Tierra templada
Encyclopedia
Tierra templada is a pseudoclimatological term used in Latin America
to refer to places within that realm which are either located in the tropics
at a moderately high elevation, or are marginally outside the astronomical tropics, producing a somewhat cooler overall climate
than that found in the tropical lowlands, the zone of which is known as the tierra caliente
.
In countries situated close to the equator
, the tierra templada typically commences at an altitude of approximately 750 meters (roughly 2,500 feet), and extends to about 1,850 meters (or 6,000 feet), where the still cooler tierra fria
begins.
These thresholds become lower as the latitude
increases. The Peruvian geographer Javier Pulgar Vidal used following altitudes:
Despite the English
translation of its name, the tierra templada is not considered "temperate" by climatologists, for most of the areas so designated have average temperatures in their coldest months of above 18°C (64.4°F), thus making them tropical under climate classification schemes such as that of Vladimir Köppen. In the aforementioned scheme, many locations within the tierra templada are sometimes designated Afb or Awb, with the b denoting the fact that the warmest month has an average temperature of below 22°C (71.6°F), meaning that all twelve months of the year have averages of between 18°C and 22°C. Chinchina, Colombia
, altitude 1,360 m, is an example of a place which would be labelled Afb, as it has abundant rainfall year-round, while the climate of San José, Costa Rica
, altitude 1,161 m, would fall under Awb since the latter city's rainfall regime consists of a wet summer and a dry winter.
In the tierra templada, coffee
is grown extensively as a cash crop, with grains such as wheat
and corn
being cultivated for subsistence purposes - in contrast to the warmer tierra caliente, where tropical fruits predominate.
It is considered to be the most habitable and spring like.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
to refer to places within that realm which are either located in the tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
at a moderately high elevation, or are marginally outside the astronomical tropics, producing a somewhat cooler overall climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
than that found in the tropical lowlands, the zone of which is known as the tierra caliente
Tierra caliente
Tierra caliente is a pseudo-climatalogical term used in Latin America to refer to those places within that realm which have a distinctly tropical climate...
.
In countries situated close to the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
, the tierra templada typically commences at an altitude of approximately 750 meters (roughly 2,500 feet), and extends to about 1,850 meters (or 6,000 feet), where the still cooler tierra fria
Tierra fría
Tierra fría is a pseudoclimatological term used in parts of Latin America to refer to mountain locations within that cultural realm, where high elevation results in a markedly cooler climate than that encountered in the lowlands at a comparable latitude.To a climatologist, the term is inaccurate,...
begins.
These thresholds become lower as the latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
increases. The Peruvian geographer Javier Pulgar Vidal used following altitudes:
- 1,000 m as the border between the Troical Rain forest and the Subtropical Cloud forest
- 2,300 m as the end of the Subtropical Cloud forest (Yunga fluvial)
- 3,500 m as the Treeline
- 4,800 m as the Puna end
Despite the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation of its name, the tierra templada is not considered "temperate" by climatologists, for most of the areas so designated have average temperatures in their coldest months of above 18°C (64.4°F), thus making them tropical under climate classification schemes such as that of Vladimir Köppen. In the aforementioned scheme, many locations within the tierra templada are sometimes designated Afb or Awb, with the b denoting the fact that the warmest month has an average temperature of below 22°C (71.6°F), meaning that all twelve months of the year have averages of between 18°C and 22°C. Chinchina, Colombia
Chinchina, Colombia
Chinchiná is a municipality located in the department of Caldas in Colombia, southwest of Manizales. Chinchiná is rich in character and beautiful landscapes...
, altitude 1,360 m, is an example of a place which would be labelled Afb, as it has abundant rainfall year-round, while the climate of San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, altitude 1,161 m, would fall under Awb since the latter city's rainfall regime consists of a wet summer and a dry winter.
In the tierra templada, coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
is grown extensively as a cash crop, with grains such as wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
being cultivated for subsistence purposes - in contrast to the warmer tierra caliente, where tropical fruits predominate.
It is considered to be the most habitable and spring like.
See also
- Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
- Altitudinal zonationAltitudinal zonationAltitudinal zonation in mountainous regions describes the natural layering of ecosystems that occurs at distinct altitudes due to varying environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, soil composition, and solar radiation are important factors in determining altitudinal zones, which consequently...
- Tierra calienteTierra calienteTierra caliente is a pseudo-climatalogical term used in Latin America to refer to those places within that realm which have a distinctly tropical climate...
, Ecoregion border, 2,500 ft or 1,000 m (Javier Pulgar Vidal) - Tierra friaTierra fríaTierra fría is a pseudoclimatological term used in parts of Latin America to refer to mountain locations within that cultural realm, where high elevation results in a markedly cooler climate than that encountered in the lowlands at a comparable latitude.To a climatologist, the term is inaccurate,...
, Ecoregion border, 6,000 ft or 2,300 m (Javier Pulgar Vidal) - Tierra heladaTierra heladaTierra helada is a term used in Latin America to refer to the highest places found within the Andes mountains.Tierra helada is for the Montane grasslands and shrublands, Sunis, Punas and Paramos between the Treeline and the Snow line...
, Ecoregion border, Treeline: 12,000 ft or 3,500 m (Javier Pulgar Vidal)