Climate of Germany and Vegetation
The climate of Germany is temperate although there is considerable variation. It is determined by her position in the cool temperate zone where there is some overlapping of the maritime influence from the West, with the continental influence of the East. This results in frequent changes of weather. The prevailing winds are westerly and rain falls all the year round. The North West of the country has the most marked oceanic influence due to its nearness to the North Sea and because it is a lowland, there is nothing to hinder the Oceanic influence from moving eastwards nor the continental influence penetrating westwards.
Further south and east of the country, the maritime influence is rarely felt and the climate becomes more subjected to continental influence which has more extreme temperatures and summer rainfall.
January is the coldest month in Germany with average temperature raging from 1-30C. In the mountains, they can drop to below -60C according to altitude. The highest temperatures are recorded in summer season and they go up to190C.
The warmest parts of Germany are the sheltered valleys and basins found south of the country especially in the Rhine rift valley and the Main valley.
Rain fall is reasonably distributed throughout the year with low land areas receiving between 51-76cm of rain and the uplands receiving 102-152cm per annum. Much of the rainfall received in Germany is convection in nature.
Factors affecting climate of Germany
Location. Germany is located in the cool temperate zone in the Northern hemisphere and it experiences cool temperatures.
Air Masses. Mainly affected by the Western winds and they allow the formation of rainfall through out the year.
Relief. The varied relief has led to different climatic conditions in different areas. The Central Uplands and Southern highlands receive relief rainfall while the northern plains receive convectional rainfall. Temperatures reduce with increase in heights especially in the Southern highlands.
Aspect. Slopes that face the sun are warmer than the sheltered ones during winter. For example, the Rhine rift valley in the South experience low temperatures in sheltered slopes.
Water bodies. Open water surfaces like lakes and rivers release a lot of water vapour after evaporation into the atmosphere leading to increase in humidity, cloud cover and later rainfall formation. Places near water bodies are warmer in winter than those far away.
The dense forest cover provide water vapour into the atmosphere through the process of evapotranspiration.
The
Vegetation of Germany
The forests were originally those with deciduous trees-those which shed off their leaves seasonally, found in lowlands. But this original forest cover has been cleared for settlement and industrial development as well as for cultivation.
Very little of the original vegetation remains. So many changes have taken place.
Alpine
scenery in Bavaria
Almost two thirds of the country's extensive forests are coniferous. Germany has always regarded her forest cover as a national heritage to be preserved and enlarged where possible,
The Soils
The soils in the northern lowlands are infertile and are of sandy and clay nature. This has been due to the influence of glaciation.
The soils of the uplands are also poor having been leached of their minerals by excess rainfall giving rise to soils of acidic nature supporting bush and coniferous trees.
The best soils are those of loess origin found along the North edfle of the Hercynian uplands and the Rift valley and major Rivers valleys. This soil is fine grained, non acidic, fertile and the most productive in Germany.
The People
Germany
has a total population of 82,369,548 (2008). As is the case in many
industrialized countries, the German population has grown substantially older
on the average since the early 20th century. This is a result of declining
birth rates and the shrinking of family size as Germans have chosen to have
fewer children. In addition, the numbers of single-parent and one-person
households are increasing.
The German population is overwhelmingly urban. Germany has more than three dozen cities exceeding 200,000 residents, and 12 metropolises with more than 500,000 residents. Three of Germany's federal states are city-states: Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. Berlin is the capital and largest city.
About 38% of the population is Protestant, mostly in the north, and 34% is Roman Catholic, primarily in the south and west. There is a small Jewish minority.
About half the population in the area that was formerly East Germany has no religious affiliation.