucaria spp.).
Fauna of the temperate climate
The temperate forest animals are characteristic of the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, such as the bear (Ursus spp.) and the wolf (canis lupus). Like the deer (Crevus elaphus), The moose (moose moose), the Fox (vulpes vulpes), the Lynx (Lynx spp.) and beaver (Beaver spp.).
Many domesticated species such as the cow (Bos primigenius taurus), Horse (Equus ferus caballus) and the rooster (Gallus gallus domesticus). While among the birds are the swan (cygnus spp.), capercaillie (Tetraus urogallus) and the partridge (partridge spp.).
While in the southern American hemisphere there are species such as the culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) and the rhea (rhea spp.). For their part, in Australia and New Zealand there are marsupials, such as kangaroos (subfamily Macropodinae), the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and rare birds like the kiwi (Apteryx spp.).
References
Calow, P. (Ed.) (1998). The encyclopedia of ecology and environmental management.
Cuadrat-Prats, JM and Pita-López, MF (2006) Climatology. Madrid: Chair Editions.
Garcia, E. (2004). Modifications to the Köppen climate classification system. Books Series. Number 6. Institute of Geography. National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Inzunza-Bustos, J. (2019). Descriptive meteorology….