


Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
Characteristics: Constant high temperatures. Equal day and night length. Low annual temperature range (3°F - 5°F). Even distribution of precipitation.
Typology: Study notes
1 / 4
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
Köppen’s Climate Classification
A Climates
Af - Tropical Rain Forest (Tropical Wet) - Wet all seasons
Controlling Factors: High year-round insolation and precipitation of doldrums (ITC); rising air along trade wind coasts
Characteristics: Constant high temperatures Equal day and night length Low annual temperature range (3°F - 5°F) Even distribution of precipitation High cloud cover and humidity
Vegetation: Rain forest vegetation. (selva) Jungle where light penetrates
Am - Tropical Monsoon - Excessively wet during high sun season
Controlling Factors: Summer onshore, winter offshore air movement related to shifting of ITC and changing pressure over large land masses. Transition between Af and Aw
Characteristics: Heavy high-sun rainfall (esp. w/ orographic lifting) Short low-sun drought Small temperature range (3°F - 10°F) High temperature just prior to rainy season
Vegetation: Forest vegetation with fewer species than tropical rainforest grading to jungle and thorn forest in drier margins
Aw - Tropical Savanna - (Tropical Wet & Dry) Wet during high sun season, dry during low sun
Controlling Factors: Alternation between high sun doldrums (ITC) and low-sun subtropical highs and trades caused by shifting winds and pressure belts.
Characteristics: Distinct high-sun wet and low-sun dry seasons Highest temperature ranges for A climates
Vegetation: Grasslands with scattered drought-resistant trees, scrub, thorn bushes
B Climates
BW - Desert (Arid)
Controlling Factors: Descending, diverging circulation of subtropical highs; Continentality often linked with rainshadow location
Characteristics: Aridity, low RH, irregular and unreliable rainfall Highest diurnal temperature range and highest percentage of sunshine Highest daytime temperatures and windy conditions
Vegetation: Xerophytic veg., often barren, rocky or sandy surfaces
BS – Steppe (Semi-Arid)
Controlling Factors: Same as deserts, usually a transition zone between deserts ( BW ) and humid climates
Characterisitics: Semiarid conditions Annual rainfall distribution similar to nearest humid climate Temperatures vary with latitude, elevation and continentality
Vegetation: Dry savanna (tropics) or short grass vegetation
C Climates
Cs - Mediterranean - Hot dry summer
Controlling Factors: West coast location between 30° and 40° N and S. Alternation between subtropical high in summer and westerlies in winter
Characteristics: Mild, moist winters; hot, dry summers High percentage of sunshine High summer diurnal temperature range, frost danger
Vegetation: Low, tough brush (chaparral); scrub woodlands olives, grapes, veges, citrus, irrigation
Cfa, Cwa - Humid Subtropical - hot summers, year round precipitation
Controlling Factors: East coast location (20° - 40° N and S) Humid onshore in summer; cyclonic storms in winter
Characteristics: High humidity Summers like humid tropics Frost with polar air masses in winter Precipitation decreasing inland
Vegetation: Mixed forest, grasslands, pines
Cfb, Cfc - Marine West Coast - Mild summers, year-round precipitation
Controlling Factors: West coast location. Under the year-round influence of the westerlies
Characteristics: Mild winters, mild summers, low annual temperature range Heavy cloud cover, high humidity Frequent cyclonic storms, prolonged rain, drizzle, fog 3-4 month frost period
Vegetation: Naturally forested, green year round
EF - Ice-Cap - Warmest month: below 0°C (32°F)
Controlling Factors: Location in the high latitudes; subsidence and divergence of the polar anticyclone Elevation influence
Characteristics: Summerless; all months below freezing World’s coldest temperature Extremely low precipitation (snow) gale-force winds
Vegetation: Ice and snow covered; no vegetation; no exposed soils