Argentina's Climate Dynamics: Factors and Regional Influences

Understanding Climate Fundamentals

Weather conditions at a given location are calculated using statistics over a minimum of 30 years. These calculations take into account temperature, humidity, pressure, winds, and precipitation.

Weather: Short-Term Variations

This refers to variations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation in a region that exist at a given time.

Zonda Wind

This is a hot, dry wind (around 22°C) that descends at high speed from the Andean slopes in winter over the provinces of Mendoza and San Juan, significantly altering winter temperatures in the area of influence. It originates from the Pacific Ocean anticyclone.

Orographic Rainfall

Occurs when damp winds hit the mountains, rise, cool, and water vapor in clouds precipitates as rain, snow, or hail.

Key Factors Influencing Climate

Latitude

Latitude influences temperature: as one moves away from the Equator, temperatures generally decrease. Argentina is entirely south of the Equator. Considering latitude alone, Argentina experiences warm weather in the north, temperate in the central regions, and cold in the south.

Altitude

Altitude influences temperature: the higher the elevation, the temperature decreases by an average of 1 degree Celsius every 100 meters.

Distance from the Sea

Distance from the sea influences the temperature range. As distance from the coast increases, the temperature range widens because land heats and cools faster than the sea, distinguishing continental climates from maritime climates.

Ocean Currents

Ocean currents influence temperature by maintaining a balance. Warmer currents affect cooler areas and vice versa, achieving a thermal balance.

Terrain

Terrain mostly influences winds. For example, mountain ranges can block moist winds from the Pacific, preventing them from entering the country.

Regional Wind Patterns

Winds from the Pacific

Winds from the Pacific rise over the Patagonian Andes (e.g., in Tierra del Fuego). Due to the influence of altitude, the air temperature drops, and water vapor condenses into clouds, precipitating as rain or snow. As these winds descend, they are heated by the foehn effect and are devoid of moisture.

Winds from the Atlantic

These moist winds ascend the mountains. As they ascend, the water vapor condenses into raindrops; at higher peaks, this can become snow or hail. After passing through the mountains, they continue their journey, but are now devoid of moisture. As they descend, their temperature increases due to the influence of altitude on the climate.

Oceanic Influence on Argentina's Territory

Influence of the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean's influence extends from the north to approximately the Colorado River. In this area, winds from the east bring a higher amount of rainfall and wet weather. This is unlike, for example, the western province of Salta, where very little rainfall occurs throughout the year, resulting in an arid climate.

Influence of the Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean's influence extends south of the Colorado River. This explains why areas located further west, such as Bariloche, record higher rainfall than Viedma, which is located in the east.