Physical Processes

The defining physical characteristics of the Paris Basin are the climate, soils and relief.

Climate:

• The Paris Basin experiences a cool temperate oceanic climate near the sea in the West, with moderate temperatures of 5°C in winter and 15°C in summer, and well-distributed rainfall averaging 800mm annually.
• Further inland, the cool temperate continental climate features colder winters (around 2°C) and hotter summers (around 19°C), with land heating and cooling faster than the sea, resulting in quicker temperature changes.
• The transitional climate in the Paris Basin exhibits characteristics of both oceanic and continental climates, leading to a mix of temperature and precipitation patterns.

Soils:

• Soil types in the Paris Basin vary, influencing agricultural practices such as arable farming and viticulture.
• In 'Dry Champagne,' chalk soils are stony and infertile but suitable for vine growing and sheep rearing due to their excellent drainage.
• 'Wet Champagne' has damp clay soils ideal for grass growth and dairy farming since they retain moisture well.
• The dominant soil in the Paris Basin is limon, a fertile, stone-less soil created from periglacial materials deposited during the last ice age, ideal for sugar beet and wheat cultivation.

Relief and Drainage:

• The Paris Basin covers 500km east-west and 300km north-south, with sedimentary rock uplifted by folding 400 million years ago.
• It is a syncline with the centre flatter than the surrounding escarpments, the most prominent being the Falaise de France, which appears like a stack of plates.
• Major rivers such as the Seine and its tributaries, the Somme in the north, and the Loire in the south, provide good drainage, aided by the presence of sedimentary rock in the region.