Exploring the impact of topography on climate in the Americas

North America:

The west side is affected by the tall mountains belonging to the Cordillera Mountains, which blocks the westerly airflow from the Pacific Ocean, so that the Mediterranean climate and temperate oceanic nature are only distributed along the western coast The narrow strip of land; water vapor mainly comes from the Atlantic Ocean, causing precipitation to decrease from southeast to northwest. Mountains with higher altitudes form a vertically distributed alpine climate; intermountain plateaus and basins have an arid climate due to their closed terrain.

The central part runs through the plain. In winter, cold air from high latitudes moves southward, causing cooling in the vast inland areas. In summer, warm and humid air from low latitudes moves northward, causing inland areas to heat up, thus enhancing the continental characteristics.

The low and gentle mountains in the east have no blocking effect on airflow. In winter, cold air reaches the eastern coast directly, forming a continental climate; in summer, warm and humid airflow can enter the inland, bringing abundant precipitation.

South America:

The Andes Mountains on the west side run through the entire South America. Between 30°S and 50°S, the western part of the mountains forms a Mediterranean climate and a temperate maritime climate, while the eastern part forms a subtropical climate. Grassland and desert climates and temperate continental climates; mountains form a long and narrow plateau mountain climate.

Affected by the Brazilian Plateau, a savannah climate (Savannah climate) is formed between 5°S and 23°26'S.