continentality

Continentality is the extent to which a region's climate is shaped by land masses rather than the moderating influence of nearby oceans. It describes how strongly temperature and weather respond to inland conditions as opposed to maritime conditions. Regions with high continentality show large seasonal and diurnal temperature differences, while coastal or island areas exhibit lower continentality due to oceanic moderation.

The distance from the coast is the primary control. Land heats up and cools down more quickly than the sea, producing greater daily and annual temperature ranges. Latitude, altitude, and prevailing atmospheric circulation also matter; wind patterns can bring in dry, warm or cold air from interior regions. Snow cover can reinforce continentality by changing surface albedo and insulating effects in winter.

Indicators include large annual temperature ranges and pronounced seasonal contrasts; in climate classifications, continental climates are common in mid to high latitudes away from large oceans. They are typically drier, with less maritime humidity, and may have longer, harsher winters and hotter summers.

Examples and regional patterns illustrate the concept. Central and eastern Asia (notably Siberia) and the interior of North America are cited as having high continentality. By contrast, western Europe and western North America along the coast show low continentality thanks to prevailing westerlies and oceanic influence. Continentality interacts with latitude, altitude, and regional circulation to produce diverse climate patterns across the globe.