CLIMATE
CLASSIFICATION
K OEP P EN’S CL A SS IF I CAT IO N
1.
Consider the following description: (2024)
1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low
2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm-250 cm.
What is this type of climate?
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) China type climate
(c) Humid subtropical climate
(d) Marine West coast climate
2.
The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of: (2014)
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) Mediterranean climate
(c) Monsoon climate
(d) All of the above climates
3.
“Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty, and the people used to be nomadic
herders.” The above statement best describes which of the following
regions? (2013)
(a) African Savannah
(b) Central Asian Steppe
(c) North American Prairie
(d) Siberian Tundra
4.
Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical
Savannah Region? (2014)
(a) Rainfall throughout the year
(b) Rainfall in winter only
(c) An extremely short dry season
(d) A definite dry and wet season
5.
"Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a
sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds
form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But the rain is soon over."
Which of the following regions is described in the above passage? (2015)
(a) Savannah
(b) Equatorial
(c) Monsoon
(d) Mediterranean
KOEPPEN’S CLASSIFICATION
• This climate classification scheme was developed by
Wladimir Peter Koeppen in 1884.
• He recognized a close relationship between the
distribution of vegetation and climate.
KOEPPEN’S CLASSIFICATION
• The categories are based on the data of annual and monthly averages
of temperature and precipitation.
• The Koeppen climate classification system recognizes five major
climatic types and each type is designated by a capital letter- A, B, C,
D, E, and H.
KOEPPEN’S CLASSIFICATION
Humid tropical climates ; warm and moist conditions throughout
A type
the year and mean temperature always above 18°C
B type Dry climates
Mild winters, average temperatures of the coldest and warmest
C type
months being between 8° to 18°, and 22°C respectively
Average temperatures of coldest and warmest months being below
D type
-3°C and above 10°C respectively.
E type Polar climates characterized by summer less season
H type Highland type of climate
SUB CLASSIFICATION
• The seasons of dryness are further indicated by the small letters:
f, m, w and s
o f - no dry season
o m - monsoon climate i.e. high rainfall concentrated in the monsoon months
o w - winter dry season
o s - summer dry season.
• a, b, c and d refer to the degree of severity of temperature.
Group Type Letter Code Characteristics
Tropical Wet Af No dry season
A- Tropical Humid
Tropical Monsoon Am Monsoonal, Short dry season
Climate
Tropical Wet and dry Aw Winter dry season
Subtropical Steppe BSh Low-latitude semi arid or dry
Subtropical Desert BWh Low latitude arid or dry
B- Dry Climate
Mid-Latitude Steppe BSk Mid latitude semi arid or dry
Mid-Latitude Desert BWk Mid latitude arid or dry
No dry season
C- Warm Humid Subtropical Cfa
Dry Hot summer
Temperature Mediterranean Cs
No dry season, warm and cool
Climates Marine West coast Cfb
summer
D- Cold Snow Humid Continental Df No dry season, severe winter
forest Climates Subarctic Dw Winter dry and very severe
Tundra ET No true summer
E- Cold Climates
Polar Ice Cap EF Perennial Ice
H- Highland Highland H Highland with snow cover
KOEPPEN’S CLASSIFICATION
01
Group A
TROPICAL HUMID CLIMATES
KOEPPEN’S
CLASSIFICATIONS
01 Group A:
TROPICAL HUMID CLIMATES
Group A TROPICAL HUMID CLIMATES
• Tropical humid climates exist between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of
Capricorn.
• The sun being overhead throughout the year and the presence of the
Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), makes the climate hot and
humid.
• Annual range of temperature is very low and annual rainfall is high.
Group A SUBDIVISION OF TROPICAL CLIMATE
• The tropical group is divided into three types, namely
o Af - Tropical wet climate
o Am - Tropical monsoon climate
o Aw - Tropical wet and dry climate
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Af - TROPICAL WET CLIMATE
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Af - TROPICAL WET CLIMATE
Iquitos, Peru
350 35
300 30
250 25
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
200 20
150 15
100 10
50 5
0 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Af- TROPICAL WET CLIMATE
• Precipitation occurs all year-round.
• Variations in temperature are less than 3°C.
• Humidity is extremely high and the surface temperature results in the formation of
cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds in the early afternoon time, daily.
This results in high rainfall.
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
• Tropical evergreen forests with dense canopy cover and large biodiversity.
• “Equal” length of day and night is observed.
• Geographical distribution : Peru, Amazon Basin, Congo River Basin, Philippines, Guinea
Coast etc.
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Am - TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE
Group A Am - TROPICAL MONSOON
TROPICAL CLIMATE
CLIMATE
• Annual rainfall is similar to that of Af, but precipitation is usually concentrated within
3-4 of months of the year.
