Climate
Climatic Zones and Types
Climatic Classification
Tropical Climates
Deserts
Mild Midlatitude
Severe Midlatitude
Polar Climates
Highland Climate
(Zone A)
(Zone B)
(Zone C)
(Zone D)
(Zone E)
(Zone H)
Climate Classification
Classification Schemes
Ancient Greek Scheme
Köppen System
Climographs
Modified Köppen System
Temperature & Rainfall
Seasonality Important!
Köppen Letter Codes
First Letter – Climate Group
Second Letter
Lower Case – Rainy Season in A, C & D
Upper Case – Severity of Desert or Polar
Third Letter
Lower Case – Summer Temp (C & D)
Climographs
Tropical Climates (Zone A)
Tropical Wet
Tropical Monsoon
Tropical Savanna
ITCZ
Tropical Rainforest
Af
f – wet all year
Tropical Monsoonal - Am
Tropical Savanna - Aw
Influence of STH & ITCZ
Seasonal Pressure and Precipitation Patterns
Darwin, Australia
Dry Climates (Zone B)
Subtropical Desert
Subtropical Steppe
Midlatitude Desert
Midlatitude Steppe
Subtropical Desert & Steppe
Influence of Subtropical Highs
Midlatitude Desert & Steppe
Rain shadow
Seasonality (from latitude)
Mild Midlatitude Climates
Mesothermal (Zone C)
Some Seasonality
Mild Winters
Mediterranean
Humid Subtropical
Marine West Coast
Mediterranean
Cs
Summer Dry
Fire in California
Plants adapted to summer dry
Reproductive cycle
Thin old growth
Humid Subtropical
Cf – Humid all Year
Cfa – Hot Summer
Great for Agriculture!
Marine West Coast - Cf
Cfb – Mild Summer
Forests & Ag
Severe Midlatitude Climates Microthermal (Zone D)
Seasonality
Colder Winter than C
(Severe Winter)
Humid Continental
Subarctic
Humid Continental - Df
Cold Winter
Humid
Agriculture in warm season
Wheat, potatoes & corn common
Subarctic
Boreal Forest
Short Growing Season
Tall & Narrow
Polar Climates (Zone E)
Tundra
Ice Cap
Limited Precipitation
Tundra - ET
Never avg > 50°
No Trees
Permafrost
Ice Cap - EF
Never average > 32°
Greenland
Antarctica
Highland Climates - H