Why is temperate continental climate non-zonal?

Non-zonality is also called hidden domain. It is an irregular distribution caused by non-zonal factors. Non-zonal factors such as land-sea distribution and ocean current make the zonal distribution law incomplete and unclear, which makes the natural environment more complicated.

Temperate continental climate is one of the most common climate types in the world, mainly distributed in Eurasia, inland areas of North America and southern South America at 40 ~ 60 north latitude. Because it is far away from the ocean or blocked by the terrain, the humid air mass is difficult to reach, so it is dry and rainy, and the climate is very continental. The annual and monthly temperature differences are the highest among all climate types.

The reasons why temperate continental climate has no zonality are as follows:

1. The reason why this climate extends to the east coast of North America:

On the one hand, the mountains in the west of the North American continent blocked the humid air flow from the Pacific Ocean, and on the other hand, the Labrador cold current on the east coast played a role in cooling and dehumidifying the coast.

2. The high latitudes of North America and Western Europe should belong to polar climate and temperate continental climate. Due to the warming effect of warm current on the coast,

3. The Patagonian desert was formed because:

First, due to the blocking of the western Andes, it is difficult for the west wind to enter, forming a dry temperate continental climate.

Second, the branches of the west wind (near sea breeze) and west wind drift (cold current) on the east coast aggravate the coastal dryness.

Map of temperate continental climate types: