We show the climate

Can we show the fire risk during the year?

Climatology is the science that studies the climate and how it changes over time. Although it uses the same parameters as meteorology, its objective is not the same, as it does not make immediate forecasts, but studies long-term climatic characteristics.

Climographs

Climographs are graphs that represent the annual evolution of two of the elements of climate: temperatures and precipitation. They show the monthly average temperature and the monthly volume of precipitation.

These data are shown in a table which can then be represented in a graph.

Climograph data

Language Bank

Speaking. With a friend, talk about the type of weather you like.

Writing. Write a short text saying which is your favourite type of climate and say why.

Data table

How to make a climograph

Monthly average temperatures are shown with a red dot, which is connected with a red line. This information is collected using thermometers.

1 Look at Santander's climograph and answer the questions.

• Which month had the most precipitation?

• Which months had temperatures more than 10 ° C?

• What would you say the rainfall is like during the summer months?

• What are the differences with the climate where you live?

Precipitation is represented at twice the rate of temperatures using blue bars. To collect this data, rain gauges are necessary.

2 Look for information and make a climograph for your town or your provincial capital.

Take note!

Wind makes it very difficult to extinguish fires, as it causes them to spread faster.

Which landscapes are most affected by fires?

Which plant species are most at risk from fires?

Landscapes

Landscape is an area of the earth's surface resulting from the interaction of the different factors present in it (climate, flora, fauna, relief, etc.) which can be observed together from a certain point.

As we saw in this unit, climatic factors mean that in some areas there are higher or lower temperatures, more or less rainfall, less or more humidity or altitude... All these factors, with the relief, flora and fauna, make up different climates, and different types of landscapes.

1 Match the characteristics of each type of landscape with its corresponding climate.

2 Using different types of paper, create a two-part map where the map of landscapes can be placed on top of the map of climates. For example, you can use cardboard for the climate map and tracing paper for the landscape map so that one can be placed on top of the other.

Let's prevent fires!

Do a search on the Civil Protection website and make a list of the measures you consider most important to prevent forest fires.

Transition landscape. This is found in continental and continental-Mediterranean climate zones. It has trees and combines deciduous and evergreen. These forests have adapted to the frequent droughts of the continental climate in the warm months.

Oceanic landscape. Located in areas with an oceanic climate. This landscape has tall deciduous trees, such as oak and beech, which lose their leaves in autumn. This area of Spain is known as green Spain, as the vegetation is also green because of the abundance of precipitation.

Mountain landscape. This type of landscape is located from the upper limit of a forest to the top of a mountain. Vegetation is limited because of the climate of these areas and is mosses or small bushes.

Mediterranean landscape. This type of landscape is in areas with a Mediterranean climate. The vegetation is evergreen trees, such as pines and holm oaks, because of the irregular precipitation and high temperatures. The trees are not very tall, but the leaf cover is generally denser than in the Atlantic forest.

Take note!

The main causes of fires include climate change, lots of scrubland and poorly managed urbanisation of woodland areas.