Difference between revisions of "Köppen Climate Classification System"
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| + | [[File:Köppen-vereinfacht.svg.png|thumb|The Great climates of the earth]] | ||
The '''Köppen Climate Classification System''' is the most widely used for classifying the world's [[climate]]s. Most classification systems used today are based on the one introduced in 1900 by the Russian-German climatologist [[Wladimir Köppen]]. Köppen divided the [[Earth]]'s surface into climatic regions that generally coincided with world patterns of vegetation and soils. | The '''Köppen Climate Classification System''' is the most widely used for classifying the world's [[climate]]s. Most classification systems used today are based on the one introduced in 1900 by the Russian-German climatologist [[Wladimir Köppen]]. Köppen divided the [[Earth]]'s surface into climatic regions that generally coincided with world patterns of vegetation and soils. | ||
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The Köppen system recognizes five major climate types based on the annual and monthly averages of [[temperature]] and [[precipitation]]. Each type is designated by a capital letter. | The Köppen system recognizes five major climate types based on the annual and monthly averages of [[temperature]] and [[precipitation]]. Each type is designated by a capital letter. | ||
| − | *A - [[Moist Tropical Climate]]s are known for their high temperatures year round and for their large amount of year round [[rain]]. | + | *A - [[Moist Tropical Climate]]s are known for their high temperatures year round and for their large amount of year-round [[rain]]. |
*B - [[Dry Climate]]s are characterized by little rain and a huge daily temperature range. Two subgroups: | *B - [[Dry Climate]]s are characterized by little rain and a huge daily temperature range. Two subgroups: | ||
**S - Semiarid or [[steppe]], | **S - Semiarid or [[steppe]], | ||
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*k - Dry-cold in B climates only. | *k - Dry-cold in B climates only. | ||
| − | == | + | ===Tropical climates (A)=== |
| − | + | ====Tropical Moist Climates (Af): [[Rainforest]]==== | |
| + | [[File:Washington-rain-forest.png|thumb|right|300px|Rainforest]] | ||
| + | *[[Amazon]] Basin | ||
| + | *[[Congo]] Basin of [[equatorial Africa]] | ||
| + | *East Indies, from [[Sumatra]] to [[New Guinea]] | ||
| + | ====Wet-Dry Tropical Climates (Aw): [[Savanna]]==== | ||
| + | *Parts of [[India]] | ||
| + | *[[Indochina]] | ||
| + | *[[West Africa]] | ||
| + | *[[Southern Africa]] | ||
| + | *Northern [[South America]] | ||
| + | *North coast of [[Australia]] | ||
| − | === | + | ===Arid and semi-arid climates (B)=== |
| − | + | ====Dry Tropical Climate (BW): [[Desert]] biome==== | |
| − | + | [[File:Desert-7.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Desert]] | |
| − | + | *Southwestern [[United States]] and northern [[Mexico]] | |
| − | * | + | *Western [[South America]] |
| + | *[[Northern Africa]] | ||
| + | *[[Southern Africa]] | ||
| + | *Much of [[Australia]] | ||
| − | === | + | ====Semi-arid Climates (BS): [[Steppe]]==== |
| − | + | [[File:MongolianSteppe.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|Steppes]] | |
| − | + | *Western [[North America]] (Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, Great Plains) | |
| − | + | *[[Eurasia]]n interior, from steppes of [[Eastern Europe]] to the [[Gobi Desert]] and North [[China]] | |
| − | * | + | *Western [[North America]] (Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, Great Plains) |
| − | * | + | |
| − | === | + | ===Temperate climates (C)=== |
| − | High- | + | ====Mediterranean climate (Csa and Csb)==== |
| − | *Boreal forest Climate ( Dfc): [[Taiga]] biome | + | * Much of [[Southern Europe]] |
| − | *Tundra | + | |
| − | *Highland Climate (H): [[Alpine]] Biome | + | ====Oceanic climate (Cfb)==== |
| + | [[British Isles]], [[Benelux]], Western [[France]], most of [[Germany]], [[New Zealand]] (except for high altitude areas) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Humid subtropical climate (Cfa)==== | ||
| + | *Most of the [[Southeastern United States]] (except at high altitude in the [[Appalachians]]), most of [[Northern Italy]] (except at high altitude), most of southern [[China]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Subtropical highland (Cw)==== | ||
| + | High-altitude parts of [[East Africa]] and [[Southern Africa]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Continental climate (D)=== | ||
| + | ====Humid Continental Climate (Dfa and Dfb) biome==== | ||
| + | *[[Northeastern United States]] and southern [[Canada]] | ||
| + | *Most of northern [[China]] | ||
| + | *[[Korea]] | ||
| + | *Northern [[Japan]] | ||
| + | *Parts of [[Northern Europe]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Boreal forest Climate (Dfc): [[Taiga]] biome==== | ||
| + | *Central and western [[Alaska]] | ||
| + | *[[Canada]], from the [[Yukon Territory]] to [[Labrador]] | ||
| + | *[[Eurasia]], from northern Europe across all of [[Siberia]] to the [[Pacific Ocean]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Tundra and polar climates (E)=== | ||
| + | ====Tundra Climate (ET): [[Tundra]] biome==== | ||
| + | [[File:Polar bears.jpg|thumb|right|300px]] | ||
| + | *Arctic zone of [[North America]] | ||
| + | *[[Hudson Bay]] region | ||
| + | *[[Greenland]] coast | ||
| + | *Northern [[Siberia]] bordering the [[Arctic Ocean]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Ice cap climate (EF)==== | ||
| + | *Most of [[Greenland]] | ||
| + | *Most of [[Antarctica]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Highland Climate (H): [[Alpine]] Biome==== | ||
| + | [[File:Kilimanjaro.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Alpine]] | ||
| + | *[[Rocky Mountain]] Range in [[North America]] | ||
| + | *The [[Ande]]an mountain range in [[South America]] | ||
| + | *The [[Alps]] in [[Central Europe]] | ||
| + | *[[Mt. Kilimanjaro]] in [[Africa]] | ||
| + | *The [[Himalaya]]ns in [[Tibet]] | ||
| + | *[[Mt. Fuji]] in [[Japan]] | ||
[[Category:Meteorology]] | [[Category:Meteorology]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:12, April 17, 2017
The Köppen Climate Classification System is the most widely used for classifying the world's climates. Most classification systems used today are based on the one introduced in 1900 by the Russian-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen. Köppen divided the Earth's surface into climatic regions that generally coincided with world patterns of vegetation and soils.
