Climates of Mainland Spain and the Canary Islands

Oceanic Climate, Rivers, and Vegetation

The oceanic climate of mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands is characterized by the frequent presence of Atlantic storms that produce heavy rainfall. Cloudiness and humidity are high, and temperatures are moderate. The prevailing winds are westerly, although they sometimes cause gales that can be strong with a significant storm duration. Due to this climate, there is a high level of moisture in the rivers, which are very plentiful and regular.

In the oceanic climate zones, deciduous forests thrive. When these forest soils are degraded and deteriorating, heath appears, which is a dense thicket vegetation. The oceanic climate also favors the growth of natural meadows.

Varieties of the Oceanic Climate

Oceanic climate varieties comprise a region to which the influence of the ocean comes to a greater or lesser extent. These varieties include:

• Mountain Oceanic Varieties: The high altitude of the relief causes a decrease in temperatures and higher precipitation, leading to 1,500mm per year and many snowfalls.
• Transition Oceanic Varieties: The climate in these areas presents a transition between oceanic and inland climates of the plateau and the Ebro basin. These areas are characterized by receiving a clear influence from the Atlantic but with less rainfall, dry summers, and cold winters.

Characteristics of the Canary Climate

The Canary climate is characterized by warm temperatures all year round. However, one speaks of Canary climate varieties because notable differences are apparent between the islands due to three main factors:

• Situation: The western islands are influenced by the trade winds and the Atlantic Ocean, while the eastern islands are influenced by Saharan dry air.
• Altitude and Relief Direction: Islands with higher elevations hamper trade winds, creating a more humid climate. The wind flow is most commonly the northeast trade winds, which cause mild temperatures all year round. Trade winds condense and give rise to the sea of clouds. This causes what are called horizontal precipitations. Above the sea of clouds, the trade wind is dry and the sunshine is intense, which causes a temperature inversion.
• Cold Ocean Current: The cold ocean current flowing between the islands and the African continent cools surface waters and increases stability in the summer air.