Analysis of Climate Factors: Precipitation, Temperature, and Aridity

Analysis of Precipitation

Total Precipitation

• Very abundant: +1000 mm (mountain climate)
• Abundant: +800 mm (oceanic climate)
• Short: 800-300 mm (continentalized coastal Mediterranean climate)
• Very low: <300 mm (sub-desert steppe climate)
• Extremely low: <150 mm (desert climate)

Distribution of Rainfall

• Regular: No dry month with rainfall < 30 mm (oceanic climate)
• Fairly regular: Maximum of 2 dry months (oceanic climate transitioning towards continental Mediterranean)
• Irregular: More than 2 dry months (Mediterranean climate), +7 dry months (dry sub-desert or steppe Mediterranean climate)

Noteworthy points:

• Seasons with more abundant precipitation
• Months with less or no rainfall (dry months)

Analysis of Temperature

Average Annual Temperature and Thermal Amplitude

Thermal amplitude: The difference between the warmest and coldest month.

Coastal Areas

• Very low: <8°C (Canary Islands)
• Low: 9-12°C (Cantabrian coast)
• Average: 12-16°C (Mediterranean and South Atlantic coast)

Inland Areas

• High: 16-18°C
• Very high: >18°C

Summer Temperature

• Warm: ≥22°C
• Cool: <22°C

Winter Temperature

• Mild: ≥10°C
• Moderate: 6-10°C
• Cold: 3-6°C

Mountain climates have winter temperatures below 0°C.

Aridity Analysis

Relationship between precipitation and temperature.

Monthly Aridity

Determined using the Gaussen Index (2T°C > P mm) or by observing if the temperature curve on a climograph is above the precipitation bars. Since the rainfall scale is twice the temperature scale, this indicates a dry month according to the Gaussen Index.

• Oceanic climate: No dry month
• Transitional oceanic climate: Maximum of 2 dry months
• Mediterranean climate: +2 dry months

General Aridity

• Humid: No dry month
• Semi-humid: 1-3 dry months
• Semi-arid: 4-6 dry months
• Extreme semi-arid: 7-11 dry months

Climate Classification

Analyze all previous data to determine the climate type.

Geographical Location

Consider the thermal amplitude.