Climate of Western Europe
The majority of western Europe is a west coast marine climate, with the most southern part being of a Mediterranean climate. Much of the region is this way because the Gulf Stream issues a strong control over the area and keeps warmer, mild air over the it during the winter months.
Major Climate Types by Country:
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Temperature-Altitudinal Analysis:The area around the Swiss Alps is colder due to the mountains, with the mean being ~23-39 degrees F during winter (up to 46 degrees F bordering the Mediterranean). There is also a higher precipitation in the mountain area due to the prevailing westerlies and proximity to a body of water (oceans), with the most falling between March and December. The southern tip of France is of a more moderate climate because it borders the Mediterranean Sea which causes temperature fluctuations to be less extreme than a more continental climate.
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(From left to right) Climographs of Munster, Germany, Zurich, Germany, and Lyon, France
Analysis of 3 climographs: In the climographs above, it can be seen that the data are relatively similar. The average temperatures are within the same range and fluctuate about the same amount throughout the year. Lyon and Munster have similar amounts of precipitation, whereas Zurich receives a few more inches from April to September. However, Munster has the highest amount of wet days, especially from October to February. Zurich has the most wet days from May to August. Zurich and Lyon both have very similar average wind speeds.
Settlement Patterns & Climate: The settlement patterns of Europe vary somewhat with climate. As can be seen from the population graph, a large portion of the population is centered in the northwestern part where temperature is mild to cold and precipitation is ~1.9-3.3 inches per month. The area of and to the east and west of the Alps has less population density, as the climate is colder and has more precipitation. Temperatures of that region range from ~35-70 degrees F on average, with between 2 and 3.4 inches of precipitation per month.
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Settlement Patterns Analysis (continued):Also, the central part of France has less population density due to the presence of grasslands rather than arable farmland. Areas more north and south have better farming conditions, as shown in the agricultural land use map. In both the population and agricultural maps, it can be seen that areas east and southwest of the Alps have lower amounts of data, as lower temperatures and higher altitudes are not as favorable as they are in other parts of the region.
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