Climate classification are systems that recognize, clarify, and simplify climatic similarities and differences between geographic areas to deepen the understanding of the world's climates. These are based on grouped environmental data to see patterns between interactions of different climatic processes.
The most widely used classification system is the Köppen-Geiger classification. It is a vegetation-based, empirical classification developed by botanist-climatologist Wladimir Köppen. This classification divides climates into five main climate groups which are based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns.
These five types are also divided into subtypes. They are represented by a letter. These are the following: tropical (A), dry (B), temperate (C), continental (D), and polar (E).
Tropical (A) - characterized by hot and humid climate. The average temperature are greater than 64° F (18°C). This type of climate is typically found near the equator from 15° N to 15° S latitude. They are also characterized by tropical rainforests that are hot and moist commoly distinguished by trees and thick soils.
The subtypes include: Tropical rainforest (Af) which is characterized by precipitation of at least 6m or greater during the driest month. Tropical monsoon (Am) are those places with less than 6cm of precipitation, but with more than 4% annually. Lastly, the Tropical wet and dry savannah (Aw), are those with precipitation of less than 10cm during driest month and less than 4% of total annual precipitation.
Dry(B) - they are characterized by having a shortage of water with low annual precipitation rate because water evaporates quickly from its temperatures.
The subtypes under this climate type are: Arid desert (BW) which is characterized by a less than 50% annual precipitation over the precipitation threshold. The Semi-arid steppe (BS) on the other hand are those with more than 50% of the precipitation threshold.
Temperate (C) - this climate type takes the middle for average temperature, and are commonly along the edge of continents. In countries with temperate climate, coastal locations have moderate changes in temperature with mild winters, thunderstorms and humid summers.
The subtypes under this are: Mild temperate dry summer (Cs) which is characterized by having precipitation of less than 1/3 the amount of the wettest winter month. While the Mild temperate dry winter (Cw) is characterized by a precipitation of less than 1/10 of the amount during wettest summer month. And lastly, the Mild temperate humid (Cf) does not satisfy both the Cs or Cw climate types.
Cold/Continental (D) - regions with these type of climate are usually in the interior of continents. They have warm to cool summers and very cold winters. They have at least one month of average temperature below 0°C and one month of average temperature above 10°C.
For cold/continental, the subtypes are: Continental dry summer (Ds), are those with a precipitation of less than 1/3 the amount in wettest winter month during summer season. The Continental dry winter (Dw) has precipitation less than 1/10 of the amount in wettest summer month. While the Continental humid (Df) does not satisfy Ds or Dw climate types. As wee can see there is a similarity between the subtypes of the continental and temperate climate however, I think the key difference between the two is in its geographical location.
Polar (E) - this zones are extremely cold, the average temperature of the warmest month is below 10°C. Even during summer, the temperature never go higher than this. There is also very little vegetation in these areas. The subtypes include: Tundra (ET), characterized by having an average temperature between 10°C and 0°C during the warmest month, and Ice cap (EF), which is characterized by an average temperature at 0°C or below during the warmest month.
Sources: https://www.britannica.com/topic/classification-1703397
https://earthhow.com/koppen-climate-classification/
So this is how the climates of each countries and regions are classified. I hope this will bring you a deeper understanding of our climate systems. Hope you learned something from this. :)
There are also other types of classification system and hopefully I may discuss that on my next article.
Thanks for reading. ❤️
