Koppen’s Classification of Climate

 It is empirical (based on observation) and not genetic (based on origin)

 Based on Candolle’s vegetation Zones
 Average annual precipitation and monthly temperature & precipitation values are the criteria
5 Major Types and their sub-types
1. A: average monthly temperature always above 18 degrees. Tropical region
2. B: Moisture/ Rain deficit. Evaporation exceeds precipitation
3. C: Humid, mesothermal, mid-latitude, coldest month between 3-13 degrees
4. D: Humid microthermal, coldest month 3 degree or below. Warmest month 10 degree or above
5. E: Polar climate. Warmest month <10 degree
Other letter code
These codes are fairly intuitive. If you learn them, it will be easier to remember the entire classification.

1. f: rain throughout the year

2. w: winter dry
3. m: monsoon
4. s: summer dry
5. h: hot
6. k: cold
Detailed Koppen Classification of Climates
 Type A
 Af: Equitorial rainforest (A= tropical, f= always rain; easy peasy!)
 Aw: Savanna type (winter dry tropical region)
 Am: Monsoon type (short dry season, adequate rainfall)
 As: Summer Dry (rare)
 Type B
 BS: Steppe Type semi-arid (less
 BSh: avg. annual temperature >18 degrees (tropical Steppe)
 BSk: avg. annual temperature <18 degrees (mid-latitude Steppe)
 BW: dry desert climate (more extreme)
 BWh:  avg. annual temperature >18 degrees
 BWk: avg. annual temperature <18 degrees
 Type C
 Cf: Western European Type
 Cs: Dry summer, 3x precipitation in winter. Mediterranean Climate
 Cw: Dry Winter. 10x ppt. in summers. China type climate
 Type D
 Df: no dry season
 Dw: winter dry season
 Type E
 ET: Tundra type, 0-10 degrees
 EF: Permafrost zone, below 0 degree
Pros of Koppen Classification
1. Quantitative: easier to understand and measure
2. Co-incides with vegetation pattern
3. gave importance to effective precipitation (evapotranspiration)
Cons of Koppen Classification
1. Difficult to memorize (not anymore 🙂 )
2. Too much emphasis on average values
3. Ignored precipitation intensity, cloud cover, daily temperature variations, number of rainy days etc.
4. Ignored role of air masses
5. Was not a genetic classification
Koppen’s Classification of Climate