The Climate and Vegetation of Europe
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red.Bibliotecaria
Feb 18, 2008, 4:48:47 AM2/18/08
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The Climate and Vegetation of Europe
Consider What You Know
Most of Latin America's people live in an area between the Tropic
of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, and area that includes the
Equator. What types of climate and vegetation would you expect to find
in this broad area?
As you read, read to find out:
1.
What are the climate regions in Europe?
2.
What physical features influence Europe's climates?
3.
Why are most of Europe's original forests gone?
Wind is only one of the factors affectins Europe's climates.
Latitude, mountain barriers, ocean currents, and the distance from
large bodies of water all help determine Europe's varied climates. In
this section you will read about Europe's climate regions--from the
sunny, dry Mediterranean climate to the frozen subarctic zone. You
will also study the patterns of vegetation growth found in each region
of Europe.
Water and Land
The climates and vegetation of Europe vary from the cold, barren
tundra and subarctic stretches of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland
to the warm, shrub-covered Mediterranean coasts of Italy, Spain, and
Greece. What factors account for such variety in a relatively small
area?
Europe's northern latitude and its relationship to the sea influence
its climates and vegetation. Western and southern parts of Europe,
which lie near or along large bodies of water, benefit from warm
maritime winds. These areas have a generally mild climate compared
with other places in the world at the same latitude. Frankfurt,
Germany, as well as Paris, France, and Boston, Massachusetts, are
about the same distance from the Arctic Circle, yet January
temperatures in Paris are milder than those in Boston. By contrast,
parts of eastern and northern Europe have a colder climate than most
of western and southern Europe because of their distance from the
warming effects of the Atlantic Ocean.
As in other areas of the world, location influences vegetation
patterns in Europe. Natural vegetation in the region varies from
forests and grasslands to tundra plants and small shrubs. Compare the
natural vegetation map on page 279 with the climate map above. Notice
that the types of vegetation found in Europe are closely linked to the
climate regions.
Western Europe
As the climate map on this page shows much of western Europe has a
marine west coast climate - mild winters, cool summers, and abundant
rain-fall. The Atlantic Oceans Gulf Stream and its northern extension,
the North Atlantic Drift, bring warm waters to this part of Europe
from the Gulf of Mexico and regions near the Equator. Prevailing
westerly winds blowing over these currents carry warm, moist air
across the surface of the European landmass.
Trees and Highlands
Western Europe's natural vegetation includes varieties of deciduous
(dih*SIH*juh*wuhs) and coniferous (koh*NlH*fuh*ruhs) trees. Deciduous
trees, those that lose their leaves, such as ash, maple, and oak,
thrive in the area's marine west coast climate. Coniferous trees, cone-
bearing fir, pine, and spruce, are found in cooler Alpine mountain
areas up to the timberline, the elevation above which trees cannot
grow.
The Alps have a highlands climite with generally colder temperatures
and more precipitation than nearby lowland areas. Sudden changes can
occur, however, when dry winds called foehns (FUHNZ) blow down from
the mountains into valleys and plains. Foehns can trigger avalanches,
destructive masses of ice, snow, and rock sliding down mountainsides.
Avalanches threaten skiers and hikers, and often carry away everything
in their paths. They represent a serious natural hazard in the Alps.
Ireland's Forests
Much of Europe was orginally covered by forest, but over the centuries
human settlement and clearing of the land have transformed the
vegetation. For example, prior to the 1600s, much of the midlands
region of Iceland was covered with forests of broadleaved trees.
However, pressure from agriculture and the large-scale harvest of
native lumber for firewood depleted the country's forests. By 1922,
when Ireland gained independence, only 1 percent of the connlry was
woodland. Searching for old-growth forests can be challenging. State-
sponsored reforestation efforts since World War II have increased
Ireland's woodland areas.
Southern Europe
Most of southern Europe has a Mediterranean climate-warm, dry summers
and mild, rainy winters. Several other climates, however, am found in
small areas of the region. For example, a humid subtropical climate
stretches from northern Italy to the central part of the Balkan
Peninsula. In addition, parts of Spain's Meseta have a drier steppe
climate,
The Alps block moist Atlantic winds, so less precipitation falls in
southern Europe than in northwestern Europe. Local winds in the region
sometimes cause changes in the normal weather pattern. The mistral, a
strong north wind from the Alps, sometimes sends gusts of bitterly
cold air into southern France. By contrast, siroccos (suh*RAH*kohs),
high, dry winds from North Africa, may bring high temperatures to the
region. The hot, dry summers in much of southern Europe support the
growth of chaparral, or shrubs and small trees, such as the cork oak
free and the olive tree.
Eastern and Northern Europe
Eastern and certain northern areas of Europe have a generally humid
continental climate-cold, snowy winters and hot summers, Warm Atlantic
currents have less influence on climate in these areas farther from
the Atlantic Ocean, As a result, summer and winter temperatures vary
more widely in eastern and northern Europe than in the rest of Europe.
In eastern Europe the vegetation is generally a mix of deciduous and
coniferous forests. Coniferous frees, which are able to survive long,
cold winters, are found in parts of Scandinavia and the region around
the Baltic Sen. Grasslands cover parts of eastern Europe, especially
in Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, and Romania.
Europe's far north--for example, Iceland, northern Scandinavia, and
Finland--has subarctic and tundra
climates of bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers, Tundra and
subarctic regions have permafrost, soil that is permanently frozen
below the surface. Tundra areas support little vegetation, with the
exception of mosses, small shrubs, and wildflowers that bloom during
the brief summer. The subarctic supports a vast coniferous forest that
broadens in the eastern part where Europe and Russia share a border.
