Continental climate
A climate marked by large seasonal temperature contrasts, usually found far from oceans where maritime influence is weak.
Continentality: The degree to which a location’s climate reflects its distance from oceans and other large water bodies. It describes the inland influence that produces large seasonal temperature ranges.
Köppen climate classification: A system that groups world climates using temperature, precipitation, and vegetation criteria. Its D group identifies cold, strongly seasonal climates across continental interiors.
Mediterranean climate: A climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, typical of western continental margins. Its seasonal rainfall pattern reflects coastal circulation rather than an inland temperature regime.
Growing season: The period each year when environmental conditions permit plant growth or cultivation. Cold winters and short summers constrain growing seasons in many continental regions.
Specific heat capacity: The heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree. Water’s high capacity to store heat moderates coastal temperatures relative to inland areas.
Humid continental climate: A climate with warm or hot summers, cold winters, and precipitation throughout the year. It is a major continental subtype found across parts of North America and Eurasia.
Tundra climate: A very cold climate with a short growing season and little or no tree growth. At high latitudes, limited summer warmth distinguishes tundra from many continental climates.
Frost-free season: The interval between the last spring frost and the first autumn frost at a location. Its duration limits crop choices where continental temperature swings bring frequent frost.
Monsoon: A seasonal reversal of prevailing winds that produces pronounced wet and dry seasons. Seasonal winds can modify continental climates by transporting oceanic air far inland.
Subarctic climate: A climate with long, very cold winters and short, cool to mild summers. This high-latitude continental subtype has especially extreme winter cold.