Kppen Climate Classification System

Published: January 12, 2011, 12:00 am

Updated: November 10, 2011, 8:31 am
Author: Michael Pidwirny
Source: NOAA
Topics:

Distribution of Kppen climate classification system types in North America. (Image Copyright: Murray
C. Peel. This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
license.)

The Kppen Climate Classification System is the most widespread

system used to classify the climates of places on our planet. The system was
developed German climatologist and amateur botanist Wladimir Kppen
(1846-1940) who divided the world's climates into several major categories
based upon general temperature profile related to latitude.
The Kppen Climate Classification System is a empirical system based on
observable features. Other systems are either "genetic" classification
systems (based on the causes of the climate like solar radiation, air masses,
pressure systems, etc. ) or "applied" classification systems created for, or as
an outgrowth of, a particular climate-associated problem. (e.g., Thornthwaite
classification system based on potential evapotranspiration.)
The classical length of record to determine the climate for any particular
place is 30 years, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO). The quantities most often observed are temperature, precipitation,
and wind. The "normals" are computed once every 10 years which helps to
smooth out year-to-year variations. For example, the current 30-year normals
were calculated from the actual weather data that occurred during the 30
years of 1971-2000. In 2011, a new set of 30-year normals will be calculated
using the data from the period of 1981-2010. So, when you hear what the
normal high and low temperature for your location, for example, they come
from these 30-year averages.
The Kppen system classifies a locations climate mainly using annual and
monthly averages of temperature and precipitation. A version of the Kppen
system is plotted on a map in Figure 1 (see link for high resolution version).

This version of the Kppen system contains up to three levels of sorting

based primarily on temperature and precipitation information.

Major Kppen Climate Categories

The first level recognizes six major climatic types with each group being
designated by a capital letter. These major climate categories have the
following broad characteristics:
A - Tropical Moist Climates: These are very warm climates found
in the tropics that experience high quantities of precipitation. The
primary distinguishing characteristic of these climates is all months
have average temperatures above 18C (64F).

B - Dry Climates: These are climates that experience little

precipitation during most of the year. Further, potential losses of
water from evaporation and transpiration greatly exceed
atmospheric input.
C - Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters: In these
climates, summer temperatures are warm to hot and winters are
mild. The primary distinguishing characteristic of these climates is
the coldest month has an average temperature between 18C
(64F) and -3C (27F).
D - Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters: In these
climates, summer temperatures are warm and winters are cold. The
primary distinguishing characteristic of these climates is the
average temperature of warmest month exceeds 10C (50F), and
average temperature of coldest is below -3C (27F).
E - Polar Climates: These climates have very cold winters and
summers, with no real summer season. The primary distinguishing
characteristic of these climates is the warmest month has an
average temperature below 10C (50F).
H - Highland Climates: These are climates that are strongly
influenced by the effects of altitude. As a result, the climate of
such locations is rather different from places with low elevations at
similar latitudes.

Secondary Kppen Climate Categories

At the secondary level, the major climate groups are further subdivided
according to the seasonal distribution of precipitation, the degree of aridity,
or the presence/absence of permanent ice.

Lowercase letters f, w, and s are used to distinguish precipitation

patterns and are only applicable to A,C, and D climates.Thus, for example,
within the major climate category, A - Tropical Moist Climates, are the
subcategories:
Af Tropical Wet
Aw Tropical Wet and Dry
Am Tropical Monsoon

Uppercase W and S identify desert (arid) or steppe (semiarid) climate

subtypes for the Dry Climates(B) major category. Thus:

BW - Dry Arid (Desert)

BS - Dry Semiarid (Steppe)

For the Polar Climates (E), the secondary letters F and T distinguish
whether the site is covered by permanent ice fields and glaciers or free of
snow and ice during the summer season. Thus:

ET - Polar Tundra
EF - Polar Ice Cap
Major climate types B, C, and D can be further sorted according to a third
category. This level is used to distinguish particular temperature
characteristics found in these climates.
In B climates, the lowercase letter h identifies a subtropical location
where average annual temperature is above 18C (64F). Cooler midlatitude Dry Climates are distinguished with a lowercase k. Thus:

