France is blessed with a variety of topography that reflects its wide
range of weather and climatic conditions as one travels from one area
to another. Overall, France can boast a truly temperate climate with
very little extremes of temperature save for the extremely cold
conditions of its mountainous areas. Elsewhere, the climate is uniformly
mild with the sun shining during most of the year especially along the
Mediterranean coast.
Climatic controls
A realistic discussion of climatic controls must be discussed with reference to five main regions - the north and northwest, central and eastern, the mountainous region, Mediterranean France and the southwest.
Temperate maritime climateThis climate type is found in the west near the coast and is the climate for Brest. Here, winters are mild with temperatures averaging 45°F during January and 63°F in July. Summers are pleasantly cool with temperatures hovering at an average 61°F in July. Rainfall is frequent with amounts averaging 800 mm or 32 inches during a period of 180 days annually.
Mid-latitude continental climate
This continental type climate is found in the interior part of the country where summers are hotter and winters have a more extreme range of temperatures. During the summers months, temperatures average out at 64°F during July in Paris and in winter, they drop to a low 36°F taking Paris again as the prime spot for their occurrence. Rainfall tends to occur less often during the winter months.
Mountain climate
This is the type of climate that prevails in areas occupying the high mountainous areas. Temperatures here are controlled by altitude and winters are long and bitterly cold. Rainfall increases with altitude and often occurs in the form of snow in winter, where many residents in the vicinity receive 50 days of snow each year. The town of Briancon in the Alps has mean temperatures of 28°F in January and 63°F in July. Annual rainfall is an average 587 mm or 23 inches annually. Skiing is one of France's favourite sports/hobbies.
Mediterranean type climate
The fourth climatic type is a Mediterranean type which is found in an area about 20 to 60 kilometers wide along the Mediterranean coast. Here, the climate resembles that of the areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, where summers are typically hot and dry and winters are mild and humid. The area only has a few days of rainfall each year which is ideal for holidays. The city of Marseille offers a prime example of this climate type with an average of 550 mm or 22 inches of rain during only 60 days of the year. Here, also, the sun shines for 3,000 hours each year.
Climatic controls
A realistic discussion of climatic controls must be discussed with reference to five main regions - the north and northwest, central and eastern, the mountainous region, Mediterranean France and the southwest.
- In the north and northwest, the climatic controls are the prevailing winds from the Atlantic to the west. These winds bring torrential rainfall all year round to these French regions with annual rainfalls of 24 to 31 inches. Drier conditions occur in areas further inland. Winters are mild and summers are warm.
- In the central and eastern parts of France, the climate is controlled is the land itself which is heated in summer and cooled in winter with very little modifying maritime conditions. Winters are very cold with plenty of snow and summers are hot with frequent thunderstorms.
- The controlling factor here is altitude which produces extremely cold conditions in winter and warm to hot weather in summer. Rain often turn to snow above the 1000 feet mark.
- The region with a Mediterranean climate borders around the Mediterranean sea which gives the eastern coastal part of France its unique type of climate of mild summer and winter climates.
- The south western part of France is susceptible to the effects of the southern Atlantic breezes which gives the region a uniquely uniform and mild climate due to the modifying influence of sea breezes.
The climate of France is influenced by four main types of climatic conditions.
Temperate maritime climateThis climate type is found in the west near the coast and is the climate for Brest. Here, winters are mild with temperatures averaging 45°F during January and 63°F in July. Summers are pleasantly cool with temperatures hovering at an average 61°F in July. Rainfall is frequent with amounts averaging 800 mm or 32 inches during a period of 180 days annually.
Mid-latitude continental climate
This continental type climate is found in the interior part of the country where summers are hotter and winters have a more extreme range of temperatures. During the summers months, temperatures average out at 64°F during July in Paris and in winter, they drop to a low 36°F taking Paris again as the prime spot for their occurrence. Rainfall tends to occur less often during the winter months.
Mountain climate
This is the type of climate that prevails in areas occupying the high mountainous areas. Temperatures here are controlled by altitude and winters are long and bitterly cold. Rainfall increases with altitude and often occurs in the form of snow in winter, where many residents in the vicinity receive 50 days of snow each year. The town of Briancon in the Alps has mean temperatures of 28°F in January and 63°F in July. Annual rainfall is an average 587 mm or 23 inches annually. Skiing is one of France's favourite sports/hobbies.
Mediterranean type climate
The fourth climatic type is a Mediterranean type which is found in an area about 20 to 60 kilometers wide along the Mediterranean coast. Here, the climate resembles that of the areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, where summers are typically hot and dry and winters are mild and humid. The area only has a few days of rainfall each year which is ideal for holidays. The city of Marseille offers a prime example of this climate type with an average of 550 mm or 22 inches of rain during only 60 days of the year. Here, also, the sun shines for 3,000 hours each year.
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