Continental climate

Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 north), within large landmasses where prevailing winds blow overland bringing some precipitation, and temperatures are not moderated by oceans. Continental climates occur mostly in the Northern Hemisphere due to the large landmasses found there. Most of northern and northeastern China, eastern and southeastern Europe, Western and north western Iran, central and southeastern Canada, and the central and northeastern United States have this type of climate.[1] Continentality is a measure of the degree to which a region experiences this type of climate.[1]

Areas of the world that feature a continental climate, according to Köppen

In continental climates, precipitation tends to be moderate in amount, concentrated mostly in the warmer months. Only a few areas—in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest of North America and in Iran, northern Iraq, adjacent Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia—show a winter maximum in precipitation. A portion of the annual precipitation falls as snowfall, and snow often remains on the ground for more than a month. Summers in continental climates can feature thunderstorms and frequent hot temperatures; however, summer weather is somewhat more stable than winter weather. In Köppen climate classification it is identified with the letter D.

Seasons

Annual precipitation in this zone is usually between 600 millimetres (24 in) and 1,200 millimetres (47 in), The timing of intermediate spring-like or autumn-like temperatures in this zone vary depending on latitude and/or elevation. For example, spring may arrive as soon as March in the southern parts of this zone or as late as May in the north. Summers are warm or hot while winters are below freezing and sustain frost.

Köppen climate classification

Most such areas fit Köppen climate classifications of Dfa having hot summers (mean temperature above 22 °C/71.6 °F) or Dfb with warm summers (mean temperature below 22 °C/71.6 °F).[2] Dry-summer continental climates (Dsa and Dsb) exist in high altitude areas near Mediterranean climates (Csa/Csb). Dry-winter continental climates (Dwa and Dwb) exist in high altitude areas near humid subtropical climates (Cwa) or subtropical highland climates (Cwb). In some cases, the semi-arid climate classification of BSk and the arid climate of BWk can also be considered to be continental as long as it has cold winters, though it isn't by the Köppen classification. The definition of this climate regarding temperature is as follows: the mean temperature of the coldest month must be below -3 C (26.6 F) and there must be at least four months whose mean temperatures are at or above 10 °C (50 °F).[3]

Climatology

Continental climates exist where cold air masses infiltrate during the winter from shorter days and warm air masses form in summer under conditions of high sun and longer days. Places with continental climates are as a rule are either far from any moderating effect of oceans or are so situated that prevailing winds tend to head offshore.[4] Such regions get quite warm in the summer, achieving temperatures characteristic of tropical climates but are colder than any other climates of similar latitude in the winter.

Neighboring climates

In the Köppen climate system, these climates grade off toward temperate climates equator-ward where winters are less severe and semi-arid climates or arid climates where precipitation becomes inadequate for tall-grass prairies and shrublands. In Europe these climates may grade off into oceanic climates (Cfb) or subpolar oceanic climates (Cfc) in which the influence of cool oceanic air masses is more marked toward the west. In eastern Asia and the eastern and central United States these climates grade off toward humid subtropical climates (Cfa/Cwa) or subtropical highland climates (Cwb) to the south. The subarctic climate (Dfc/Dwc/Dsc), with very cold, long and dry winters, but with at least one month above 10 °C (50 °F), might be considered a sub-type of the continental climate.

List of locations with a continental climate

^1 The climate is continental if the 0°C coldest-month isotherm is used, but it is temperate if the -3°C isotherm is used.

Asia
The snowy city of Sapporo

Europe
Aker Brygge in Oslo
Spassky Cathedral in Moscow

Russia

North America
Ice skaters on the frozen Rideau Canal, looking south from Laurier Avenue Bridge in Ottawa

Canada

United States

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Bordering Dfc1

Australia

See also

References
  1. "Continental Climate". Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment. Manchester Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 2009-04-27.
  2. "Continental Climate: What Is & Definition". Tomorrow.io Weather Blog. 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  3. "Continental Climate and Oceanic Climate". astroedu.iau.org. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  4. "What Is a Continental Climate?". WorldAtlas. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
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