BWh Dry Arid Low Latitudes

BWk Dry Arid Mid-Latitudes

For C and D climates the tertiary level letters a, b, c, and d are used to
distinguish different monthly temperature characteristics. Thus:

Cfa Humid Subtropical

Cfb - Marine - Mild Winter
Cfc - Marine - Cool Winter

The Complete Kppen Climates

Tropical Wet
Af
Am Tropical

No dry season. The driest month has at least 60 mm

(2.4") of rain. Rainfall is generally evenly distributed
throughout the year. All average monthly
temperatures are greater than 18C (64F).
Pronounced wet season. Short dry season. There are

Monsoonal

Tropical Wet &

Aw Dry

one or more months with less than 60 mm (2.4"). All

average monthly temperatures are greater than 64F
(18C). Highest annual temperature occurs just prior
to the rainy season.
Winter dry season. There are more than two months
with less than 60 mm (2.4") . All average monthly
temperatures are greater than 18C (64F).

Subtropical Dry Low-latitude dry. Evaporation exceeds precipitation

BS
Semiarid
on average but is less than potential evaporation.
h
(Steppe
Average temperature is more than 18C (64F).
Mid-latitude
BSk Dry Semiarid
(Steppe)

Mid-latitude dry. Evaporation exceeds precipitation

on average but is less than potential evaporation.
Average temperature is less than 18C (64F).

Subtropical Dry Low-latitude desert. Evaporation exceeds

Arid (Desert)
precipitation on average but is less than
BW
half potential evaporation. Average temperature
h
is more than 18C (64F). Frost is absent or
infrequent.
Mid-latitude
Dry Arid
BW
(Desert)
k
Humid
Subtropical

Mild with no dry season, hot summer. Average

temperature of warmest months are over 22C
(72F). Average temperature of coldest month is
under 18C (64F). Year around rainfall but highly
variable.

Marine - Mild
WInter

Mild with no dry season, warm summer. Average

temperature of all months islower than 22C (72F).
At least four months with average temperatures over
50F (10C). Year around equally spread rainfall.

Marine - Cool
Winter

Mild with no dry season, cool summer. Average

temperature of all months is lowerthan 22C (72F).
There are one to three months with average
temperatures over 50F (10C). Year around equally
spread rainfall.

Cfa

Cfb

Mid-latitude desert. Evaporation exceeds

precipitation on average but is less than
half potential evaporation. Average temperature
is less than 18C (64F). Winter has below freezing
temperatures.

Cfc

Csa Interior
Mediterranean

Mild with dry, hot summer. Warmest month has

average temperature more than 72F (22C). At least
four months with average temperatures over 50F

(10C). Frost danger in winter. At least three times as

much precipitation during wettest winter months as
in the driest summer month.
Coastal
Mediterranean
Csb

Cw Dry Winter,
a Wet Summer

Mild with cool, dry summer. No month with average

temperature of warmest months are over 22C
(72F). At least four months with average
temperatures over 50F (10C). Frost danger in
winter. At least three times as much precipitation
during wettest winter months as in the driest
summer month.
Mild with dry winter, hot and wet summer.

Humid
Humid with hot summer.
Continental Hot
Dfa
Summer, Wet
All Year
Humid
Continental
Dfb
Mild Summer,
Wet All Year

Humid with severe winter, no dry season, warm

summer.

Subarctic With
Dfc Cool Summer,
Wet All Year

Severe winter, no dry season, cool summer.

Subarctic With
Dfd Cold WInter,
Wet All Year

Severe, very cold winter, no dry season, cool

summer.

Humid
Humid with severe, dry winter, hot summer.
Dw Continental Hot
a Summer, Wet
All Year
Humid
Dw Continental
b Mild Summer,
Dry Winter

Humid with severe, dry winter, warm summer.

Subarctic With
Dw
Cool Summer,
c
Dry Winter

Severe, dry winter, cool summer.

Subarctic With
Dw
Cold Winter,
d
Dry WInter

Severe, very cold and dry winter, cool summer.

ET

Tundra

Polar tundra, no true summer.

EF

Ice Cap

Perennial ice.

Highland
Climate

Can encompass any of the above classifications due

to the mountainous terrain.