Continental climate: what is, characteristics and types

He Continental climate is one who presents the four stations: spring, summer, autumn and winter. These stations are perfectly differentiated, since in each of them both the temperature and the rainfall change. For example, the temperature in summer is much higher than in winter and also rainfall in winter is abundant and in short summer.

These are the main characteristics of continental climate:

• Present for almost the entire northern hemisphere, in Central Asia, Iran, the United States, Canada and Central and Western Europe. Although it also occurs in some territories of the southern hemisphere as in the interior of Argentina and in North Africa.
• It is known as a temperate climatic zone, since it is characteristic of middle latitudes.
• It has clearly marked temperatures with rainy and hot summers, and cold and dry winter.
• In spring the temperatures go between 5 ° C and 15 ºC, and with respect to rainfall they are scarce, although 40 mm per month can be reached.
• In summer, maximum temperatures of 32 ºC are reached, and in terms of its rainfall they are reached between 50 and 100 mm per month.
• When autumn arrives the temperature begins to descend to 10 ° C of minimum and as maximum, up to 20 ° C. Producing the first frost at the end of September.
• Winter is the coldest season, in which large frosts and snowfall are produced. In this station the 10 ºC are reached as a maximum temperature, and at least the thermometer exceeds the temperatures below zero reaching the -10 ºC.

The characteristics of the continental climate have already been shown, but to know it in more detail, it is important to know the different types that exist, that differ depending on their geographical location. Thus, among the Types of continental climate existing are known:

• Continentalized Mediterranean Climate: You are characterized by presenting cold winters even with frost and very hot summers. It occurs in northern Italy, Atlas Saharan, the interior zone of the Iberian Peninsula, among others. You may also be interested in knowing what Mediterranean temperate climate is.
• Manchurian continental climate: Present in northern China, North Korea and several Russian cities. It has an annual average temperature that ranges between 0 ºC and 10 ºC and with an annual rainfall of 500 mm.
• Wet continental climate: It is very similar to Manchurian continental climate, although this is a bit more cold and dry. It occurs in almost all central and eastern Europe, and also in the southeast of the Canadian country.
• Arid continental climate: characterized by a fresh climate with some frosts in winter and very warm in summer. Some places where there are are in Mongolia and Asia Central.

The continental climate has its own biodiversity that characterizes it, so information on the vegetation of the continental climate and its fauna will be shown below:

Continental Climate Plants

The deciduous forestsare mainly composed of Coniferoussuch as firs, cypresses, allerces or pine, and are the ones we can find in this climate. There are also species such as oak and maple in these forests. They are species of trees well adapted to the temperature and rainfall changes that occur between station and station, the winter being the hardest season and the trees stop their activity to save energy. However, when temperatures are not extremely hot and there are abundant rains, trees take the opportunity to grow. Also mentioning that very high temperatures lead to high perspiration in trees, which is why they can enter into a period of dormancy, that is, the tree suspends its activity temporarily, to avoid the great losses of water due to perspiration.

Learn more about this vegetation and more details with this other article about deciduous forests: characteristics, flora and fauna.

Continental Climate Animals

The animals that inhabit areas characterized by this climate, have nothing easy, by the climate changes so marked that occur between the different stations. Winter is the hardest season and that is why many animals, such as Bears, wolves, deer, weasels, squirrels or reindeer They must seek protection against temperatures so low that they can be achieved. Birds They also emigrate to warmer areas. Here you can learn about migratory birds: names, characteristics and photos.

In addition, their activity must be reduced to the minimum, some of them entering the hibernation period, to reduce energy, since at this time of the year the food is scarce. Luckily, when spring the forest comes to have life in all its splendor. We recommend you discover which animals hibernate and why.

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