We explain what the continental climate is and what its characteristics are. In addition, their subtypes and examples of flora and fauna of their environments.
What is continental climate?
The continental climate It is characterized by having very cold winters and large temperature differences between day and night. . It is a type of climate that is widespread on the planet: it is found in the northwest of the United States, in much of Canada and Alaska, in Eastern Europe, in almost all of Russia and in large sectors of Asia. On the other hand, it is non-existent in the southern hemisphere.
In the continental climate, the average summer temperature is above 10 °C, but the winters average below -3 °C.
According to the Köppen climate classification, There are three types of continental climate: the humid continental, with precipitation all year round; the continental monsoon, with precipitation concentrated in the summer; and the continental one with Mediterranean influence, with rain in the winter and dry summers.
The flora and fauna that this climate presents are adapted to low temperatures. and, in many cases, to the lack of humidity and availability of liquid water. In continental climates found in colder regions, animals and plants develop adaptations to survive in an environment of ice and snow.
Features of the continental climate
The characteristics of the continental climate are:
- It has very low temperatures in winter and a lot of temperature difference between day and night, as well as between summer and winter.
- It is one of the most widespread climates on the planet, but it is located only in the northern hemisphere.
- It has three subtypes: humid continental, monsoon continental and continental with Mediterranean influence.
- The flora and fauna that live in these climates are adapted to low temperatures.
Types of continental climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, there are three subtypes of continental climate:
- Humid continental. It has constant rain throughout the year and does not have a dry season. Temperatures can be very varied: in some sectors it can reach summers of more than 20 °C and in other places winters can have temperatures below -30 °C.
- Continental monsoon. The rains are concentrated in the summer, and the winters are very cold and dry. It is also known as “Manchurian continental”, because it especially affects the Manchuria region in China.
- Continental with Mediterranean influence. Rainfall is concentrated in freezing winters, while summers are warmer and drier.
Continental climate location
The continental climate is distributed on the planet as follows:
- Humid continental. It is the most widespread of the three subtypes and is found in much of Canada, Russia, Eastern Europe, and the northwestern United States.
- Continental monsoon. It extends across much of China, southeastern Russia, North Korea and South Korea.
- Continental with Mediterranean influence. It is found north of the Arabian Peninsula, in Türkiye, west of the United States and Canada, and in parts of Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Flora and fauna of the continental climate
The low temperatures of the continental climate affect the distribution and adaptations of flora and fauna. . Both the plants and animals of these regions must present adaptations that allow them to survive the cold and, in the case of the monsoon subtype or with Mediterranean influence, an extensive dry season.
The vegetation in these regions includes deciduous forests, with a predominance of trees such as oak, maple, birch and beech. These plants have developed adaptations such as large, broad leaves, to maximize photosynthesis during the short growing season, and dropping their leaves in winter, to reduce water loss and prevent damage from extreme cold.
The fauna includes mammals such as deer, bears and wolves. These animals have among their adaptations thick coats to protect themselves from the cold and habits of hibernation or migration to survive the winter.
References
- Goudie, A (1993). The Nature of the Environment. Oxford.
- Núñez, S. (2020). Elements and factors of climate. EcologyGreen. https://www.ecologiaverde.com/
- Ropero Portillo, S. (2020). Continental climate: what it is, characteristics and types. EcologyGreen. https://www.ecologiaverde.com/
- Terrasa, D. (2018). Köppen climate classification. The Guide. https://geografia.laguia2000.com/