• These months are mostly, the warmest months of the year
• During the rest of the year, there is less precipitation.
• Found over the Indian Sub-continent, North Eastern part of
South America and Northern Australia
• Tropical Deciduous forests are the characteristic natural vegetation
found in these areas.
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Am - TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE
Mangalore, India
1200 35
1000 30
25
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
800
20
600
15
400
10
200 5
0 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Aw- TROPICAL WET AND DRY CLIMATE
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Aw- TROPICAL WET AND DRY CLIMATE
[Link]
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Aw- TROPICAL WET AND DRY CLIMATE
• The wet season is shorter and the dry season is longer with the drought being more severe.
• Temperature is high throughout the year and diurnal ranges of temperature are the greatest in
the dry season.
• Tall to short continuous grasslands with scattered trees. Dry deciduous forests are also found along
the fringes.
• Such kind of climate is found in Northern India, interior regions of
Burma, Llanos of Venezuela, Campos of Brazil, western Central Africa etc.
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Aw- TROPICAL WET AND DRY CLIMATE
Dakar, Senegal
350 30
300 25
250
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
20
200
15
150
10
100
50 5
0 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Group A
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Aw- TROPICAL WET AND DRY CLIMATE
Group B
02 DRY CLIMATES
KOEPPEN’S
CLASSIFICATION
Group B:
02 DRY CLIMATES
Group B DRY CLIMATES
Dry climates are divided into
• Desert climate (BW).
o True desert climate spans about 12 percent of the Earth’s total land.
o Xerophytic vegetation usually grows in this climatic zone.
o The letters h and k are used as suffixes after BW to represent whether the zone is
subtropical hot (h) or mid-latitudinal cold(k).
Group B DRY CLIMATES
• Steppe or semi-arid climate (BS)
o It spans about 14 percent of the Earth’s land and makes up grassland type.
o These regions receive more rainfall than their BW counterparts because of mid-
latitude cyclones and areas of inter-tropical convergence.
KOEPPEN’S
CLASSIFICATIONS 03
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
03 WARM TEMPERATE (MID-LATITUDE)
Group C:
Group C WARM TEMPERATE (MID-LATITUDE)
• Hot and humid summers and mild winters.
• Extending between 30-50° latitude northwards and southwards from the equator,
these regions are typically the eastern and western extremes of each continent.
• Sometimes, summer months may feature convective thunderstorms,
and winter months may feature mid-latitudinal cyclones.
Group C WARM TEMPERATE (MID-LATITUDE)
Group C WARM TEMPERATE(MID-LATITUDE)
• The climatic classification is further broken into four types:
o Cfa or humid subtropical climate,
o Cfb or marine west coast climates
o Cs or the Mediterranean climatic zones
o Cw or China type climate
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cfa or HUMID SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cfa or HUMID SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE
• Lies on the eastern parts of the continent in subtropical latitudes.
• No dry season, because in this region air masses are unstable and
cause rainfall throughout the year.
• Examples are eastern United States of America, southern and
eastern China, Southern Japan, Northeastern Argentina, coastal
South Africa and eastern coast of Australia.
• Annual range of precipitation varies from 75-150 cm.
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cfa or HUMID SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cfa or HUMID SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE
Memphis, TN
350 35
300 30
250 25
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
200 20
150 15
100 10
50 5
0 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cfb or MARINE WEST COAST CLIMATES
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE Cfb or MARINE WEST COAST CLIMATES
• Located poleward from the Mediterranean climate on the west
coast of the continents. The main areas are:
• Due to marineNorthwestern Europe, west coast of North America,
north of California, southern Chile, southeastern
Australia influence, the temperature is moderate and in winter it is
warmer than its latitude.
• Annual range of precipitation vary from 50-250cm.
• Winters are milder, they come with heavy rainfall due to mid-
latitude cyclones.
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE Cfb or MARINE WEST COAST CLIMATES
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
London, England
350 35
300 30
250 25
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
200 20
150 15
100 10
50 5
0 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cs or THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATIC ZONES
[Link]
Group C Cs or THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATIC ZONES
WARM TEMPERATE
• Such kind of climate can be observed along the west coast of
continents in subtropical regions between 30° - 40° latitudes.
• It comes under the influence of subtropical high pressure belt in
summer and westerly wind in winter.
• Precipitation ranges between 35 - 90 cm.
• Examples include of areas near Mediterranean sea in Europe,
Portland, Oregon or central California in North America &
central Chile in South America.
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cs or THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATIC ZONES
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cs or THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATIC ZONES
• Precipitation is heaviest during the winters due to mid-latitude cyclones.
• There is hardly any rainfall during the (dry)summer months.
• Temperature in summer is around 25°C and in winter, it falls below 10°C.
