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Koppen climate classification
The Koppen climate classification is based on temperature ,precipitation and vegetation.Koppen divides the world climate into 5 groups A,B,C,D and E.It is an important and most accepted classification of world climate.It was given by German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in the year 1918.It has been many times by koppen and other scientists from time to time.The latest updation of this classification was published in 2007.This system of classification grouped the world climate on the basis of:
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1.Temperature.
2.Precpitation.
3.Vegetation.
It is based on the fact that places with similar temperature and precipitation may have similar climate.Koppen classified the climate on the basis of monthly average or annually average of temperature and precipitation of a place.
köppen climate classification map USA
In the United States, there are several climate types represented due to the country's vast size and geographical diversity. Here are the main Köppen climate classifications found in the United States:
Humid Subtropical Climate (Cfa, Cwa): This climate type is found in the southeastern part of the United States. It is characterized by hot and humid summers, mild winters, and a relatively high amount of rainfall throughout the year. The Cfa subtype has more consistent rainfall, while the Cwa subtype has a dry winter season.
Mediterranean Climate (Csa, Csb): The Mediterranean climate is found along the coast of California and in parts of the Pacific Northwest. It is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers, and mild, wet winters. The Csa subtype experiences dry summers, while the Csb subtype has a slightly moister summer.
Arid and Semi-Arid Climates (BSh, BSk): These climates are found in the southwestern part of the United States, including states like Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Texas. They are characterized by hot summers, generally mild winters, and low precipitation levels. The BSh subtype is a hot desert climate, while the BSk subtype is a cold desert or steppe climate.
Marine West Coast Climate (Cfb, Cfc): The Marine West Coast climate is found in the Pacific Northwest and parts of northern California. It is characterized by mild, wet winters and cool, relatively dry summers. The Cfb subtype has warm summers, while the Cfc subtype has cool summers.
Tropical Savanna Climate (Aw): This climate type is found in southern Florida and Hawaii. It is characterized by warm to hot temperatures year-round, a distinct wet season in the summer, and a drier season in the winter.
Tundra Climate (ET): The Tundra climate is found in Alaska and some high-elevation areas. It is characterized by very cold winters, cool summers, and low precipitation.
Ice Cap Climate (EF): The Ice Cap climate is found in parts of Alaska and high mountain areas. It is characterized by extremely cold temperatures and permanent ice and snow cover.
5 Different types of Koppen climate classification
koppen classified the climate of Earth on the basis of temperature and precipitation into 5 main categories(types).Each category is represented by capital letter A,B,C,D and E. Four types(A,C,D,E) are primiarly defined by temperature and type 'B' which is defined by precipitation.A: Tropical
B: Dry
C: Temperate
D: Continental
E: Polar and Alpine
The 1st letter of Koppen climate classification which is capital letter represents major climate type.The 2nd letter which is a small letter represent seasonality of precipitation.The 3rd letter represent the level of heat.
Characteristics of major climates
A - Tropical climate
This type of climate is mainly found near Tropical belt (i.e Near equator) of Northern and southern hemisphere.This type of climate is found in regions of south East Asia,Central and South America,Africa and parts of Caribbean.The region falling under these climate group have vast vegetation and wildlife.The main characteristic of this climate is average monthly temperature above 18 degree celcius,No winter season,Rainfall high.This main group is further divided into three sub-groups:
1) Af-Tropical rainforest climate
This type of climate is characterized by abundant rainfall throughout the year.There is huge cloud cover over these area and average rainfall is above 98 inches.Due to hot and wet type of climate here present tropical rain forests.E.g Singapore,Hawai are examples of this type of climate.
2) Am-Tropical monsoon climate
The characteristic of this type of climate is distinct wet and dry season.The wet season is generally during summer and it records a rainfall of above 60mm.The dry season which is short and it is during winter.Due to this distinct wet and dry the forest in the region are deciduous forests which shed their leaves in dry winter.This type of climate is found in Jakartha (Indonesia) ,Chittagong (Bangladesh).
