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Köppen's Climate Classification A Climates Af, Study notes of Climatology

Characteristics: Constant high temperatures. Equal day and night length. Low annual temperature range (3°F - 5°F). Even distribution of precipitation.

Typology: Study notes

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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
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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