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cw or HUMID SUBTROPICAL
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE Cw or CHINA-TYPE
• Dry in winter and hot in summer.
• Poleward of Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, mainly in North Indian plains and South
China interior plains.
Group C
WARM TEMPERATE
Cw or CHINA-TYPE
• Warm, moist summer and cool, dry winter.
• Mean monthly temperature varies from 4 °C to 25
°C.
• Strong maritime influence. Frosts are rare but may
occur in the cold interiors.
• Relative humidity is a little high in mid-summer.
• Annual rainfall ranges from 60 cm to 150 cm which is
adequate for a wide range of crops.
KOEPPEN’S
CLASSIFICATIONS
Group D
04 COLD SNOW FOREST
04 Group D:
COLD SNOW FOREST
Group D
COLD SNOW FORESTCLIMATE
• Cold snow forest climates occur in the large continental area in the
northern hemisphere between 40°-70° north latitudes in Europe, Asia
and North America.
• Summers are typically warm but can also be cool, while winters are
cold.
• During the summer months, average temperatures climb above 10°
Celsius, while in the colder months it can be less than -3° Celsius.
Group D
COLD SNOW FORESTCLIMATE
Group D
COLD SNOW FOREST CLIMATE
• Cold snow forest climates are divided into two major types:
o Df - Cold climate with humid winter
o Dw - Cold climate with dry winter
• The severity of winter is more pronounced in higher latitudes.
Group D
• Cold climate with humid winter occurs poleward of marine west coast
climate and mid-latitude steppe.
• The winters are cold and snowy.
• The frost free season is short.
• The annual range of temperature is large.
• Poleward, the winters are more severe.
Group
D
COLD CLIMATE WITH HUMID WINTERS (Df)
Winnipeg, Canada
250 40
30
200
20
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
150 10
0
100
10
20
50
30
0 40
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Group D
COLD CLIMATE WITH DRY WINTERS (Dw)
• Cold climate with dry winter occurs mainly over North Eastern
Asia.
• The development of pronounced winter anti-cyclone and its
weakening in summer sets in monsoon like reversal of wind in
this region.
• Precipitation occurs in summer.
• The annual precipitation is low, ranging from 12-15 cm.
Group D
COLD CLIMATE WITH DRY WINTERS (Dw)
Calgary, Canada
250 40
30
200
20
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
150 10
0
100
10
20
50
30
0 40
J F M A M J J A S O N D
KOEPPEN’S
CLASSIFICATIONS
05 Group E
POLAR CLIMATES
Group E:
03 POLAR CLIMATES
Group E POLAR CLIMATES
• Polar climates exist poleward beyond 70° latitude.
• Temperatures are usually low all year round in the Polar
climatic regions.
• The warmest months see temperatures less than 10°
Celsius.
• Usually occurs in the northern coastal regions of North
America, Asia, Europe, Greenland and Antarctica.
Group E POLAR CLIMATES
• Polar climates consist of two types:
o Tundra (ET)
o Ice Cap (EF)
Group E
Tundra (ET)
TUNDRA (ET)
• The tundra climate (ET) is called so after the types of vegetation, like low growing
mosses & lichens.
• This is the region of permafrost where the subsoil is permanently frozen.
• During summer, the Tundra regions have very long duration of daylight
Group E
Tundra (ET)
TUNDRA (ET)
Barrow, Alaska, USA
250 40
30
200
20
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
150 10
0
100
10
20
50
30
0 40
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Group E
ICE CAP (EF)
ICE CAP (EF)
• Surface is permanently covered in ice or snow.
• The ice cap climate (EF) occurs over interior Greenland and Antarctica.
• Even in summer, the temperature is below freezing point.
• This area receives very little precipitation.
Group E
Group E
ICE CAP (EF)
McMurdo, Antarctica
150 35
130 25
110 15
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (C)
90 5
70 -5
50 -15
30 -25
10
-35
-10 J F M A M J J A S O N D
1.
Consider the following description: (2024)
1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low
2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm-250 cm.
What is this type of climate?
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) China type climate
(c) Humid subtropical climate
(d) Marine West coast climate
2.
The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of: (2014)
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) Mediterranean climate
(c) Monsoon climate
(d) All of the above climates
3.
“Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty, and the people used to be nomadic
herders.” The above statement best describes which of the following
regions? (2013)
(a) African Savannah
(b) Central Asian Steppe
(c) North American Prairie
(d) Siberian Tundra
4.
Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical
Savannah Region? (2014)
(a) Rainfall throughout the year
(b) Rainfall in winter only
(c) An extremely short dry season
(d) A definite dry and wet season
5.
"Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a
sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds
form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But the rain is soon over."
Which of the following regions is described in the above passage? (2015)
(a) Savannah
(b) Equatorial
(c) Monsoon
(d) Mediterranean
END OF SESSION