Koeppen Scheme of Climate Classification

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 Koeppen Scheme of Climate Classification





The most widely used classification of climate is the empirical system developed by V. Koeppen in 1918. Koeppen identified a close relationship between the distribution of vegetation and climate. He selected certain values of temperature and precipitation and related them to the distribution of vegetation, using these values for classifying climates.


Koeppen recognized five major climatic groups. Four of them are based on temperature, while one is based on precipitation. A sixth group, Highland climates, is governed by topography.


The major climatic groups are designated by capital letters: A, B, C, D, E, and H.


1. Group A: Tropical Humid Climates

Tropical humid climates exist between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. The sun is overhead throughout the year, and the Intertropical Convergence Zone brings regular rainfall. The average temperature of the coldest month is 18 degrees Celsius or higher.


This group is divided into three main types:

a. Af - Tropical Wet Climate: Found near the equator in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin, and East Indies. It experiences high temperatures throughout the year with heavy rainfall in every month.

b. Am - Tropical Monsoon Climate: Found over the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of northern Australia. Heavy rainfall occurs mostly in the summer season, accompanied by a short dry season.

c. Aw - Tropical Wet and Dry Climate (Savanna): Found bordering wet tropical regions, such as parts of Africa and South America. It has a distinct dry season during the winter months.


2. Group B: Dry Climates

Dry climates are characterized by very low rainfall that is not adequate for the growth of plants. In these regions, potential evaporation exceeds precipitation. They cover large areas across the subtropical belts and deep continental interiors.


This group is divided into two broad zones:

a. Steppe or Semi-arid Climate (S): A transitional zone receiving enough rainfall to support sparse grasslands. Subtropical Steppe is marked as BSh, and Mid-latitude Steppe is marked as BSk.

b. Desert or Arid Climate (W): Extremely dry regions with minimal precipitation. Subtropical Desert is marked as BWh (like the Sahara and Thar), and Mid-latitude Desert is marked as BWk (like the Gobi).


3. Group C: Warm Temperate (Mid-Latitude) Climates

These climates extend from 30 degrees to 50 degrees latitude, mainly on the eastern and western margins of continents. The average temperature of the coldest month is between 18 degrees Celsius and minus 3 degrees Celsius.


This group includes:

a. Cs - Mediterranean Climate: Found around the Mediterranean basin, coastal California, and central Chile. It is characterized by dry, hot summers and mild, rainy winters.

b. Cw - Humid Subtropical Climate with Dry Winter: Found in regions poleward of the Tropic of Cancer, such as northern India and south China. Winters are dry and summers are warm and wet.

c. Cfa - Humid Subtropical Climate: Found on the eastern parts of continents in subtropical latitudes, with warm summers and rainfall throughout the year.

d. Cfb - Marine West Coast Climate: Located on the western coast of continents poleward from Mediterranean regions, featuring moderate temperatures year-round without a dry season.


4. Group D: Cold Snow Forest Climates

These climates occur mainly in the large continental landmasses of North America and Eurasia between 40 degrees and 70 degrees north latitude. The average temperature of the coldest month is minus 3 degrees Celsius or below, and the warmest month averages above 10 degrees Celsius.


This group includes:

a. Df - Cold Climate with Humid Winters: Precipitation occurs throughout the year, with no pronounced dry season.

b. Dw - Cold Climate with Dry Winters: Winter months are severely cold and dry, while short summers receive moderate rainfall. Found primarily in northeastern Asia.


5. Group E: Polar Climates

Polar climates exist poleward beyond 70 degrees latitude. The temperature of the warmest month is below 10 degrees Celsius, resulting in little to no vegetation growth.


This group includes:

a. ET - Tundra Climate: Characterized by permafrost, where the subsoil remains permanently frozen. Only mosses, lichens, and flowering plants grow during the short summer.

b. EF - Polar Ice Cap Climate: Found over Greenland and Antarctica. The temperature is permanently below freezing, and the ground is covered by permanent ice and snow.


6. Group H: Highland Climates

Highland climates are governed by topography rather than latitude alone. High mountains experience vertical zonation of temperature and precipitation, where climatic conditions change rapidly across short vertical distances from the base to the mountain peaks.

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