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Iran extends from sub-tropical to middle latitudes. It is a vast plateau country of vaired topography and
elevations ranging from below sea level to 5678 meters above sea level(highest peak). It is bounded by seas on
north and south and is almost half way between the co1d plains of Siberia on the North East and hot deserts of
Arabia on the South West. Generally speaking, it has hot summers and mild winters in the south, very hot summers
and relatively cold winters in its central deserts and,
warm to hot summers with mild to very cold winters in
0
the rest of its area. Absolute maxima of above 50 C.and
0
absolute minima of -35 C. are not uncommon. This applies
to regions for which climatic data are available and probably more extreme conditions prevail in the mountai
nous and desert parts of the country.
Continentally, as is well known, refle__8 climatic
conditions with high daily and summer temperatures together with low nightly and winter ones. There are many
methods for determination of continentality. Inthe present study however, continentality has been worked out


AI
according to Conrad's formula i.e.
K =
1. 7 (T) - 14
sin (cp + 10)
in which K= index 0 f continentality
T= annual range of temperature
!lI= latitud e
Practically all available climatic data of reliable nature have been taken into account and the results have
been shown in the attached map and tables that show five stages of continentality index namely over 5_,40 to 50,30
to 40,20 to 30 and below 20.
In conclusion it can be said that, due to its peculi
ar geographical situation and varied topography plus juxtapsition of water bodies, Iran shows small area of
maritime but relatively extensive areas of moderate continentality.