3) Aw or As -Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate
The 'Aw' climate type is characterized by distinct dry and wet seasons.The 'Aw' climate has longer dry season.There exist warm temperature throughout year.The annual rainfall is between 1000mm and 2000mm.
In 'As' type of climate there is shorter dry season lasting for about three months.The precipitation in both type is during summer.The rainfall received by 'As' type is slightly less than 'Aw' type.
There exist warm temperature throughout the year in both 'Aw' and 'As' climate.They are found in regions near the equator, including parts of Africa, South America, and Asia, and are home to a variety of grasslands and scattered trees, as well as wildlife such as elephants, lions, and giraffes.Mumbai (India), Dhaka (Bangladesh) are typical examples of winter dry (Aw) type of climate.Chennai (India) is a typical example of summer dry (As) type of climate.
B - Dry (arid and semi-arid) climate
This type of climate characterized by lack of precipation.Annual rainfall is less than 500mm.The region of this type have high potential for evaporation due to high temperature and low humidity in the atmosphere.This Primary type of climate is divided into four subtypes:
1) BWh (Hot deserts climate)
B: Arid
W: Desert
h: hot
The climate of this region is hot and dry with annual temperature above 18 degree celcius.It is found in low latitude deserts.some typical region of this subgroup are Doha,Death valley.
2) BWk (Cold desert climate)
B: Arid
W: Desert
k: cold
This climate is prevalent in mid-latitude cold deserts.Average temperature is less than 18 degree celcius.The winter here is mild to cool.Turpan (China), and Nukush (Uzbekistan) are typical examples of this climate.
3) BSk (Cold semi-arid climate)
B : Arid
S : Steppe
k : Cold
These are temperate steppe and climate here is dry, semi-arid climate with a mild to cool winter.Lhasa (China) and Ulanbaatar (Mongolia) are examples of the climate.
4) BSh(Hot semi-arid climate)
B : Arid
S : Steppe
h : Hot
These are tropical semi-arid steppe climate found in low latitude area.The annual temperature is more than 18 degree celcius.This type of climate is found near a hot desert.Lahore (Pakistan) and Niamey (Niger) are the examples of the climate.
C - Temperate climate
In this type of climate there is moderate temperature and fairy even distribution of precipitation.It is further sub-divided into following types:
cfa (Humid subtropical climate)
C : Temperate
f : Without dry season
a : Hot summer
Cfa climates are characterized by mild winters, hot and humid summers, and year-round precipitation. Srinagar (India), Shanghai (China) and Osaka (Japan) are examples of the climate.
cfb (Temperate oceanic climate)
C : Temperate
f : Without dry season
b : Warm summer
In this type of climate there is adequate precipitation throughout the year. Temperature of hottest month reach upto 22 degree celcius and in winter temperature may remain above zero.Paris,Melbourne and Port Elizabeth have typical this type of climate.
cfc (Subpolar oceanic climate)
C : Temperate
f : Without dry season
c : Cold summer
This is sub polar marine climate.summer season in this climate is shorter and winter is relatively cold.Unalaska (USA), Punta Arenas (Chile), and Reykjavik (Iceland) are examples of the climate.
Csa (Hot-summer Mediterranean climate)
C : Temperate
s : Dry summer
a : Hot summer
It is found in areas of Mediterranean sea.The summer season is hot and dry but winter season is normal and dry.Madrid (Spain), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Perth (Australia) and Beirut (Lebanon) are the representative stations of the climate.
Csb (Warm-summer Mediterranean climate)
C : Temperate
s : Dry summer
b : Warm summer
This type of climate is found in coastal regions of Mediterranean sea.The winter season is normal and receives favourable amount of rainfall.While summer season is dry and hot and shorter than winter season. Santiago (Chile), Cape Town (South Africa) and San Francisco (USA) are representative stations of the climate.
Cwa (Monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate)
C : Temperate
w : Dry winter
a : Hot summer
This type of climate is subtropical monsoon climate.The summer season is hot and wet where as winter season is normal and dry.Islamabad(Pakistan),New Delhi(India) and Hong Kong are some examples of regions having this type of climate.
