Kontinentaalsuse

Kontinentaalsuse refers to the degree to which a climate is influenced by a large landmass. Climates with high degrees of kontinentaalsuse are characterized by significant annual temperature variations, with hot summers and cold winters. This is because land heats up and cools down more quickly than water. Inland areas far from oceans or large bodies of water tend to experience more extreme temperature fluctuations than coastal regions. The absence of moderating oceanic influence means that temperatures are less buffered and can reach higher extremes in both summer and winter. Precipitation patterns can also be affected, with some continental climates experiencing dry periods due to distance from moisture sources. In contrast, maritime climates, which are located near oceans, have a lower degree of kontinentaalsuse and exhibit milder temperatures with less seasonal variation. The concept is often quantified using temperature range metrics, such as the difference between the average temperature of the warmest and coldest months.