We explain what a temperate climate is and what its characteristics are. In addition, the climate subtypes and examples of flora and fauna of their environments.
What is temperate climate?
The temperate climate is a type of climate that has relatively moderate average monthly temperatures, with temperatures above 22 °C in the warmest months and above 0 °C in the coldest months. The average annual rainfall is between 600 mm and 2000 mm.
Temperate climate regions They are usually located between those with a tropical climate and the polar ones.that is, in the areas between latitudes 30º and 45º north and south respectively. They are regions in which the four seasons of the year occur.
A wide variety of plant and animal species usually develop in the temperate climate, and it is the type of climate most conducive to the development of human activities. The temperate climate zones are the most populated on the planet.
Characteristics of the temperate climate
Some characteristics of the temperate climate are:
- Its average temperatures vary between 0 and 22 °C.
- Its average rainfall never exceeds 2000 millimeters.
- It presents the four well-differentiated seasons.
- It is located between 30 and 45º north and south latitude.
- Sectors of Argentina, Uruguay and the United States in America, much of Western Europe, sectors of Angola and Zambia in Africa, sectors of India, Laos and China in Asia and southern Australia and New Zealand are some regions of the world that have a climate tempered.
- It allows the development of a wide variety of animal and vegetation species.
Types of temperate climates
According to the Köppen climate classification, there are three subtypes of temperate climate:
Humid temperate climate
Precipitation is distributed regularly throughout the year. It does not have a dry season. Although abundant, rainfall never exceeds 2,500 mm per year. Depending on its temperature, it can be:
- Humid subtropical. The average average temperature of the warmest month exceeds 22 °C.
- temperate oceanic. The average temperature of the warmest month does not reach 22 °C but is above 10 °C.
- oceanic subpolar. The months with average temperatures above 10°C are less than four a year.
Temperate climate with dry summer (Mediterranean climate)
It is characterized by the fact that rainfall decreases considerably during the hot months. Could be:
- warm Mediterranean. The temperature of the warmest month exceeds 22 °C.
- oceanic mediterranean. The average temperature of the warmest month does not reach 22 °C but is above 10 °C.
Temperate climate with dry winter (Monsoon)
Precipitation decreases considerably during winter but summers are rainy. Could be:
- With mild summer. The average temperature of the warmest month does not reach 22 °C but exceeds 10 °C for four or more months of the year.
- Subalpine. The months with average temperatures above 10 °C are less than two a year.
The Köppen climate classification distinguishes five major types of climates: tropical climate, dry climate, temperate climate, continental climate and polar climate, each with its respective subtypes and particularities.
Temperate climate location
The temperate climate is distributed on the planet as follows:
- Moist tempering. It is found in sectors of Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil in South America, and in much of the eastern United States in North America; in much of Western Europe, mainly in France and England and sectors of Spain and Germany; in sectors of China and Japan in Asia and in sectors of Australia and New Zealand in Oceania.
- Temperate with dry summer (Mediterranean). It is mainly found around the Mediterranean Sea, in countries such as Spain, Portugal, southern France, southern Italy, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. In addition, it is found in some sectors of the western United States and in some sectors of southern Chile and Argentina in America and in some sectors of southern Australia in Oceania.
- Temperate with dry winter (Monsoon). It is found in some sectors of Mexico and Central America in America, in sectors of Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia and Madagascar in Africa; in sectors of India, Bhutan, Nepal and China in Asia and in northern Australia in Oceania.
Fauna and flora of the temperate climate
The temperate climate presents suitable conditions for the development of flora and fauna. Among its main features are:
- Regarding flora, there are various types of grasslands that, in many cases, were transformed into productive fields. The temperate climate and abundant rainfall encourage the growth of crops such as soybeans, corn and wheat and trees such as oak, conifer and larch.
- Regarding fauna, temperate zones with a dry season have various animal species that adapted to migration to avoid the coldest times. Others have the ability to hibernate to tolerate the winter, such as bears, squirrels, and opossums. Some typical animals of the temperate climate are: the elk, the lynx, the pampas deer, the bat, the field mouse, the puma, the fox, and birds such as the cardinal bird and the eagle.
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References
- Network meteorology (sf). Temperate climate. https://www.meteorologiaenred.com/
- Terrasa, D. (2018). Köppen climate classification. https://geografia.laguia2000.com/
- Valera, K. (2022). Temperate climate. https://enciclopediadebiologia.com/
