Argentina's Diverse Climate: A Comprehensive Look

Argentina's Diverse Climate

Main Climate Types

Argentina's climate is categorized into four main types: warm, temperate, arid, and cold. The country's varied terrain and elevation contribute to the diversity within each type.

Warm Climates

• Subtropical without Dry Season: This climate covers Misiones, Corrientes, northern Entre Ríos, and eastern Chaco. It is characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall year-round.
• Tropical with Dry Season: This climate encompasses parts of Salta, western Formosa and Chaco, eastern Tucumán, most of Santiago del Estero, and northwestern Santa Fe. It shares similarities with the previous type but experiences a dry period lasting up to six months.
• Tropical Highland: This climate is found in the northwest, encompassing the sub-Andean mountains, valleys, and streams.

Temperate Climates

• Pampas: This climate covers Buenos Aires, much of Entre Ríos, central and southern Santa Fe, eastern Córdoba, and northeastern La Pampa. The coastal strip of the Paraná-Plata region is a prime example.
• Temperate without Winter: This climate borders the subtropical zone and lacks a defined cold period.
• Oceanic-Influenced Temperate: This climate is found along the coast, particularly around Mar del Plata and Necochea, where the sea moderates temperatures.
• Mountain Temperate: This climate is found in the Córdoba hills and valleys.
• Transitional Temperate: This climate represents the shift from the temperate zone to the arid region in the west.

Arid Climates

• Arid Mountain: This climate prevails in the Puna and Andes, from Catamarca to Mendoza.
• Arid Mountains and Plains: This climate lies east of the arid Andes, coinciding with the Pampean Hills region.
• Arid Steppe: This climate continues south of the hills and plains, ending in southern Mendoza to the west and bordering the Pampas to the east. Between 40° and 42° South, the changing thermal regime creates the cold arid climate of Patagonia.

Cold Climates

• Wet Andes: This climate characterizes the Patagonian Andes, with rainfall increasing from north to south, starting around 34°S.
• Dry Windy Patagonia: This climate is known for low temperatures, low rainfall, and winter snowstorms.
• Moist Southern Patagonia: This climate covers a strip of Santa Cruz province, south of the dry windy region, and Tierra del Fuego (excluding the high mountains). It has higher rainfall and lacks the warm summer temperatures of the Patagonian plateau.
• Snowy: This climate covers the glacial strip of the southern Andes, including the continental ice patches of Santa Cruz and the high Patagonian glaciers.

Southern Islands Climates

• Staten Island: Cool oceanic climate with frequent mist, cold temperatures, storms, and abundant snow.
• Falkland Islands: Oceanic climate with moderate temperatures, mild summers, and less pronounced winters.
• Orkney Islands: Snowy climate with glaciers and sea ice covering most of the surface, accessible only for a few weeks in January.