Climate of the Alps: Difference between revisions
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==Climate as a function of elevation== | ==Climate as a function of elevation== | ||
{{see also|Life zones of central Europe|Lapse rate}} | {{see also|Life zones of central Europe|Lapse rate}} | ||
Because air cools as it rises, the climate of the Alps is strongly dependent on the elevation. The Alps contain a number of different kinds of climate zones, by elevation. These zones can be described by the [[Köppen climate classification]], and also correspond to the [[altitudinal zonation|biotic zones]] of the Alps.<ref name=Rubel>{{cite journal|journal=Meteorologische Zeitschrift|volume=26|number=2|pages=115–125|date=January 24, 2017|title=The climate of the European Alps: Shift of very high resolution Köppen-Geiger climate zones 1800–2100|first1=Franz|last1=Rubel|first2=Katharina|last2=Brugger|first3=Klaus|last3=Haslinger|first4=Ingeborg|last4=Auer|doi=10.1127/metz/2016/0816 }}</ref> | Because air cools as it rises, the climate of the Alps is strongly dependent on the elevation. The Alps contain a number of different kinds of climate zones, by elevation. These zones can be described by the [[Köppen climate classification]], and also correspond to the [[altitudinal zonation|biotic zones]] of the Alps.<ref name=Rubel>{{cite journal|journal=Meteorologische Zeitschrift|volume=26|number=2|pages=115–125|date=January 24, 2017|title=The climate of the European Alps: Shift of very high resolution Köppen-Geiger climate zones 1800–2100|first1=Franz|last1=Rubel|first2=Katharina|last2=Brugger|first3=Klaus|last3=Haslinger|first4=Ingeborg|last4=Auer|doi=10.1127/metz/2016/0816 |doi-access=free}}</ref> | ||
Up to approximately {{convert|1050|m|ft}} of elevation, the climate is classified as [[Oceanic climate|oceanic]] or Cfb under the Köppen system.<ref name=Rubel/> Like much of lowland northern Europe, the summers are mild and the winters are cool, but not cold. The climate is moderated by proximity to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The climate creates the [[colline zone|colline biotic zone]] in the lowlands, which is characterized by the [[deciduous forest]]<ref name=Rubel/> of the [[Western European broadleaf forests]] ecoregion. | Up to approximately {{convert|1050|m|ft}} of elevation, the climate is classified as [[Oceanic climate|oceanic]] or Cfb under the Köppen system.<ref name=Rubel/> Like much of lowland northern Europe, the summers are mild and the winters are cool, but not cold. The climate is moderated by proximity to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The climate creates the [[colline zone|colline biotic zone]] in the lowlands, which is characterized by the [[deciduous forest]]<ref name=Rubel/> of the [[Western European broadleaf forests]] ecoregion. | ||
Revision as of 13:40, 9 June 2025
The climate of the Alps is the climate, or average weather conditions over a long period of time, of the exact middle Alpine region of Europe.[1][2] As air rises from sea level to the upper regions of the atmosphere the temperature decreases. The effect of mountain topography on prevailing winds is to force warm air from the lower region into an upper zone where it expands in volume at the cost of a proportionate loss of heat, often accompanied by the precipitation of moisture in the form of snow, rain or hail.
Climate as a function of elevation
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Because air cools as it rises, the climate of the Alps is strongly dependent on the elevation. The Alps contain a number of different kinds of climate zones, by elevation. These zones can be described by the Köppen climate classification, and also correspond to the biotic zones of the Alps.[3]
Up to approximately Template:Convert of elevation, the climate is classified as oceanic or Cfb under the Köppen system.[3] Like much of lowland northern Europe, the summers are mild and the winters are cool, but not cold. The climate is moderated by proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The climate creates the colline biotic zone in the lowlands, which is characterized by the deciduous forest[3] of the Western European broadleaf forests ecoregion. Template:Weather box
Between approximately Template:Convert, the climate changes to either a humid continental climate (Dfb under the Köppen system), or a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc), depending on location.[3] As elevation increases, the winters become colder and the summers become shorter. A mixture of conifer and deciduous trees occupy this montane zone,[3] leading to a change in ecoregion to Alps conifer and mixed forests.
Between approximately Template:Convert, the climate becomes subarctic (Dfc under the Köppen system), with even shorter summers.[3] The shorter growing season shifts the forest to be purely coniferous.
At about Template:Convert, the climate becomes too cold to support trees, and is classified as an alpine climate (ET under the Köppen system).[3] The summers become cool and only grasses and low plants are adapted to grow. This alpine climate extends to approximately Template:Convert.
Template:Weather box Above approximately Template:Convert, the climate transitions to an ice cap climate, where the mean temperature from 1976-2000 was always below Template:Convert. At these altitudes, no plants can grow and the ground is either rock or ice.[3] At 3571m and from 1991 through 2020, Jungfraujoch had an ET climate, with an August mean temperature of Template:Convert.[4] Glaciers, such as the Aletsch Glacier, still surround Jungfrau, but are starting to melt due to climate change.[5] Template:Weather box