198 PROC. OF THE OKLA. ACAD. OF SCI.

FOR 1964

A Comparison of Koppen-Thornthwaite
Semiarid Boundaries
ARTHUR H. DOERR, University of Oklahoma, Norman
During the period 1923-1958 Oklahoma experienced two periods of
climatic austerity and two more humid times. An examination of 89
stations, normally spaced less than 40 miles apart reveals considerable
variation ot climatic conditions from year to year.
About two-thirds ot the state experienced drought conditions (B-KOp-
pen; D-Thornthwaite) during the period. An examination of maximum
and mean extent of the humid-dry boundary reveals a very close similarity.
(Fig. 1)
The Thomthwalte dry tongue reaches east to include Okmulgee and
Muskogee, but on its southern part the KOppen line extends further to the
east to include Holdenville and Purcell. Much of the boundary in the ex-
treme north and extreme south is coincidental.
Simllarly, mean conditions are closely related with the Thornthwaite
semt-arid area being somewhat more extensive than the KOppen. In short,
inspection of the dry boundaries of KOppen and Thornthwaite shows a
surprisingly close correspondence and reveals that the Oklahoma Pan-
handle is an area of considerable climatic risk, that about two-thirds of
the state experiences some risk, and that only about the eastern one-third
experiences little or no climatic risk.
 THORNTHWAITE AND KOPPEN SEMIARID BOUNDARIES'

Of •

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Maximum extent of ----; - - ';\[IIC •.....ESIIy I .' I : \
. 0. II ......TT;- - - ~ - "T~P. ~ '
. 'CAIolAlltO 1·c.&NTCMl I I 1-0_ I ••' I ._rQUAlf\
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t5emland)boundary I J 1-'\ • OMWOOO I = ,.-_L '
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r /- L ' .WAT_· I I ,:--....r L - .~ _L_-\
"0" (Semiarid) boundary
I .,:
j;' ...........
:
IjKAWt
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: I
.~~~--+-.~..
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\
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- - - - Mean ·..;........0lI0 ·(\.11«100 . - - -_£IT..!.. .OIlr...... ' I . L I '\_ "'
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Maximum extent of It e" • ·11Ie. I • CL~ - I I ':-, ,-i ~ ~ ~(AU. _
~
(Semiarid) Koppen boundary ! .----.,1-- -- - - ---I.CANCrr~ 1 I , •10 " ,- I
~ T.J ' · . I O....lT I \ I C>OCIl~ .~L~ •••••• ." I 'lIC"UffIR j
~
'~I i-~--=~ -(··"----~~'\~:o~~~--: : L, I
I I • __ ._ T _ r- ...;- I'
iLl'\..._~':- .WICHtT"lIT~
(Semiarid) Koppen ....... ""',.) I ft. III' • .'. __ , _ __
Mean "e" I ~~~ow
.~.. .
L I • ..."")'---1 ·..-TOII '.
~l -, ,-.~. I
boundary ,\-.J / '--, __ .'-' L~ __ ..•
~:-- ! 'I'
'-'-J-J'.~. -.5'Iai_, ~.- ---,.' ~J I' .
., - '. -tJIlI. - _. , , 'AIrn.PI

-Minimum extent of "e" and "0" (Semiarid) \._~'-~ --.. '-__ >. '~-'7 ~ '---~::;'-1 i
absent from state \, f"" '" • _ _• '. ,.."-.-" '~._ ,
~r .... ,,..f"\~',...,.,-_ !
~-,~.-.."".
-..., (r oJ
~ "",oJ-" "'"' I
_ _ _ ~ _ _.. . ._ _ - - - - A . _ . . . ----'"'-. ._._. . ....&....- •• _ _
;;- -----~~
.. ~ - - 1
Based on data 'Of' 1923 • 1958 ...
lI'c. 1. Map showing maximum and mean extent ot KOppen and Thomthwaite humid-dry boundaries. I