Blog 3 - Climatology

Barcelona, Spain exists in a Csa Koppen-Geiger climate classification scheme.

http://www.kidsmaps.com/geography/images/fullsized/climatic-map-spain.png

   Csa means Barcelona's annual climate is classified as:
   Main Climate: Warm Temperate
   Precipitation: Summer Dry
   Temperature: Hot Summer

   Barcelona's proximity to the Mediterranean Sea also means its seasons are much less variable than other cities located at similar latitudes. Chicago, Illinois is located at a similar latitude to Barcelona, but there are very obvious differences between the two's climate. Chicago has definite changes in seasons and has common, long-lasting snowfall. Barcelona, on the other hand, has less changes in seasons and very little snow, if any snow at all.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Cordillera_Cantabrica.jpg

   Barcelona also exists in an area between a waterbody and mountain range, which has an effect on the different air masses. Spain can be broken up into two different areas, rainy Spain and dry Spain. To the North of the Cantabrian mountains there is much rainfall and almost constant cloud cover. To the South of Cantabrian mountains, where Barcelona and the majority of Spain is located, the weather is generally dry.

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Overcast San Sebastian, " rainy" Northern Spain

http://travel.roro44.com/europe/spain/Barcelona_beaches_Barcelona_Spain.jpg
Clear Barcelona, "dry" Southern Spain

   In addition to these larger-scale elements controlling the weather around Barcelona, since my weather station is located in the center of this large city, there is sure to be a certain amount of urban-specific weather patterns. For example, the disruption of wind due to high buildings and the influence of the urban heat island effect on overall temperature must be taken into account.


   My weather station only goes back until 2004, so it is not enough time to see if the high temperatures have increased much as time has gone on. However, in August of 2010, Spain experienced the third hottest August this century and was the highest temperature since 1971.