A study of the coastal climates in France using temperature and precipitation data (1961–1990)

Abstract

The coastal climates of France have been studied using temperature and precipitation data from 1961 to 1990. It is found that the coastlines of the French Atlantic (and adjacent seas) and Mediterranean show many similar climatic features, but the coastal orientation and nearby topography cause some local climatic peculiarities. The relatively flat topography near the coasts of the North Sea, English Channel and the Atlantic result in a fairly homogeneous coastal climate. In these coastal regions there are days of frost each year, but the precipitation amount is usually not high, especially in summer on the Atlantic coast. On the other hand, the mountainous areas of Provence and the Riviera, which are adjacent to the Mediterranean, cause a juxtaposition of varied coastal climates. Large temperature and rainfall differences are observed, especially between the capes and the heads of gulfs, but also between the narrow and wide gulfs. During the warm months, some sea breezes cause coastal thermal peculiarities, which depend on the orientation of the prevailing flow.