The climate of Chile comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large geographic scale, extending across 38 degrees in latitude, making generalizations difficult. According to the Köppen system, Chile within its borders hosts at least seven major climatic subtypes, ranging from low desert in the north, to alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and southeast, tropical rainforest in Easter Island, Oceanic in the south and Mediterranean climate in central Chile. There are four seasons in most of the country: summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August), and spring (September to November).
Prevailing winds, sea currents and stationary cyclones near ChileChile map of Köppen climate classification.annual average temperatures of Chilemonthly mean temperatures of Chile
It [Chile] has four months of winter, no more, and in them, except when there is a quarter moon, when it rains one or two days, all the other days have such a beautiful sunshine...
The climate of Easter Island is tropical rainforest. The lowest temperatures are registered in July and August (18 °C (64 °F)) and the highest in February (maximum temperature 28 °C (82 °F)[1]), the summer season in the southern hemisphere. Winters are relatively mild. The rainiest month is April, though the island experiences year-round rainfall.[2] As an isolated island, Easter Island is constantly exposed to winds which help to keep the temperature fairly cool. Precipitation averages 1,118 mm per year. Occasionally, heavy rainfall and rainstorms strike the island. These occur mostly in the winter months (June–August). Since it is close to the Pacific High and outside the range of the ITCZ, cyclones and hurricanes do not occur around Easter island.[3]
The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth, and is virtually sterile because it is blocked from moisture on both sides by the Andes mountains and by the Chilean Coast Range. The cold Humboldt Current and the Pacific Anticyclone are essential to keep the dry climate of Atacama Desert. The average rainfall in the Chilean region of Antofagasta is just 1 mm per year. Some weather stations in the Atacama have never received rain. Evidence suggests that the Atacama may not have had any significant rainfall from 1570 to 1971.[4] It is so arid that mountains that reach as high as 6,885 metres (22,590 feet) are completely free of glaciers and, the southern part from 25°S to 27°S, may have been glacier-free throughout the Quaternary—though permafrost extends down to an altitude of 4,400 metres and is continuous above 5,600 metres. Studies by a group of British scientists have suggested that some river beds have been dry for 120,000 years.
Some locations in the Atacama do receive a marine fog known locally as the Camanchaca (garúa in Peru), providing sufficient moisture for hypolithic algae, lichens and even some cacti. But in the region that is in the "fog shadow" of the high coastal crest-line, which averages 3,000 m height for about 100 km south of Antofagasta, the soil has been compared to that of Mars.
As the climate map shows, where elevation is high enough to preclude any month with an average temperature of 10°C, precipitation is low enough to allow a transition between a cold desert (Köppen classification BWk) and tundra (ET).
Mediterraneanedit
Mediterranean climate distribution in the Americas. Note that the map of Chile is turned upside down
The climate of Central Chile is of temperate Mediterranean type, with the amount of rainfall increasing considerably and progressively from north to south. In the Santiago area, the average monthly temperatures are about 19.5 °C in the summer months of January and February and 7.5 °C in the winter months of June and July. The average monthly precipitation is no more than a trace in January and February and 69.7 millimeters in June and July. By contrast, in Concepción the average monthly temperatures are somewhat lower in the summer at 17.6 °C but higher in the winter at 9.3 °C, and the amount of rain is much greater. In the summer, Concepción receives an average of twenty millimeters of rain per month; in June and July, the city is pounded by an average of 253 millimeters per month. The numerous rivers greatly increase their flow as a result of the winter rains and the spring melting of the Andean snows, and they contract considerably in the summer. The combination of abundant snow in the Andes and relatively moderate winter temperatures creates excellent conditions for Alpine skiing. Areas around the Bío-Bío River, historically called La Frontera corresponds to southern limit of the mediterranean climate, with typical mediterranean fruits such as avocado, citrus, olives and grapes being cultivated north of it and oat, wheat, apples and potatoes to the south. This more or less drastic transition is caused by the split of the westerlies at these latitudes (~37° S) into one branch going to the southeast and another to the northeast, to this it is necessary to add the north-south lowering of the Chilean Coast Range which reduced the rain shadow effect.[5]
Temperate oceanicedit
Maritime influence makes some southern Andean valleys prone to snowfalls in winter such as in Curarrehue in the picture.
