Climatic Regions

     Four climatic regions may be distinguished: Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Southern Europe.
Northern Europe. The coastal belt and islands of the Arctic Ocean are situated in the frigid zone. Winters here are long, lasting over six months. They are accompanied by strong winds, which are moderated, however, by the warm currents of the ocean. Further cast, winters are colder.
In the Far North summers are very short and cool, the average July temperature being below 10°C. The sky, as a rule, is clouded and there is frequent drizzle. Annual rainfall is relatively small (300 to 500 mm), but owing to the low temperature and slow evaporation, the ground is always damp and marshy.

Fig. 28. Europe: Climatic regions.

Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe (the regions south of the Arctic Circle) lies in the temperate zone and has a continental climate. Winters are frosty and snowy, summers warm. In Moscow, for exam­ple, the average January temperature is about 11 °C below zero, the July temperature about 19°C above zero. Most of the rain falls in summer. In winter the land cools rapidly under the clear sky and severe frosts occur, especially at night. Cold air masses arrive from the north. Meeting no obstacles, they penetrate far south up to the Crimean and Caucasus Mountains, causing a sharp fall of temperature along their route.

the rainfall is smallest. The warm summer of Eastern Europe favours agriculture, and various crops ripen during the warmer months of the year. The arid south-eastern regions, however, require artificial irri­gation for their crops to ripen.
Western Europe. The climate becomes milder and wetter closer to the Atlantic Ocean, gradually changing to the maritime climate of the temperate zone. Only regions surrounded by mountains still enjoy a continental climate, the influence of the ocean here being weaker (the Central and Lower Danubian Plains, for example). The islands and coastal belt of the continent have a maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers. Winter temperatures are above freezing-point, frosts occur -rarely. Snow does occur, but it melts quickly. In Ireland, for example, the average January tempera­ture is 5°C above zero, the July temperature 15°C, the annual range thus amounting to only 10°C. Rainfall is heavy throughout the year. Strong westerly winds sweep the country. The sky is usually covered with a grey shroud of low-hanging clouds, and there may be drizzle or fog. So rare is the sun and so cold and bleak the weather that crops in the damper areas do not ripen (wheat, for example). Fodder-grass grows well, however.

Southern Europe. The lands of Southern Europe bordering the Mediterranean Sea enjoy a subtropical climate. Characteristic of this type of climate are warm summers and mild winters. The temperature for the coldest month is above freezing-point. The coastal belt of the Mediterranean is sheltered by mountains on the north, and the ave­rage January temperature varies from 5" to 10°C, the July tempera­ture being about 25° above zero. Rainfall is rather heavy, averaging from 500 to 1000 mm a year and even higher in the mountains. The period of heaviest ram is winter, the summers being very hot and almost rainless. In summer the springs and streams dry up, and many of the plants turn yellow and wither. Strong winds may blow, though the sky is clear and blue. The sun is very bright, and everything stands out clearly against the horizon. The summer drought is another characteristic of the subtropical Mediterranean climate.