Hello, I’m Hyobin Lim, a student at Sejong Global High School. I learned about Köppen climate types in geography class, and I was surprised that almost every climate type appears in Chile. In this post, I’m going to analyze Korea and Chile’s climate.
I want to introduce you to Korea’s climate first. Korea is located at 37°N 126°E.
Korea, typically Seoul features a humid continental climate with dry winter, called Dwa in the Köppen climate classification, with four highly distinct seasons. In summer the influence of the North Pacific high-pressure system brings hot, humid weather. In contrast, in winter the city is topographically influenced by expanding Siberian High-pressure zones and prevailing west winds bring colder air to Korea.
On the other hand, Chile stretches from 18 degrees south to 56 degrees, so it is said to be about 4270 kilometers long. Therefore, depending on the latitude, various climates such as subtropical, desert, Mediterranean, temperate, and cold climates appear there. The Andes and Peruvian cold current also affect the climate. Regions where the cold current flows have cold and dry climates compared to regions where warm current flows.
Chile’s climate can be divided into three main categories, the Subtropical climate in the northern desert region, the Mediterranean desert climate in the central region, and the Continental climate in the southern region.
First, the north region of Chile consists of mountains and the Atacama desert. Therefore, It is dry and its average temperature for the year is between 15℃ and 17℃. Organisms rarely live in this region because of a large daily temperature range. Because of the dry and clear air, it is one of the best places to observe stars.
Next, Central Chile is heavily influenced by the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Between the Andes and the coastal mountains near the Pacific Ocean, there is a central canyon region, where the climate is warm and precipitation is moderate, so about three-quarters of the population lives. Summer is hot and dry, so there is little rain, and winter is warm and humid, so precipitation is concentrated.
Lastly, the southern part of the country has a cold oceanic climate, which is characterized by abundant rainfall and cold weather. The southern part of the country has abundant forests, lakes, and large and small archipelagoes, and the Patagonia Plateau accounts for a large part. The Patagonia region has many characteristics of the tundra: snow, rain, and frequent strong winds.
As a result, We can figure out that various climates emerge in both Korea and Chile. In the following post, I want to research how Chile’s climate affects culture and economy.
If you have a special experience with the unique climate in Chile, please share yours in a comment!
