Between Clouds and Lines: Exploring Climate Maps

Abstract

This research aimed to explore the climatic diversity of Peru through the interpretation of climate maps developed by university students, integrating geographic knowledge, cartographic skills, and qualitative approaches. The methodology involved an academic activity with students from the Faculty of Letters and Humanities at the Universidad Nacional de San Marcos who represented different department’s climes of their choice using either digital tools such as ArcGIS or hand-drawn maps. The maps were analyzed using qualitative criteria, including accuracy, coherence, creativity, and interpretative richness. The results revealed three representative cases: Huancavelica showed a relatively homogeneous climatic configuration with a predominance of semi-arid and cold temperate climates organized by altitude; Áncash showed out its extreme climatic fragmentation, with sixteen differentiated types based on altitude and geographic position; and La Libertad presented a marked west-to-east climatic transition with thirteen types, showing strong contrasts between arid coastal zones and humid Andean areas. It was concluded that climate cartography is an effective tool for visualizing the spatial complexity of Andean climates, facilitating the understanding of both regional and microclimatic patterns. This approach supports not only meaningful learning but also territorial planning and adaptation to climate change in the diverse contexts of the national territory.