Continental climate

The continental climate is one of the most spectacular. Why? Basically, because the four seasons are very distinct: in spring the plants are full of flowers, in summer it's hot, in autumn the leaves of the trees change color, and in winter the landscape is covered in snow.

There isn't as much variety of plants and animals as in a tropical climate, but because of the abundant rainfall, the forests and landscapes are amazing places , teeming with life.

Where does it appear and how is it characterized?

This type of climate is the most widespread in the Northern Hemisphere , appearing in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, inland China, Iran, the interior of the United States, and Canada. It is also found in the Southern Hemisphere, such as in some areas of North Africa and inland regions of Argentina.

Places with a continental climate are characterized by being located in mid-latitudes and by having mountain barriers that prevent the influence of the sea or cold winds from the poles, which can cause extreme temperatures.

As for the seasons, they are very well differentiated, as we said before. But let's look at it in more detail.

Seasons of a typical continental climate (general data)

• Spring: the temperature is between 5 and 15ºC. Late frosts can occur, but the mercury in the thermometer begins to rise. On the other hand, rainfall during this season is usually scarcer than in the rest of the year; even so, they can fall at least 40mm / month.
• Summer: the temperature is between 15 and 30 or 32ºC maximum. The rains fall happily throughout the season, at the rate of 50-100mm / month.
• Fall: the mercury in the thermometer begins to drop, more or less at a maximum of 20ºC and a minimum of 10ºC, and the clouds begin to be the protagonists of the season, which is the second rainiest of the year. They fall between 70 and 90mm / month. Towards the end of September, the first frosts occur.
• Winter: in these three months, frosts and snowfalls follow each other. The temperature is 10ºC maximum and down to -10ºC or more.

PREMIUM QUALITY

We have seen the temperatures and rainfall that can occur in a continental climate, but to know more, what better than to know the different types that there are, since depending on the geographical location, there may be some variations. Thus, many types of continental climate are known, including:

Continentalized Mediterranean climate

This climate is found in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula, northern Italy, inland Greece, the Saharan Atlas Mountains, and other areas. It is characterized by very hot, dry summers and cold winters with frost.

Manchurian continental climate

This type of climate is found in North Korea, northern China, and some Russian cities, such as Khabarovsk. It has an average annual temperature above 0°C but below 10°C . Annual rainfall is approximately 500 mm.

Humid continental temperate climate

It occurs in most of eastern and central Europe, and in southeastern Canada. It is similar to the previous one, but a little cooler and drier.

Arid continental climate

This type of climate is found in Central Asia, Mongolia, and other places. It is very hot during the summer and cool in winter , with occasional frosts.

Flora

This type of climate is where we find deciduous forests . Trees like maples and oaks, and the vast majority of conifers (pines, firs, larches, cypresses), live in the mid-latitudes of the planet. Life isn't easy for them: if rainfall is abundant and the temperature isn't extreme, they grow as much as they can; however, with the arrival of cold weather, they must conserve energy to survive the winter, ceasing to nourish their leaves in the case of deciduous trees, and halting their growth. The temperature varies considerably from season to season, but thanks to their evolutionary history, they have managed to survive to the present day.

Fauna

Animals don't have it easy either, especially during winter. In fact, many birds migrate to warmer latitudes, escaping the cold and frost. Those that stay, like brown bears, go into caves to hibernate . Other animals, such as wolves, foxes, weasels, deer, and reindeer, seek out places that offer protection from the low temperatures.

Food is very scarce during the winter, as few animals venture out, and most of the fruit has already been picked. Fortunately, this doesn't last forever, and in spring the forest comes back to life.

Did you know the characteristics of the continental climate?