TRUE MENTORS BY ARUN KUMAR AIR-5 SSC CGL 2023

The Köppen Climate Classification

• This scheme was developed by Wladimir Peter Koeppen in 1884.
• The Koppen climate classification system divided into five major climatic types and each type
is represented by a capital letter- A, B, C, D, E, and H each group is divided into sub group -
according to seasonal precipitation (Second Letter) and temperature (Third Letter)
• The system assigns a temperature subgroup for all groups except in the A group
• A,C,D & E-Humid Climat and B- Dry Climate

List of climatic groups and their characteristics according to Koeppen

Group Characteristics

A- Tropical The average temperature 18° C or higher

B- Dry Climates Dry Climate, Very low rainfall

C- Warm Temperate The average temperature is higher than - 3°C but below 18°C

D- Cold Snow forest The average temperature is - 3° C or below

E- Cold Climates Cold Climates Average temperature is below 10° C

H- Highlands Cold

Köppen climate classification scheme symbols description

Climate type-1st Parcipitation-2nd Temperature-3rd

f (Rainforest, No dry season)
m (Monsoon)
A (Tropical)
w (Savanna, dry winter)
s (Savanna, dry summer)
W (Arid Desert) h (Hot)
B (Dry)
S (Semi-Arid or steppe) k (Cold)
w (Dry winter) a (Hot summer)
C (Temperate) f (No dry season) b (Warm summer)
s (Dry summer) c (Cold summer)
a (Hot summer)
w (Dry winter)
b (Warm summer)
D (Continental) f (No dry season)
c (Cold summer)
s (Dry summer)
d (Very cold winter)
T (Tundra)
E (Polar)
F (Ice cap)

➢ g-Ganges type -hottest month comes before the solstice and the summer rainy season.

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 TRUE MENTORS BY ARUN KUMAR AIR-5 SSC CGL 2023
➢ The capital letters S and W are employed to designate the two subdivisions of dry
climate:
• Semi-arid or Steppe (S) and
• Arid or desert (W)

➢ Capital letters T and F are similarly used to designate the two subdivisions of polar
climate
• Tundra (T) and
• Icecap (F)

Climatic Types According to Koeppen

Group Type Letter Characteristics

Code

A-Tropical Humid Tropical Wet Af No dry season

Climate
Tropical Monsoon Am Monsoonal, Short dry season

Tropical wet and dry Aw Winter dry season

B-Dry Climate Subtropical Steppe BSh Low-latitude semi-arid or dry

Subtropical Desert BWh Low-latitude arid or dry

Mid-latitude Steppe BSk Mid-latitude semi-arid or dry

Mid-latitude Desert BWk Mid-latitude arid or dry

C-Warm temperate Humid subtropical Cfa No dry season
Climates Mediterranean Cs Dry hot summer

Marine west coast Cfb No dry season, warm summer

D- Cold Snow-forest Humid Continental Df No dry season, severe winter
Climates Subarctic Dw Winter dry and very severe
E-Cold climates Tundra ET No true summer
Polar ice cap EF Perennial ice
H-highland Highland H Highland with snow cover

Important PYQ
1. Tamil Nadu (Coromandel Coast)-As
2. Western Rajasthan-BWHw
3. Jammu and Kashmir-E
4. Uttrakhand-Et
5. Peninsular India-Aw
6. Goa-Amw
7. Mediterranean-Cs

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