In Zona Sur and the northern part of Zona Austral the climate is Temperate oceanic. Here the Andean Cordillera intercepts moist westerly winds along the Pacific coast during winter and summer months; these winds cool as they ascend the mountains, creating heavy rainfall on the mountains' west-facing slopes. The northward-flowing oceanic Humboldt Current creates humid and foggy conditions near the coast. The tree line is at about 2,400 m in the northern part of the ecoregion (35° S), and descends to 1,000 m in the south of the Valdivian region. In the summer average temperature can climb to 16.5 °C (62 °F), while during winter the temperature can drop below 7 °C (45 °F).[6]
Subpolar oceanicedit
The seasonal temperature in Zona Austral is greatly moderated by its proximity to the ocean and is known for its stable constant temperatures, only small variability with season. The heaviest rainfalls goes between April and May and snow season goes all through Chilean winter (June till September), although the average temperature does not descend below 1 °C in coastal areas. This is the coldest region of South America. Puerto Natales in Zona Austral is the city with most rainy days per year in Chile, averaging 161.[7]
Climate charts for different locations of Chile from north to southedit
^. Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
^Easter Island Article 2017-06-03 at the Wayback Machine in Letsgochile.com
^Weather October 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Easter Island Foundation
^Wright, John W., ed. (2006). The New York Times Almanac (2007 ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books. pp. 456. ISBN0-14-303820-6.
^Schwedtfeger, Werner. 1976. The Climate of Chile. World Survey of Climatology. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.
^Di Castri F di & E. Hajek 1976. "Bioclimatología de Chile" 163 pages with english summary 2008-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
^"La ciudad en la que más llueve en todo Chile: publican ranking mundial". AS (in Spanish). 2022-10-12.
External linksedit
Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (in Spanish)
Dirección Meteorológica de Chile climate database (in Spanish)
Atmosfera.cl - Clima de Chile at archive.today (archived January 15, 2013)
Atlas Agroclimatico de Chile (in Spanish)
December 15, 2023
climate, chile, climate, chile, comprises, wide, range, weather, conditions, across, large, geographic, scale, extending, across, degrees, latitude, making, generalizations, difficult, according, köppen, system, chile, within, borders, hosts, least, seven, maj. The climate of Chile comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large geographic scale extending across 38 degrees in latitude making generalizations difficult According to the Koppen system Chile within its borders hosts at least seven major climatic subtypes ranging from low desert in the north to alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and southeast tropical rainforest in Easter Island Oceanic in the south and Mediterranean climate in central Chile There are four seasons in most of the country summer December to February autumn March to May winter June to August and spring September to November Prevailing winds sea currents and stationary cyclones near ChileChile map of Koppen climate classification annual average temperatures of Chilemonthly mean temperatures of ChileOn a synoptic scale the most important factors that control the climate in Chile are the Pacific Anticyclone the southern circumpolar low pressure area the cold Humboldt current the Chilean Coast Range and the Andes Mountains Despite Chile s narrowness some interior regions may experience wide temperature oscillations and cities such as San Pedro de Atacama may even experience a continental climate In the extreme northeast and southeast the border of Chile extends beyond the Andes into the Altiplano and the Patagonian plains giving these regions climate patterns similar to those seen in Bolivia and Argentina respectively Contents 1 Regions 1 1 Tropical 1 2 Dry arid 1 3 Mediterranean 1 4 Temperate oceanic 1 5 Subpolar oceanic 2 Climate charts for different locations of Chile from north to south 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksRegions editIt Chile has four months of winter no more and in them except when there is a quarter moon when it rains one or two days all the other days have such a beautiful sunshine Pedro de Valdivia to Charles V Holy Roman Emperor Climate Ecoregion Natural regionDesert BWh BWk Atacama desert Norte