Climate Classification

Climate
Climate is weather averaged over time over broader geographic areas. Usually averaged over 30-yr periods. Climatology is the study of climate over both time and space. The average state of atmosphere

Climate Classification

Climatic Relationships

Koppens Classification
Koppen climate classification Developed 1918 Developed to correlate the spatial distribution of plants to the spatial distribution of climate

Modified Kppen System

Five major climate groups
Groups A, B, C, D, and E
14 individual climate types

Special category of highland (H) climate

Kppens Climate Classifications Primary Letters

Tropical Climates (A)

Average temp of every month > 18C

Mesothermal Climates (C)

Coldest month average temperature < 18C but >-3C At least 1 month average temperature > 10C

Microthermal Climates (D)

Average temperature of warmest month >10C Average temperature of coldest month < -3C

Kppens Climate Classifications Primary Letters

Polar Climates (E)

Average temperature of all months < 10C

Dry Arid and Semiarid Climates (B)

Evaporation > precipitation

Highland (H)

Kppens Climate Classifications Secondary Letters

These letters are based primarily on seasonal precipitation:
f = adequate rainfall all through the year, no distinct dry season w = winter dry (keep in mind the hemisphere), if 70% or more of annual rainfall occurs in summer s = summer dry, if 70% or more of annual rainfall occurs in winter m = extremely wet summer = monsoon. A climate only.

Kppens Climate Classifications Secondary Letters For B climate only:

S = semiarid = steppe W = arid = desert which results in either BS or BW.

For E climate only:

T = tundra F = perpetual frost = permanent ice which results in either ET or EF.

Kppens Climate Classifications Tertiary Letters The third letters in the system are based exclusively on seasonal and annual temperature:
a = hot summer, warmest month > 22C; C and D only b = warm summer, warmest month < 22C; C and D only c = cool summer, < 4 months over 10C; C and D only d = very cold winter, coldest month < -38C; D only h = dry-hot, annual temperature > 18C; B only k = dry-cold, annual temperature < 18C; B only

Kppens Climate Classifications Examples of Combinations Af = Tropical Rainforest climate type Am = Tropical Monsoon climate type BWh = Low-Latitude Hot Desert climate type Cfa = Humid Subtropical climate type Csa = Mediterranean climate type Dfb = Humid Continental climate type ET = Tundra climate type

Generalized Climate Regions

World Climate Classification

Climographs
Temperature (curve)

Precipitation (bars)

Tropical Climate (A)

Tropical Climates (A)

Tropical Rain Forest Climates (Af) Tropical Monsoon Climates (Am) Tropical Savanna Climates (Aw) Consistent day length and insolation input
= consistent warm temperatures

Dominance by ITCZ
Shifts seasonally with high sun period

Warm ocean currents, unstable maritime air masses

Tropical Humid Climates (Group A)

Distribution of A Climates
Within 025 of equator

Tropical Rain Forest and Monsoon

Tropical Rain Forest (Af)

Tropical Rain Forest Climates (Af)

 No true winter
Winter in tropics refers to the low-sun half of the year

Summer refers to the high-sun half of the year

High temperatures prevail every month
A climates are distinguished by the monthly pattern of rainfall

f = year-around rainfall m = year-round rainfall, but with a brief drier period w = wet summer and dry winter

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 Tropical Wet Climate (Af)

Main locations
Within 510 of equator Amazon basin Northern Congo basin Islands of East Indies

Characteristics
Monotonous (seasonless) Night is the season of the tropics High humidity Afternoon convective thundershowers High annual rainfall, evenly distributed during year

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 Dominant Controls
ITCZ influence entire year

summer NH winter wet season season dry

cT
0 Af

cT

SH summer winter dry season Wet season

Convective precipitation

Animated Drawing (toggle forward-back-forward)

Climographs

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Af Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Monsoon (Am)

Tropical Monsoon Climate (Am)

Tropical Monsoon Climates (Am)

Am Tropical Monsoon

Tropical Savanna (Aw)

Aw Tropical Savanna

Tropical Savanna Climates (Aw)

Arid and Semiarid Climates (B)

Arid and Semiarid Climates

Arid and Semiarid Climates (B)

