Bioclimatology of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands

According to criteria and proposals of S. Rivas-Martinez, S. Rivas-Saenz and A. Penas (Glob Geobot 1(1):1–634, 2011a) with which they established a world bioclimatic classification system, two macrobioclimates (Temperate and Mediterranean), eight bioclimates (temperate hyperoceanic, temperate oceanic, temperate xeric, mediterranean pluviseasonal-oceanic, mediterranean pluviseasonal-continental, mediterranean xeric-oceanic and mediterranean desertic-oceanic), two bioclimatic variants (steppic and submediterranean), 11 thermotypes (thermotemperate, mesotemperate, supratemperate, orotemperate, cryorotemperate, inframediterraean, thermomediterranean, mesomediterranean, supramediterranean, oromediterranean and cryoromediterraean) and seven ombrotypes (arid, semiarid, dry, subhumid, humid, hyperhumid and ultrahyperhumid) are recognized in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. In addition to this, six types of continentality (euhyperoceanic, subhyperoceanic, semihyperoceanic, euoceanic, semicontinental and subcontinental) are also recognized. Furthermore, relationships between potential natural vegetation (sigmeta, geosigmeta, permasigmata, minorisigmeta and geopermasigmeta) and the bioclimatic units existing in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands are set.