Cwb (Subtropical highland climate)
C : Temperate
w : Dry winter
b : Warm summer
This type of climate is highland climate.The winter season is cold and dry whereas summer season is warm and wet.Cities with a 'Cwb' climate include Taipei, Taiwan, and Fukuoka, Japan.
D - Continental climate
This type of climate is found in mid-latitudes,typically in the interior of continents, away from the moderating effects of the ocean.Together these climates account for about 21 percent of the earth’s land surface.This type is further divided into following sub-groups:Dfa (Hot-summer humid continental climate)
D : Cold (continental)
f : Without dry season
a : Hot summer
This type of climate is prevalent in continental areas closer to polar front zone.The summer season is warm while winters are cold.Precipitation occurs mostly every month.weather is highly variable.This climate type is found in central and Eastern part of Eurasia and New York.
Dfb (Warm-summer humid continental climate)
D : Cold (continental)
f : Without dry season
b : Warm summer
This type of climate is generally found 45 degree to 60 degree North latitudes.Rainfall is mostly in summer season and winter season are drier.Sapporo (Japan) is a typical example of the climate.
Dwa (humid continental climate )
D : Cold (continental)
w : Dry winter
a : Hot summer
The climate is characterized by moist continental with short period of summer dryness.This type of climate is found in U.S.A. and south Eastern Canada.
Dwb (warm-summer humid continental climate)
D : Cold (continental)
w : Dry winter
b : Warm summer
This climate type is found in high latitudes along oceanic margins of vontinents.The winter season is long,dry with severe cold.The summer season is of shorter duration.Yakutsk (Russia) and Oymyakon (Russia) are examples of the climate.
Dwc (Monsoon-influenced subarctic climate)
D : Cold (continental)
w : Dry winter
c : Cold summer
It is a sub-arctic type of climate.The summer season is of short duration.The winter season is long, dry and severe.The regions of world where this climate is found are Moron (Mongolia) and Yushu City (China) .
Dwd (Monsoon-influenced extremely cold subarctic climate)
D : Cold (continental)
w : Dry winter
d : Very cold winter
Long dry and harsh winters.summer season is short.Yakutsk (Russia) and Oymyakon (Russia) are examples of the climate.
Dsa (Hot, dry-summer continental climate)
D : Cold (continental)
s : Dry summer
a : Hot summer
This type of climate exists only at higher elevations adjacent to areas with hot summer Mediterranean (Csa) climates. Sanandaj (Kurdistan-Iran), Hakkari (Turkey) are examples of the climate.
Dsb (Warm, dry-summer continental climate)
D : Cold (continental)
s : Dry summer
b : Warm summer
Temperature in coldest month goes below zero degree celcius.The summer season is dry and warm.some examples of this type are Drass(India),Sivas(Turkey).
Dsc (Dry-summer subarctic climate)
D : Cold (continental)
s : Dry summer
c : Cold summer
It is warm dry summer subarctic climate.Temperature of coldest month is less than zero degree celcius.Homer (Alaska, USA), Mount Olympus (Greece) are some examples of this type of climate.
E -Polar and Alpine type:
Polar climate have cold period throughout the year.In summer season the temperature is below 10 degree celcius.This type of climate is prevalent in northern coastal areas of North America and Europe, Asia and on the landmasses of Greenland and Antarctica.It is further divided into following sub-groups:ET (Tundra)
E : Polar
T : Tundra
It is characterized by short a summer season. Stanley (Falkland Islands), Mount Wellington (Australia) and La Rinkonada (Peru) are examples of the climate.Vegetation is dominated by mosses, lichens, dwarf trees and scattered woody shrubs.
EF (Ice cap climate)
E : Polar
F : Ice cap
This type of climate is found in Antartica and inner greenland. This type of climate also prevalent on higher altitudes.The temperature here is never exceed zero.Mount Everest (Nepal), Mount Ararat (Turkey), Vostok station (Antarctica) and Summit Camp (Greenland) are examples of the climate.
