3.2.1. Climate zones

• Tropical Zone

The tropical climate zone stretches from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, with the equator centered within this zone. Climate within the tropical zone varies from:

1. The tropical wet regions of the rain forest, to the drier arid and semi-arid climate of north  Within the tropical wet zone, the weather remains hot and muggy, with frequent rainfall and little temperature variation. 

2. The drier arid and semi-arid regions experience wet, warm summers and cooler, drier winters, with much greater temperature variation than the tropical wet zone. This is the climate of Africa or central Australia.

• What's a Temperate Climate?

Warm summers, wet springs, colorful falls, and cold, snowy winters. Where in the world can you find these four different seasons? The temperate climate zone, that's where!

The word temperate means moderate, or in the middle. This is helpful in understanding the climate in the temperate zone - it does not have extremes. While the polar climate is extremely cold and the tropical climate is very hot, the temperate climate has some hot weather and some cold weather. While there is a lot of rain and snow in other zones, the temperate zone has just a moderate amount of rain and snow.

• Polar Zone

The polar climate zones fill the areas within the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. Characterized by a short, cool summer and long, bitterly cold winter, the polar zone features frequent snowfall, particularly during the winter months. The far northern portions of Canada, Europe and Russia fall within this climate zone. Within the ice caps, temperatures rarely, if ever, rise above freezing, even during the warmest months of the years.

⇛ POLAR CLIMATES

CLIMATE ZONES IN SPAIN

OCEANIC CLIMATE

This is the climate of the north of the Iberian Peninsula. These are its main characteristics:

• Temperatures are warm in summer and mild in winter due to the proximity of the sea.
• Precipitation is abundant and regular throughout the year.
• Vegetation is abundant. It consists of forests with oak, chestnut and beech trees.

MOUNTAIN CLIMATE

This is the climate of mountainous regions above 1.500 meters. These are its main characteristics:

• Temperature are cool in summer and very low in winter.
• Precipitation is bundant. It often snows in winter.
• Vegetation is scarce. At higher altitudes, it consists of meadows. In lower areas, there are forests with pine, oal and fir trees.

SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE

This is the climate of the Canary Islands. This is only region of Spain that has a subtropical climate. These are its main characteristics:

• Temperatures are mild throughout the year and do not vary much.
• Precipitation is higher in the northern parts of islands. In contrast, it is scarce in the south of the islands and in the islands closest to Africa, such as Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
• The vegetation includes laurel forests, Canary Island  pines, palm trees and dragon trees.

MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE 

This is the most common climate in Spain. There are three variations:

• TYPICAL MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE. This is the climate of the Balearic Islands, most of the Mediterranean coast and a few areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Temperatures are high in summer and mild in winter. Precipitation is scarce and irregular. Rainfall is highest in spring and autumn. Drought is common in summer.
• CONTINENTAL MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE. This is the climate of most areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Temperatures are high in summer and low in winter. Precipitation is scarce. It sometimes snows in winter.
• DRY MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE. This is the climate of the southeastern areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Temperatures are mild along the coast and extreme inland. Precipitation is very scarce throughout the year, with  extremely dry summers.