CLIMATE AND VEGETATION IN SPAIN. English

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION IN SPAIN A.- ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE Climate includes the statistics of temperature, precipitation and wind: -

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Temperature: it is the measurement of hot and cold air in the atmosphere. It is measured in grade centigrade with a thermometer. There are hot climates (equator), temperate climate (North and South of the equator) and cold climate ( in the Poles) Precipitation: it is any product of condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls. It is measured in mm with the pluviometer. There are dry and humid climates.

Wind: it is the movement of the air. Its speed is measured in Km/h with the anemometer and its direction with the weathercock.

B.- FACTORS OF CLIMATE They are the mechanisms which work on the elements of climate and produce variations. They can be geographical factors or atmospheric factors: - Geographical factors: they are Latitude, which is the distance (in degrees, minutes and seconds) between any point on the Earth and the Equator. Temperature decreases as we travel away from the Equator Vicinity to the sea: in coastal places the weather is mild because of the sea humidity Altitude and relief: in high places with mountains, temperatures tend to be lower and it rains more.

- Atmospheric factors: they influence the movement of masses of cold and hot, dry and wet air which produce depression-squall (rain) and anticyclone (dry weather)

C.- CLIMATIC AREAS IN SPAIN AND THE VEGETATION OF THEIR LANDSCAPES The Iberian Peninsula is in the temperate part of the world and so, it has got a temperate climate divided into four kinds of climates; and the Canary Islands have got a subtropical climate. Each area has got different vegetation depending on its characteristics of temperature and humidity.

C.1.- ATLANTIC CLIMATE: it exists in Galicia and in coastal areas in the Cantabrian Sea; because of the proximity to the sea, there is rain year-round and mild temperatures with little variation between winter and summer.

In these areas, vegetation is abundant and varied because of the abundant rains. There are thick forests with deciduous trees like oak trees, chestnut trees and beeches. In the mountains there are a lot of coniferous, mainly pines. In the undergrowth there are ferns, mosses, heathers and broom. There are also natural meadows.

C.2.- MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE: It exists in the east of Spain, the Balearic Isles and some areas in AndalucĂ­a. It is a hot climate with little rain. Temperatures are mild in winter and very hot in summer.

Rains tend to be in autumn and spring.

Here, vegetation is ready to support hot and dry summers. In the undergrowth there are a lot of aromatic plants like thyme and rosemary. In low-lying areas there are bushes.

C.3.- INLAND CLIMATE: it exists in the plateau, in the depression of the river Ebro, in some areas of CataluĂąa and in the interior of AndalucĂ­a. It is similar to the Mediterranean climate although, in the inland climate there are big differences in temperature between summer and winter.

Precipitation also tends to be during spring and autumn. The annual quantity of rain is less than that in a Mediterranean Climate. It is the climate existing in Castilla- La Mancha.

Vegetation is similar to the vegetation in the Mediterranean climate but it is adapted to more extreme temperatures. In high lands there are forests of pines and fir trees. In lower areas there are holms oaks, sabines and cork oaks. In valleys and meadows, there are poplars; and in lower areas there are bushes like the rockrose and aromatic plants like thyme, rosemary, lavender, etc.

C.4.- MONTAINOUS CLIMATE: it exists in the highest areas of the peninsula: Pyrenees, Cantabrian range, Central System, Iberian System and Betic System. It includes low temperatures and abundant rains. Winters are long and cold, snow is common; summers are short and temperate.

Vegetation depends on the height. In low areas there are pines, holm oaks and beeches; in the mid mountain there are thick forests with deciduous trees like oak trees, chestnut trees and beeches (as in the Atlantic forests); in the high areas of a mountain there are coniferous, and finally; at the top of a mountain there are bushes and grasses. Vegetation also varies if it is in a suntrap or a shady place.

C.5.- CANARY ISLAND CLIMATE: it is a subtropical climate with mild summers and winters (there is not a big difference in temperature between seasons). Precipitations are limited and they are more abundant in the north of the Isles.

Vegetation changes with the altitude; in low areas, there are drought resistant plants (cactus). In mid areas there are laurels and lime trees. In high areas there are pines.

VOCABULARY - GLOSSARY Grade centigrade: grados centígrados

fir trees: abetos

Thermometer: termómetro

holm oaks: encinas

Pluviometer: pluviómetro

sabines: sabinas

Speed: velocidad

cork oaks: alcornoques

Anemometer: anemómetro

lavender: lavanda

Weathercock: veleta

suntrap: solana

Vicinity: cercanía, proximidad

shady place: umbría

Depression-squall: borrasca

Mild: suave

Oak tres: robles

Thick forests: bosques frondosos

Deciduos trees: árboles de hoja caduca

Chestnuts: castaños

Beeches: hayas

Coniferous: coníferas

Pines: pinos

Undergrowth: sotobosque

Ferns: helechos

Mosses: musgos

Heathers: brezos

Broom: retama

Meadow: prado

Thyme: tomillo

Rosemary: romero

Bushes: arbustos