CLIMATE

1.    INTRODUCTION:

a.    climate is the normal pattern of weather conditions for a particular location over a period of many years.

b.    It is determined by:

1)   latitude (distance from the Equator): warmer closer to the Equator.

2)   Distance from the sea: coastal areas have milder temperatures.

3)   Altitude: mountainous areas are colder.

4)   Landforms: mountain ranges block warm, humid sea air.

2.    CLIMATES OF SPAIN:

	ATLANTIC	MEDITERRANEAN	CONTINENTAL	MOUNTAIN	SUBTROPICAL
WHERE?	Galicia, Cantabrian coast, western Pyrenees.	Coastal areas of Catalonia and Valencia, most of Murcia and Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.	Meseta, Ebro valley, inland areas of Andalusia and Catalonia.	High mountain ranges.	Canary Islands.
in general	Never extreme. Very humid atmosphere.	Warm with little rain.	Extreme. The driest in Spain.	Temperatures below 0ºC	Influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean.
TEMPERATURE	Mild winters and cool summers.	Mild winters and hot summers.	Cold winters and very hot summers.	Long cold winters and short cool summers.	Warm winters and moderately hot summers.
RAINFALL	Abundant throughout the year.	Irregular and light. Spring and autumn are the rainiest and summer is the driest.	Limited: mostly in spring and autumn, unusual in summer.	Heavy rainfall and snow.	Little rain.