Continental Climate Essay ⋆ Environment Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

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Continental climates have minimal influence from marine sources due to their location in continental interiors or upwind of coastal areas. In the humid mid-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere, continental climates are a buffer zone separating mild, subtropical climates from the severe sub-arctic climates. Continental climates are influenced by both arctic and tropical weather systems, where severe winters and hot, humid summer days both occur. The mid-latitude jet stream frequently flows over continental climate regions and drives mid-latitude storm systems accompanied by warm fronts and cold fronts.

Continental climates are similar to sub-arctic climates in that there is wide range in the annual temperature with cold winters and warm, occasionally hot summers. What makes continental climates unique is the day-to-day variability in weather and temperature. Winters are generally cold and sometimes severe; however, dry winds from the western mountains, occasionally bring temporary mild conditions. The Chinook winds of North America descend from the Rocky Mountains during the passage of dry weather systems and these winds can increase the temperature 15-25 degrees C (27-45 degrees F) in a matter of minutes. Even with occasional mild weather, winters in continental climates are more often cold and severe, as cities such as Moscow have experienced temperatures below -40 degrees C (-40 degrees F). Summer temperatures in continental climates are generally warm and humid; however, occasional subtropical influences can create extremely hot and humid conditions lasting 1-3 weeks. Chicago, for example, has an average July maximum temperature of 29 degrees C (84 degrees F), but summer temperatures over 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) with high humidity have occurred.

Precipitation in continental climates is higher than in sub-arctic or semi-arid climates. There is typically between 500-1000 millimeters (20-40 inches) of precipitation annually, which falls as snow in the winter and as rain showers throughout the rest of the year. Continental climates usually have more precipitation during the summer, and this characteristic is most pronounced in the continental climates of east Asia. In cities such as Shenyang, China, 400 mm (16 inches) of precipitation falls in the summer and 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) falls in the winter. Precipitation is also higher in continental climates located upwind of coastal areas in places such as New York City where 1100 millimeters (43 inches) of annual precipitation falls. The precipitation in continental climates support mixed deciduous/evergreen forests or a mix forests and grasslands in the drier regions.

Continental climates are found in Eurasia and North America. These climates are generally not found in the Southern Hemisphere due to the substantially higher ocean-to-land surface ratio and a more prevalent marine influence on climates. In Eurasia, continental climates can be found from eastern Europe and southern Scandinavia eastward through Russia. There are also continental climates found in Manchuria (northeastern China), North Korea, and northern Japan. In North America, continental climates begin east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and southern Canada and extend east through the Great Lakes Region to the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the renowned world cities such as Stockholm, Moscow, Toronto, Chicago, and New York City have continental climates.

Bibliography:

Aguado and J.E. Burt, Understanding Weather and Climate (Prentice Hall, 1999);
R. Barry and R.J. Chorley, Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate (Routledge, 2003);
P. Lydolph, The Climate of the Earth (Rowman & Allanheld, 1985).