Kppen system:
W = Desert (arid), S = Steppe (semiarid) h = hot (mean annual temp > 18C) usually found in lower latitudes k = cold/cool (mean annual temp < 18C) usually found in the mid-latitudes

Low-Latitude Hot Desert Climates (BWh) Mid-latitude Cold Desert Climates (BWk) Low-Latitude Hot Steppe Climates (BSh) Mid-latitude Cold Steppe Climates (BSk)

Arid and Semiarid Climates (B)

Potential for evaporation exceeds rainfall (called moisture defficiency) Cover 35% of Earths surface Most extensive geographically of the major climate groups One-third of U.S. is classified as arid/semiarid Plants are sparse but specifically adapted:
Xerophytes: adapted to aridity, drought resistant, able to store moisture

Arid and Semiarid Climates (B)

Climatic controls:
STHP: dry subsiding air over land masses Shifting STHP: produces semiarid conditions around periphery of arid areas Rain shadows: leeward sides of mountain ranges that intercept rainfall on windward side Continentality: interiors of continents far from moderating effects of water bodies

Arid and Semiarid Climates (B)

Dry Climates (Group B)

Distribution of B Climates
Subtropical Dry Climates within 2035 of latitude Midlatitude Dry Climates within 35-55 of latitude

Distinctive Features of B climates

Cover 30% of the total land area of the world
More area than any other climate group Potential evapotranspiration is greater than precipitation BW is extremely arid (desert) BS is steppe (semi-arid)

Dry conditions prevail all year

Two main sub-types based on precipitation

The two sub-types are further subdivided based on temperature

h is for the hot subtropical desert (BWh, BSh) k is for the cold midlatitude desert (BWk, BSk)

Main locations Subtropical Desert (BWh)

Centered at latitudes 2530 Western sides of continents, including coasts
Extend into continental interiors

Northern Hemisphere
Sonora-Colorado Sahara Arabian

Southern Hemisphere
Peru-Atacama Kalahari-Namib Great Australian
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Characteristics
Precipitation: extremely arid
Scarce (most nearly rainless regions on Earth) Unreliable (extremely long periods without rain)

Very hot summers Enormous daily temperature range Coastal fog

Dominant Controls
Subsidence from subtropical highs (STHs)

Cold ocean currents

Equatorward extensions

Climographs

Subtropical Steppe (BSh)

Main locations
Fringing BWh except on west coasts

Characteristics
Similar to BWh but more moderate Precipitation: semiarid

Dominant Controls
Similar to BWh

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Low-latitude hot steppe (BSh)

 Climographs

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Midlatitude Desert (BWk)

Main locations
Central Asia Western interior of United States Patagonia

Midlatitude Cold Desert Climate (BWk)

Characteristics
Precipitation meager
Erratic, mostly showery Some winter snow Hot summers, cold winters Very large annual temperature range Large daily temperature range

Temperatures

Dominant Controls
Rain shadow effects Distance from sources of moisture

Climographs

Midlatitude Steppe (BSk)

Main locations
Fringing BWk Similar to BWk (more moderate) Precipitation: semiarid Similar to BWk

Characteristics

Dominant Controls

Midlatitude cold steppe (BSk)

BSk Midlatitude cold steppe

Climographs
Photo: U.S. Great Plains, South Dakota

Mild Midlatitude Climates (Group C)

Distribution of C Climates
Equatorward margin of the middle latitudes Within 25-40 of latitude with some poleward extensions

Distinctive Features of C climates

Temperatures
Long summers, usually hot Short winters, relatively mild

Precipitation
No year-round moisture deficiency Some climates have seasonal shortages

Three subtypes
Mediterranean (Csa, Csb) Humid subtropical (Cfa) Marine west coast (Cfb, Cfc)

Mediterranean Climates (Csa, Csb)

Main locations
Western side of continents

3040 of latitude
Mediterranean coast California Central Chile Southern tip of Africa (Cape Town) Australia (Perth & Adelaide)

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Characteristics
Mild, wet winters, dry summers Two sub-types based on summer temperatures
a hot summer (interior location) b cool/mild summer (coastal location)

Precipitation
Moderate annually Winter maximum (midlatitude cyclonic storms)

Dominant Controls
STH subsidence in summer (forces cyclonic storms poleward) Westerly winds and cyclonic storms shift equatorward in winter

