But, in general terms, it is characterized by the lack of precipitations and for presenting an extremely arid landscape with little vegetation.
The climatic conditions of the different areas of the Region of Arica and Parinacota are associated directly with the relief, height and latitude. Thus, we can distinguish the following types of climate:
– Dessert climate with abundant cloudiness: predominating in the coastal zone of this region. It is characterized by a fog known as canmanchaca, which develops at night and disappears during the following morning.
This is formed in sectors situated al cloud levels, when the humid masses coming from the sea crush with the Coastal Ranges and rise abruptly, producing a condensation of the moisture in small drops suspended in the air.
Besides, this climate stands out because the temperatures are template with daily and seasonal variations not too sharp, keeping in between 20 and 25°C all year. There are no precipitations and humidity is very high.
– Normal desert climate: it’s present in the intermediate depression when the 1.000masl are overpassed. It is characterized by the presence of a mass of air dry and stable, due to the high level of dryness, the lack of cloudiness in the sky during great part of the year, the low atmospheric humidity, the lack of precipitations and the abrupt changes of temperature between the lowest and the highest, varying between the 25° in the day and -15° at night.
Marginal altitude desert climate: it develops in the Andean ranges sectors, above the 2.000masl. In this kind of climate there is a unstable mass of air, condition that by the effect of the high altitude unchains the formation of clouds capable of producing precipitations during almost all year round. These rains help the growth of certain vegetation, but are not sufficient to end up with the arid condition of this zone. Temperature is relatively low (as a product of the altitude) and it does not overcome 10°C.
– Steppe altitude climate: it predominates in the high plateau above the 3.500masl. It is characterized by temperatures that do not surpass the daily average of 5° C, a relatively low humidity and by precipitations that, mainly, develop during the summer season. These latter ones are of a thermally conductive origin and are produced when from the Amazon basin advance clouds loaded with humidity that lately climb by the western side of the Andean mountains. This phenomenon is known as the Bolivian or high plateau winter and its precipitations may surpass The 400mm each year.
