Climate Types
1. Belarus: maritime/continental
2. Bulgaria: temperate continental
3. Czech Republic: humid continental
4. Hungary: humid continental
5. Poland: humid continental
6. Republic of Moldova: humid continental
7. Romania: temperate continental
8. Russian Federation: steppe, humid continental, subarctic
9. Slovakia:humid continental
10. Ukraine: temperate continental, humid subtropical
1. Belarus: maritime/continental
2. Bulgaria: temperate continental
3. Czech Republic: humid continental
4. Hungary: humid continental
5. Poland: humid continental
6. Republic of Moldova: humid continental
7. Romania: temperate continental
8. Russian Federation: steppe, humid continental, subarctic
9. Slovakia:humid continental
10. Ukraine: temperate continental, humid subtropical
Due to its high latitudes, Siberia is very cold and exhibits a subarctic climate. The southernmost part of Ukraine, Crimea, is humid subtropical and Mediterranean due to its proximity to the Black Sea. The Mediterranean and Black Seas, because they are not as deep as the Atlantic Ocean, are able to retain much more heat on the surface, stabilizing the climate near them. Constant west winds bring rain to much of the southern part of East Europe. These westerlies are also what bring air from the Atlantic over, causing the annual European Monsoon.
The generally moderate level of rainfall is what allows most of Eastern Europe to be populated. The rain, combined with good climate, allows for agricultural development and settlements. Russia, even though it is the largest country in the world, does not have a proportionally large population. The bitter cold of Siberia has generally kept people out of northern Russia. In the many mountain ranges of Eastern Europe, thinner atmosphere and colder temperatures generally keep people in the foothills.
Prague, located in the middle of Europe, has very varied annual temperatures and moderate rainfall. Moscow, due to its upper latitudal location, is generally on the colder side and does not exhibit much precipitation. Precipitation only occurs during the warmest times of summer. Odessa, located right on the coast of the Black Sea, has very constant temperatures year-round.