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Climographs

Humid Subtropical (Cfa, Cwa)

Main locations
Eastern sides of continents
2530 of latitude

Southeastern United States Eastern China Southern Brazil and Uruguay Small areas in Africa and Australia

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Characteristics
Temperatures

Summers, warm to hot Winters, mild to cold

Abundant, mostly as rain Summer maximum

Precipitation

Climographs

Marine West Coast (Cfb Cfb)

Main locations
Western sides of continents, mainly
4065 Largest area

Western and central Europe North America

Oregon to Alaska

New Zealand and eastern Australia

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Characteristics
Temperature
Very mild winters for latitude

Precipitation
Moderate to abundant, mostly in winter Many rainy days Much cloudiness

Dominant Controls
Westerly flow and oceanic influence year-round

Climographs

Severe Midlatitude Climates (Group D)

Distribution of D Climates
Only in Northern Hemisphere Within 3570 of latitude

Distinctive Features of D climates

Temperatures

Large annual temperature range

Continentality

Cold winter, relatively short summer

Precipitation
Summer maxima Abundant to meager amounts Diminishes toward inland and poleward Humid Continental Subarctic

Two Main Subtypes

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Humid Continental (Dfa, Dfb, Dwa, Dwb)

Location
N. Hemisphere only 3555 of latitude Eastern sides of continents

Characteristics
Temperature
Warm/hot summers Large annual temperature range Moderate to abundant Summer maxima

Precipitation

Dominant Controls
Westerly winds and storms
Midlatitude cyclones in winter in North America Monsoons in Asia

Climographs

 Sub Arctic (Dfc, Dfd, Dwc, Dwd)

Location

Northern Hemisphere only Latitudes 5070 Across North American and Eurasia Temperature
Long, dark, very cold winters Brief, mild summers Enormous annual temperature range

Characteristics

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Precipitation
Meager Summer maxima Light snow in winter, little melting

Dominant Controls

Pronounced continentality Alternating

Westerlies and cyclonic storms Prominent anticylcones

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 Climographs

Fig. 8-35

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 Polar Climates (Group E)

Distribution of E Climates
Poleward of 70 of latitude

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 Distinctive Characteristics

Temperatures
Coldest summers Lowest annual average Large annual temperature range Small daily temperature range

Extraordinarily dry
Low precipitating, mostly snow Evaporation is nil

Two subtypes
Tundra Ice Cap

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 Tundra (ET)
Main Locations
Fringes of Arctic Ocean Small coastal areas in Antarctica

Fig. 8-36
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 Characteristics

Temperature
Long, cold dark winters Brief, cool summers

Precipitation
Very sparse Mostly snow

Dominant Controls
Latitude Distance from sources of heat and moisture Extreme seasonal contrasts in sunlight/darkness Polar anticyclones (A and cP air masses)

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 Climographs

Fig. 8-37

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 Ice Cape (EF)

Location

Antarctica Greenland Temperature

Long, cold, dark winters Cold, windy summers

Characteristics

Precipitation
Very sparse, all snow

Fig. 8-36

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 Dominant Controls
Latitude Distances from sources of heat and moisture Extreme seasonal contrasts in sunlight/darkness Polar anticyclones (A and cP air masses)

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 Climographs

Fig. 8-38

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 Highland Climate (Group H)

Locations
High uplands (mountains and plateaus)

Fig. 8-40

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 Characteristics
Complex local variation in small areas Vertical climate zonation

Fig. 8-42

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Changeability of weather
Fig. 8-43

Dominant Controls
Altitude Slope aspect and slope angle

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 Climographs

Fig. 8-41

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 Global Patterns Idealized

General Models of the Climate Distribution
Idealized seasonal precipitation patterns and climates along the west coasts of continents (Fig. 8-44).

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Idealized Global Pattern

Fig. 8-45

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 Climatic Distribution in Africa: A Practically Perfect Example

Fig. 8-45 and Fig. 8-46

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The modified Kppen system recognizes six major climatic zones:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Tropical humid (A) Dry (B) Mild midlatitude (C) Severe midlatitude (D) Polar (E) Highland (H)

A model of climate distribution on a hypothetical continent helps use predict what the climate should be like at a particular location.

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