Contents
The Köppen Climate Classification System
The Köppen system recognizes five major climate types based on the annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation. Each type is designated by a capital letter.
- A - Moist Tropical Climates are known for their high temperatures year round and for their large amount of year-round rain.
- B - Dry Climates are characterized by little rain and a huge daily temperature range. Two subgroups:
- C - Humid Middle Latitude Climates have warm,dry summers and cool, wet winters.
- D - Continental Climates can be found in the interior regions of large land masses. Total precipitation is not very high and seasonal temperatures vary widely.
- E - Cold Climates are part of areas where permanent ice and tundra are always present.
- H - Alpine climates
Further subgroups are designated by a second, lower case letter which distinguish specific seasonal characteristics of temperature and precipitation.
- f - Moist with adequate precipitation in all months and no dry season. This letter usually accompanies the A, C, and D climates.
- m - Rainforest climate in spite of short, dry season in monsoon type cycle. This letter only applies to A climates.
- s - There is a dry season in the summer of the respective hemisphere (high-sun season).
- w - There is a dry season in the winter of the respective hemisphere (low-sun season).
To further denote variations in climate, a third letter was added to the code.
- a - Hot summers. These can be found in C and D climates.
- b - Warm summer. These can also be found in C and D climates.
- c - Cool, short summers in the C and D climates.
- d - Very cold winters in the D climate only.
- h - Dry-hot in B climates only.
- k - Dry-cold in B climates only.
Tropical climates (A)
Tropical Moist Climates (Af): Rainforest
- Amazon Basin
- Congo Basin of equatorial Africa
- East Indies, from Sumatra to New Guinea
Wet-Dry Tropical Climates (Aw): Savanna
- Parts of India
- Indochina
- West Africa
- Southern Africa
- Northern South America
- North coast of Australia
Arid and semi-arid climates (B)
Dry Tropical Climate (BW): Desert biome
- Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
- Western South America
- Northern Africa
- Southern Africa
- Much of Australia
Semi-arid Climates (BS): Steppe
- Western North America (Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, Great Plains)
- Eurasian interior, from steppes of Eastern Europe to the Gobi Desert and North China
- Western North America (Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, Great Plains)
Temperate climates (C)
Mediterranean climate (Csa and Csb)
- Much of Southern Europe
Oceanic climate (Cfb)
British Isles, Benelux, Western France, most of Germany, New Zealand (except for high altitude areas)
Humid subtropical climate (Cfa)
- Most of the Southeastern United States (except at high altitude in the Appalachians), most of Northern Italy (except at high altitude), most of southern China
Subtropical highland (Cw)
High-altitude parts of East Africa and Southern Africa
Continental climate (D)
Humid Continental Climate (Dfa and Dfb) biome
- Northeastern United States and southern Canada
- Most of northern China
- Korea
- Northern Japan
- Parts of Northern Europe
Boreal forest Climate (Dfc): Taiga biome
- Central and western Alaska
- Canada, from the Yukon Territory to Labrador
- Eurasia, from northern Europe across all of Siberia to the Pacific Ocean
Tundra and polar climates (E)
Tundra Climate (ET): Tundra biome
- Arctic zone of North America
- Hudson Bay region
- Greenland coast
- Northern Siberia bordering the Arctic Ocean
Ice cap climate (EF)
- Most of Greenland
- Most of Antarctica
Highland Climate (H): Alpine Biome
- Rocky Mountain Range in North America
- The Andean mountain range in South America
- The Alps in Central Europe
- Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa
- The Himalayans in Tibet
- Mt. Fuji in Japan
