WHY ARE THERE NO TROPICAL CLIMATES IN EUROPE? - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

In Europe there are no tropical climates due to its geographical location. Europe is located at 34 ° 71 'north latitude, which implies that it is far from tropical climates.

In that location the solar rays arrive with less power than in the tropics. This is the reason why temperate and cold climates predominate in Europe.

Most of Europe has a temperate climate, and its climate not only varies from north to south, but also from east to west.

This is due to the polar marine and polar continental air currents. Tropical marine and continental air currents affect Europe to a lesser extent.

Elements that affect the absence of tropical climates in Europe

The polar front

This front collects the maritime polar air masses, by means of the Icelandic storm and the jet stream.

The Siberian anticyclone

This anticyclone collects the continental polar air masses while it is active.

The Azores anticyclone

This collects the maritime tropical air masses in summer.

Thermal anticyclones

They act in winter. They enter the center of the continent and the Iberian Peninsula.

The storm of the Ligurian Sea

This enters in autumn and collects maritime air masses, causing prolonged and intense periods of rain.

The Saharan squall

It appears during the summer in the Sahara, and makes very warm tropical air masses reach Europe.

Europe's own climates

Mediterranean climate

It is located between 30 ° and 45 ° latitude. This climate is characterized by its aridity during the summer, caused by the subtropical climate, and the humidity in winter caused by the polar front.

As its name indicates, it is typical of the Mediterranean Sea areas, but also of other areas. In spring and autumn the rains are usually very abundant.

Oceanic climate

It includes the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, from Norway to the north coast of Portugal.

It is a climate with constant humidity and moderate temperatures without many fluctuations. Summers are cool and winters are mild, although it has abundant rains.

Continental weather

It has high temperatures in summer and a very dry cold in winter. High summer temperatures cause water evaporation to drop in the form of showers.

The precipitations are very abundant in the summer; in winter they are rare.

Tundra climate

This climate is found between 60 ° and 80 ° latitude, in Russia, Sweden and Finland.

It has little rainfall and a constant cold temperature with maximums of only 10 ° C throughout the year. In winter the temperature can reach -50 ° C in some places.

Mountain weather

In this climate, the temperature decreases between 0.5 to 1 ° C for every 100 meters of altitude, increasing the relative humidity in the air and precipitation.

Steppe climate

It is found in the eastern part of Europe, in the region from Ukraine to Kazakhstan, in the Ryn desert, on the border with the Asian continent.

This climate can also occur in the southeast of Spain, in the Ebro river valley and in the dry areas of southern Italy.

Its main characteristics are the scarce rainfall and the great thermal oscillations.

References

1. «Climate and vegetation of Europe» in La Guía (April 2007). Recovered in September 2017 from La Guía at: geografia.laguia2000.com
2. "Climate Europe - How is the climate in Europe in general?" in South Coast. Recovered in September 2017 from Costa Sur in: europa.costasur.com
3. "Geography of Europe" in Wikipedia (March 2015). Retrieved in September 2017 from Wikipedia at: es.wikipedia.org
4. "The climate of Europe" in Geography of Europe. Recovered in September 2017 from Geography of Europe at: sextoalqueria6.wixsite.com
5. "The Climates" in Europe in full. Recovered in September 2017 of the Second Quarter Cone in: second quarter.webnode.es