Apuntes Tema 5 (Versión en Inglés)

Unit 5 Europe´s climates and Hidrography

Oceans and seas

Europe is surrounded by the Arctic (in the north) and the Atlancic Ocean (in the west). The seas around Europe are Mar  Noruego, Mar del Norte, Mar Cantábrico, Mar Mediterráneo, Mar Negro, Mar Caspio, Mar Egeo y el Golfo de Bizcaia.
European rivers: Most of them are navigable.
The Arctic and the Atlancic basins are large and the rivers are long because the flat terrain. In the Arctic Ocean the rivers are large and irregular like Pechora river. In the Atlantic Ocean are large and Irregular. The most important rivers are Rin, Loira, Sena, Tajo, Garona y Támesis.

The Mediterranean basin is narrow and the rivers  are short and irregular. The most important rivers are Po, Ebro, Tiber y Danubio.
Endorheic basins are rivers that flow into the continents interior. The most important river is Volga.

European lakes

Most of them formed by glaciers. There are:
- Northern lakes: in Finland and Russia
- Alpine lakes: Formed by glaciers or tectonic activity, in the Alps.
- Mediterranean lakes they are smaller and deeper.

European climate 

We find the temperate zone and the subarctic zone.

In the Temperate zone ( big thermal differences during the year) we find:

- Oceanic climate: In the Atlantic ocean (Norway and Portugal) Constant temperatures, no major changes, heavy precipitations.
- Continental climate: In the great European Plain, High temperatures in summer and cold in winter.
- Mediterranean climate: Moderate temperature, hot summer, mild winters. Irregular precipitations.
- Semi-arid climate: Scarce precipitations. In Italy and the south of Spain.
- Arid climate: In Spain, scarce precipitation and high temperatures.
In the Subarctic zone we find
- Polar climate: Very cold temperatures all the year, in the north part of Europe.
- The Alpine climate: In high mountain areas.