GrandeSemi arid BSh BSk Chilean matorral Central ChileMediterranean Csa Csb Csc Tropical rainforest Af Easter island Humid subtropical Cfa Fernandezian Region Temperate monsoon Cwc Altiplano Norte GrandeTemperate oceanic Cfb Valdivian temperate rainforests Zona Sur Zona AustralSubpolar oceanic Cfc Magellanic subpolar forestsMagellanic moorland Zona AustralTundra ET Continental subalpine Dsb Dsc Andes Central ChileSemi arid BSk Patagonian Desert Zona AustralAlpine ETH EB Andes Central Andean dry puna all natural regions of ChileTundra ET Andes Central Andean dry puna all natural regions of ChileIce cap EF Northern Patagonian Ice Field Southern Patagonian Ice Field Zona AustralTropical edit nbsp View toward the interior of Easter IslandThe climate of Easter Island is tropical rainforest The lowest temperatures are registered in July and August 18 C 64 F and the highest in February maximum temperature 28 C 82 F 1 the summer season in the southern hemisphere Winters are relatively mild The rainiest month is April though the island experiences year round rainfall 2 As an isolated island Easter Island is constantly exposed to winds which help to keep the temperature fairly cool Precipitation averages 1 118 mm per year Occasionally heavy rainfall and rainstorms strike the island These occur mostly in the winter months June August Since it is close to the Pacific High and outside the range of the ITCZ cyclones and hurricanes do not occur around Easter island 3 Dry arid edit nbsp Pan de Azucar National Park in Atacama DesertSee also Atacama Desert and Arid Diagonal The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth and is virtually sterile because it is blocked from moisture on both sides by the Andes mountains and by the Chilean Coast Range The cold Humboldt Current and the Pacific Anticyclone are essential to keep the dry climate of Atacama Desert The average rainfall in the Chilean region of Antofagasta is just 1 mm per year Some weather stations in the Atacama have never received rain Evidence suggests that the Atacama may not have had any significant rainfall from 1570 to 1971 4 It is so arid that mountains that reach as high as 6 885 metres 22 590 feet are completely free of glaciers and the southern part from 25 S to 27 S may have been glacier free throughout the Quaternary though permafrost extends down to an altitude of 4 400 metres and is continuous above 5 600 metres Studies by a group of British scientists have suggested that some river beds have been dry for 120 000 years Some locations in the Atacama do receive a marine fog known locally as the Camanchaca garua in Peru providing sufficient moisture for hypolithic algae lichens and even some cacti But in the region that is in the fog shadow of the high coastal crest line which averages 3 000 m height for about 100 km south of Antofagasta the soil has been compared to that of Mars As the climate map shows where elevation is high enough to preclude any month with an average temperature of 10 C precipitation is low enough to allow a transition between a cold desert Koppen classification BWk and tundra ET Mediterranean edit nbsp Mediterranean climate distribution in the Americas Note that the map of Chile is turned upside downThe climate of Central Chile is of temperate Mediterranean type with the amount of rainfall increasing considerably and progressively from north to south In the Santiago area the average monthly temperatures are about 19 5 C in the summer months of January and February and 7 5 C in the winter months of June and July The average monthly precipitation is no more than a trace in January and February and 69 7 millimeters in June and July By contrast in Concepcion the average monthly temperatures are somewhat lower in the summer at 17 6 C but higher in the winter at 9 3 C and the amount of rain is much greater In the summer Concepcion receives an average of twenty millimeters of rain per month in June and July the city is pounded by an average of 253 millimeters per month The numerous rivers greatly increase their flow as a result of the winter rains and the spring melting of the Andean snows and they contract considerably in the summer The combination of abundant snow in the Andes and relatively moderate winter temperatures creates excellent conditions for Alpine skiing Areas around the Bio Bio River historically called La Frontera corresponds to southern limit of the mediterranean climate with typical mediterranean fruits such as avocado citrus olives and grapes being cultivated north of it and oat wheat apples and potatoes to the