Continental climate

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Areas of the world that feature a continental climate, according to Köppen

Continental climates in the Köppen climate classification often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm to hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in central and eastern parts of the three northern-tier continents (North America and Eurasia), typically in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 or 60 degrees north), often within large landmasses, where prevailing winds blow overland bringing some precipitation, and temperatures are not moderated by oceans.

Continental climates occur mostly in the Northern Hemisphere due to the large landmasses found there. Most of northern and northeastern China, northern Mongolia, most of Korea, central Afghanistan, parts of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, eastern and southeastern Europe, much of the Russian Federation south of the Arctic Circle, central and southeastern Canada, and the central and northeastern United States have this type of climate. Continentality is a measure of the degree to which a region experiences this type of climate.

In continental climates, precipitation tends to be moderate in amount, concentrated mostly in the warmer months. Only a few areas—in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest of North America and in some regions in and around the Persian Plateau (in western Iran, northern Iraq, adjacent Turkey, Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and Central Asia) — show a winter maximum in precipitation. A portion of the annual precipitation falls as snowfall, and snow often remains on the ground for more than a month.

Summers in continental climates can feature thunderstorms and frequent hot temperatures; however, summer weather is somewhat more stable than winter weather. Continental climates are considered as temperate climate varieties due to their location in the temperate zones, but are classified separately from other temperate climates in the Köppen climate classification system where they are identified by their first letter, a capital D. In the Trewartha climate classification, they are identified as Dc.

Köppen climate classification

Continental climate has at least one month averaging below and at least one month averaging above .

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Regions where the continental climates (Dfa, Dfb, Dfc, Dfd) are found.

• Dfa = Hot-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below (or ), at least one month's average temperature above , and at least four months averaging above . No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).
• Dfb = Warm-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below (or ), all months with average temperatures below , and at least four months averaging above . No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).
• Dfc = Subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below (or ) and one–three months averaging above . No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).
• Dfd = Extremely cold subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below and one–three months averaging above . No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).

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Regions where the Monsoon-influenced continental climates (Dwa, Dwb, Dwc, Dwd) are found.

• Dwa = Monsoon-influenced hot-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below (or ), at least one month's average temperature above , and at least four months averaging above . At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.
• Dwb = Monsoon-influenced warm-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below (or ), all months with average temperatures below , and at least four months averaging above . At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.
• Dwc = Monsoon-influenced subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below (or ) and one–three months averaging above . At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.
• Dwd = Monsoon-influenced extremely cold subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below and one–three months averaging above . At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.

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Regions where the Mediterranean-influenced continental climates (Dsa, Dsb, Dsc, Dsd) are found.

• Dsa = Mediterranean-influenced hot-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below (or ), average temperature of the warmest month above and at least four months averaging above . At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than .
• Dsb = Mediterranean-influenced warm-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below (or ), average temperature of the warmest month below and at least four months averaging above . At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than .
• Dsc = Mediterranean-influenced subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below (or ) and one–three months averaging above . At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than .
• Dsd = Mediterranean-influenced extremely cold subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below and one–three months averaging above . At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than .

Seasons

Annual precipitation in this zone is usually between and , The timing of intermediate spring-like or autumn-like temperatures in this zone vary depending on latitude and/or elevation. For example, spring may arrive as soon as March (in the Northern Hemisphere, September in the Southern Hemisphere) in the southern (in the Northern Hemisphere, northern in the Southern Hemisphere), parts of this zone or as late as May (November) in the north (south). Summers are warm or hot while winters are below freezing and sustain lots of frost.

Climatology

Continental climates exist where cold air masses infiltrate during the winter from shorter days and warm air masses form in summer under conditions of high sun and longer days. Places with continental climates are as a rule either far from any moderating effect of oceans or are so situated that prevailing winds tend to head offshore. Such regions get quite warm in the summer, achieving temperatures characteristic of tropical climates but are colder than any other climates of similar latitude in the winter.

Neighbouring climates

In the Köppen climate system, these climates grade off toward temperate climates equator-ward where winters are less severe and semi-arid climates or arid climates where precipitation becomes inadequate for tall-grass prairies and shrublands. In Europe these climates may grade off into oceanic climates (Cfb) or subpolar oceanic climates (Cfc) in which the influence of cool oceanic air masses is more marked toward the west. In western and eastern Asia, and the central United States these climates grade off toward humid subtropical climates (Cfa/Cwa), subtropical highland climates (Cwb), or Mediterranean climates (Csa/Csb) to the south.

See also

• Hemiboreal climate
• Humid continental climate
• Microthermal climate
• Subarctic climate
• List of cities with a continental climate

External links

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