Consider What You Know
Most of Latin America's people live in an area between the Tropic
of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, and area that includes the
Equator. What types of climate and vegetation would you expect to find
in this broad area?
As you read, read to find out:
1.
What are the climate regions in Europe?
2.
What physical features influence Europe's climates?
3.
Why are most of Europe's original forests gone?
Wind is only one of the factors affectins Europe's climates.
Latitude, mountain barriers, ocean currents, and the distance from
large bodies of water all help determine Europe's varied climates. In
this section you will read about Europe's climate regions--from the
sunny, dry Mediterranean climate to the frozen subarctic zone. You
will also study the patterns of vegetation growth found in each region
of Europe.
Water and Land
The climates and vegetation of Europe vary from the cold, barren
tundra and subarctic stretches of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland
to the warm, shrub-covered Mediterranean coasts of Italy, Spain, and
Greece. What factors account for such variety in a relatively small
area?
Europe's northern latitude and its relationship to the sea influence
its climates and vegetation. Western and southern parts of Europe,
which lie near or along large bodies of water, benefit from warm
maritime winds. These areas have a generally mild climate compared
with other places in the world at the same latitude. Frankfurt,
Germany, as well as Paris, France, and Boston, Massachusetts, are
about the same distance from the Arctic Circle, yet January
temperatures in Paris are milder than those in Boston. By contrast,
parts of eastern and northern Europe have a colder climate than most
of western and southern Europe because of their distance from the
warming effects of the Atlantic Ocean.
As in other areas of the world, location influences vegetation
patterns in Europe. Natural vegetation in the region varies from
forests and grasslands to tundra plants and small shrubs. Compare the
natural vegetation map on page 279 with the climate map above. Notice
that the types of vegetation found in Europe are closely linked to the
climate regions.
Western Europe
As the climate map on this page shows much of western Europe has a
marine west coast climate - mild winters, cool summers, and abundant
rain-fall. The Atlantic Oceans Gulf Stream and its northern extension,
the North Atlantic Drift, bring warm waters to this part of Europe
from the Gulf of Mexico and regions near the Equator. Prevailing
westerly winds blowing over these currents carry warm, moist air
across the surface of the European landmass.
Trees and Highlands
Western Europe's natural vegetation includes varieties of deciduous
(dih*SIH*juh*wuhs) and coniferous (koh*NlH*fuh*ruhs) trees. Deciduous
trees, those that lose their leaves, such as ash, maple, and oak,
thrive in the area's marine west coast climate. Coniferous trees, cone-
bearing fir, pine, and spruce, are found in cooler Alpine mountain
areas up to the timberline, the elevation above which trees cannot
grow.
The Alps have a highlands climite with generally colder temperatures
and more precipitation than nearby lowland areas. Sudden changes can
occur, however, when dry winds called foehns (FUHNZ) blow down from
the mountains into valleys and plains. Foehns can trigger avalanches,
destructive masses of ice, snow, and rock sliding down mountainsides.
Avalanches threaten skiers and hikers, and often carry away everything
in their paths. They represent a serious natural hazard in the Alps.
Ireland's Forests
Much of Europe was orginally covered by forest, but over the centuries
human settlement and clearing of the land have transformed the
vegetation. For example, prior to the 1600s, much of the midlands
region of Iceland was covered with forests of broadleaved trees.
However, pressure from agriculture and the large-scale harvest of
native lumber for firewood depleted the country's forests. By 1922,
when Ireland gained independence, only 1 percent of the connlry was
woodland. Searching for old-growth forests can be challenging. State-
sponsored reforestation efforts since World War II have increased
Ireland's woodland areas.
Southern Europe
Most of southern Europe has a Mediterranean climate-warm, dry summers
and mild, rainy winters. Several other climates, however, am found in
small areas of the region. For example, a humid subtropical climate
stretches from northern Italy to the central part of the Balkan
Peninsula. In addition, parts of Spain's Meseta have a drier steppe
climate,
The Alps block moist Atlantic winds, so less precipitation falls in
southern Europe than in northwestern Europe. Local winds in the region
sometimes cause changes in the normal weather pattern. The mistral, a
strong north wind from the Alps, sometimes sends gusts of bitterly
cold air into southern France. By contrast, siroccos (suh*RAH*kohs),
high, dry winds from North Africa, may bring high temperatures to the
region. The hot, dry summers in much of southern Europe support the
growth of chaparral, or shrubs and small trees, such as the cork oak
free and the olive tree.
Eastern and Northern Europe
Eastern and certain northern areas of Europe have a generally humid
continental climate-cold, snowy winters and hot summers, Warm Atlantic
currents have less influence on climate in these areas farther from
the Atlantic Ocean, As a result, summer and winter temperatures vary
more widely in eastern and northern Europe than in the rest of Europe.
In eastern Europe the vegetation is generally a mix of deciduous and
coniferous forests. Coniferous frees, which are able to survive long,
cold winters, are found in parts of Scandinavia and the region around
the Baltic Sen. Grasslands cover parts of eastern Europe, especially
in Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, and Romania.
Europe's far north--for example, Iceland, northern Scandinavia, and
Finland--has subarctic and tundra
climates of bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers, Tundra and
subarctic regions have permafrost, soil that is permanently frozen
below the surface. Tundra areas support little vegetation, with the
exception of mosses, small shrubs, and wildflowers that bloom during
the brief summer. The subarctic supports a vast coniferous forest that
broadens in the eastern part where Europe and Russia share a border.
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