south This more or less drastic transition is caused by the split of the westerlies at these latitudes 37 S into one branch going to the southeast and another to the northeast to this it is necessary to add the north south lowering of the Chilean Coast Range which reduced the rain shadow effect 5 Temperate oceanic edit nbsp Maritime influence makes some southern Andean valleys prone to snowfalls in winter such as in Curarrehue in the picture See also Climate of Valdivia In Zona Sur and the northern part of Zona Austral the climate is Temperate oceanic Here the Andean Cordillera intercepts moist westerly winds along the Pacific coast during winter and summer months these winds cool as they ascend the mountains creating heavy rainfall on the mountains west facing slopes The northward flowing oceanic Humboldt Current creates humid and foggy conditions near the coast The tree line is at about 2 400 m in the northern part of the ecoregion 35 S and descends to 1 000 m in the south of the Valdivian region In the summer average temperature can climb to 16 5 C 62 F while during winter the temperature can drop below 7 C 45 F 6 Subpolar oceanic edit The seasonal temperature in Zona Austral is greatly moderated by its proximity to the ocean and is known for its stable constant temperatures only small variability with season The heaviest rainfalls goes between April and May and snow season goes all through Chilean winter June till September although the average temperature does not descend below 1 C in coastal areas This is the coldest region of South America Puerto Natales in Zona Austral is the city with most rainy days per year in Chile averaging 161 7 Climate charts for different locations of Chile from north to south editIquiqueClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 25 18 0 25 18 0 24 17 0 22 15 0 2 20 14 0 1 19 14 0 18 13 0 18 13 0 19 14 0 20 15 0 22 15 0 2 24 17 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 1 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 77 64 0 77 64 0 75 62 0 72 59 0 69 57 0 66 56 0 64 56 0 65 56 0 66 57 0 68 58 0 71 60 0 74 62 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesAntofagastaClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 24 17 0 24 17 0 23 16 0 21 14 0 19 13 0 1 18 11 0 3 17 11 0 6 17 11 0 5 18 12 0 1 19 13 0 1 20 14 0 22 16 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 2 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 75 62 0 75 62 0 73 60 0 70 57 0 66 55 0 64 53 0 62 51 0 63 53 0 64 54 0 66 56 0 69 58 0 72 60 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesAricaClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 26 19 0 1 27 19 0 26 18 0 24 17 0 22 15 0 2 20 14 0 1 19 14 0 1 19 14 0 19 14 0 21 15 0 23 16 0 25 18 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 3 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 79 66 0 80 66 0 79 65 0 75 62 0 71 59 0 67 58 0 65 57 0 65 57 0 67 58 0 69 60 0 73 61 0 76 64 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesEaster IslandClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 73 27 20 85 27 20 96 27 20 121 25 19 153 23 18 106 22 17 105 21 16 94 21 15 87 22 16 68 23 16 74 24 17 85 25 18 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 4 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 2 9 81 68 3 3 81 68 3 8 80 68 4 8 78 66 6 74 64 4 2 72 62 4 1 70 60 3 7 70 60 3 4 71 60 2 7 73 61 2 9 75 63 3 4 78 65 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesCopiapoClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 28 13 0 28 13 1 1 27 12 0 2 24 10 0 4 22 8 1 1 20 6 6 5 20 6 2 21 6 0 2 22 7 0 5 24 9 0 25 10 0 27 12 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 5 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 83 56 0 83 56 0 80 54 0 75 50 0 71 46 0 68 43 0 3 67 42 0 1 70 43 0 72 45 0 75 47 0 78 51 0 80 54 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesLa SerenaClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 22 14 0 22 13 0 2 20 12 1 1 18 11 6 1 17 9 15 16 8 31 15 8 17 16 8 5 8 16 9 2 7 18 10 0 2 19 11 0 20 12 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 6 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 71 56 0 71 56 0 68 54 0 65 51 0 2 63 49 0 6 61 46 1 2 60 46 0 7 60 46 0 2 61 48 0 1 64 49 0 66 51 0 69 54 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesSantiagoClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 4 30 13 0 8 29 12 3 2 27 11 10 23 8 42 19 6 70 15 4 87 15 4 52 17 5 22 19 6 13 22 8 9 2 25 10 2 1 28 12 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource WMOImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 85 55 0 84 54 0 1 80 51 0 4 74 46 1 7 66 43 2 8 59 40 3 4 59 39 2 62 41 0 9 66 43 0 5 72 47 0 4 78 50 0 1 83 54 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesLinaresClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 13 30 12 10 29 11 20 25 9 62 21 6 171 16 7 208 12 5 180 12 4 129 14 4 77 17 5 44 20 8 30 24 9 20 28 12 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 7 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 5 86 53 0 4 83 53 0 8 77 48 2 4 69 44 6 7 60 44 8 2 54 41 7 1 54 38 5 1 57 39 3 63 42 1 7 69 46 1 2 74 48 0 8 83 53 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesConcepcionClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 21 23 11 15 22 10 25 21 9 56 18 8 178 16 7 218 13 6 222 13 6 153 14 6 88 15 6 65 17 7 41 19 8 28 22 10 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 8 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 8 73 51 0 6 72 50 1 70 48 2 2 65 46 7 60 45 8 6 56 43 8 7 55 42 6 57 42 3 4 59 42 2 6 62 44 1 6 67 47 1 1 71 50 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesValdiviaClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 54 23 9 55 23 9 71 21 7 133 17 6 295 14 6 297 11 5 312 11 4 247 12 4 162 15 4 109 17 5 73 19 7 63 21 8 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 9 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 2 1 73 48 2 1 73 47 2 8 69 45 5 2 63 42 12 56 43 12 52 40 12 51 40 9 7 54 39 6 4 58 39 4 3 62 41 2 9 66 44 2 5 71 47 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesPuerto MonttClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 90 20 9 93 19 9 99 18 8 143 15 7 234 13 6 224 11 4 229 10 4 209 11 4 146 13 4 121 14 6 112 17 7 103 19 9 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 10 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 3 5 67 49 3 7 67 48 3 9 64 46 5 6 59 44 9 2 55 43 8 8 51 39 9 51 39 8 2 52 39 5 7 55 40 4 8 58 42 4 4 62 45 4 1 65 47 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesAisenClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 196 18 10 159 18 10 166 16 8 239 13 7 320 10 5 283 7 2 280 7 2 258 9 3 209 11 4 163 14 6 168 15 8 208 17 9 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 11 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 7 7 64 50 6 3 64 49 6 5 61 47 9 4 55 44 13 49 40 11 45 36 11 44 35 10 47 37 8 2 52 39 6 4 56 42 6 6 60 46 8 2 63 48 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesBalmacedaClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 28 18 7 20 18 6 38 16 5 54 12 3 93 8 1 85 4 2 84 4 3 72 6 1 49 9 0 30 12 2 28 15 4 32 16 6 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 12 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 1 64 44 0 8 64 43 1 5 60 40 2 1 53 37 3 6 46 33 3 4 40 28 3 3 38 27 2 8 43 30 1 9 49 32 1 2 54 36 1 1 58 40 1 2 62 42 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesPunta ArenasClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 39 15 7 28 14 6 30 13 5 36 10 3 42 6 1 29 4 1 30 4 1 30 5 1 24 8 1 29 11 3 32 13 4 29 14 6 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 13 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 5 58 44 1 1 58 43 1 2 55 41 1 4 50 38 1 6 44 34 1 1 40 31 1 2 39 30 1 2 42 30 1 46 34 1 1 51 37 1 2 55 40 1 1 57 42 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesSee also editAgriculture in Chile Drought in Chile Geology of Chile Glaciers of Chile Natural regions of Chile White EarthquakeReferences edit Enjoy Chile climate Archived from the original on 2009 09 29 Retrieved 2009 08 05 Easter Island Article Archived 2017 06 03 at the Wayback Machine in Letsgochile com Weather Archived October 2 2009 at the Wayback Machine Easter Island Foundation Wright John W ed 2006 The New York Times Almanac 2007 ed New York New York Penguin Books pp 456 ISBN 0 14 303820 6 Schwedtfeger Werner 1976 The Climate of Chile World Survey of Climatology Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company Di Castri F di amp E Hajek 1976 Bioclimatologia de Chile 163 pages with english summary Archived 2008 04 11 at the Wayback Machine La ciudad en la que mas llueve en todo Chile publican ranking mundial AS in Spanish 2022 10 12 External links editDireccion Meteorologica de Chile in Spanish Direccion Meteorologica de Chile climate database in Spanish Atmosfera cl Clima de Chile at archive today archived January 15 2013 Atlas Agroclimatico de Chile in Spanish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Climate of Chile amp oldid 1181391642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
