The planet's climate can be classified in different ways according to certain variables and parameters. It is necessary to be able to classify the climate to establish an order in the distribution area of numerous species of animals and plants, architectural designs, establishment of cities, weather forecast, etc. One of them is the Köppen climate classification. It is a system that is based on the fact that natural vegetation has a clear relationship with the climate, so the limits between one climate and another have been established taking into account the distribution of vegetation in the specific place.
In this article we are going to tell you what the Köppen climate classification is based on and what its main characteristics are.
Key features
The Köppen climate classification is based on the establishment of a climate based on the area of distribution of certain species. Parameters to be able determining the climate of an area is usually the mean annual and monthly temperatures and rainfall. The seasonality of rainfall is also usually taken into account. In this case, it is something different.
It divides the world's climate into five main categories: tropical, arid, temperate, continental, and polar, identified by initial capital letters. Each group is a subgroup and each subgroup is a type of climate.
The Köppen climate classification was initially created by the German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, and later revised by himself and by Rudolf Geiger, describes each type of climate with a series of letters, usually three, that indicate the behavior of temperatures and rainfall. It is one of the most used climatic classifications due to its generality and simplicity.
Köppen climate classification: types of climates
Let's see what are the details of the procedure to determine each climate group, type and subgroup. Main climate catalog is divided into others and presents the associated vegetation and the regions in which it is found.
Group A: tropical climates
In this type of climate, no month of the year has average temperatures below 18 degrees. Annual rainfall is higher than the evaporation rate. It is about the climate that exists in tropical forests. Within group A of climates we have some divisions. These are as follows:
- Equatorial: In this climate, no month has a rainfall below 60mm. It is a hot and hateful climate throughout the year in which there are no seasons. It takes place in Ecuador up to 10 degrees latitude and is the climate of the nervous jungle.
- Monsoon: only one month is below 60mm and if the regeneration of the driest month is higher than the formula [100- (Annual precipitation / 25)]. It is a warm climate all year round with a short dry season followed by a humidity with heavy rain. It usually occurs in West Africa and Southeast Asia. It is the climate of the Monsoon forests.
- Bed sheet: has a month below 60 mm and if the precipitation of the driest month is less than the formula [100- (Annual Precipitation / 25)]. It is a warm climate all year round and has a dry season. It appears as we move away from Ecuador. It is the climate found in Cuba, large areas of Brazil, and much of India. It is typical of the savannah.
Group B: dry climates
Annual precipitation is less than potential annual evapotranspiration. They are the climate of grasslands and deserts.
To determine if the climate is dry, we obtain a precipitation threshold in mm. To calculate the threshold, we multiply the annual mean temperature by 20, and then add if 70% or more of the precipitation falls in the semester where the sun is 280. The highest (from April to September in the northern hemisphere, October to March in the southern hemisphere), or 140 times (if the precipitation in that period is between 30% and 70% of the total precipitation), or 0 times (if the period is between 30% and 70%) The precipitation is less 30% of total precipitation.
If the total annual average precipitation is above this threshold, it is not climate B. Let's see what are the dry climates:
- Warm steppe: winters are mild and warm summers a very warm. Rainfall is scarce and its natural vegetation awaits. It usually occurs in the tropics and subtropics on the edge of subtropical deserts.
- Cold steppe: in this climate and winters are cold or very cold. We can also find temperate or warm summers with little rainfall and Esteban as natural vegetation. They are usually located in temperate latitudes and far from the sea.
- Hot desert: Winters are mild although inland areas temperatures can approach zero degrees at night. Summers are hot or very hot. In some areas with this climate, summer temperatures are extremely high, and the highest on the planet have been recorded. The precipitations are very little. It usually occurs in the subtropical fringes of both hemispheres.
- Cold desert: in this climate and winters are quite cold and summers are mild or hot. Rainfall is quite scarce and the vegetation itself is that of the desert, sometimes even non-existent. There are temperate latitudes.
Köppen climate classification: group C
Within group C we have temperate climates. The average temperature of the coldest month is between -3ºC (in some classifications 0ºC) and 18ºC, and that of the warmest month exceeds 10ºC. Temperate forests are found in these climates.
- Maritime accidental coast: it has cold or mild winters and cool summers. Rainfall is also distributed throughout the year. There is a natural vegetation which are hardwood forests.
- Subarctic maritime: It stands out for having cold winters and without a true summer. It has rains throughout the year and there are some places with strong winds that hardly allow the development of vegetation.
- Mediterranean coastThey have mild winters and hot, dry summers. Most of the rains fall in winter or in the intermediate seasons. The Mediterranean forest is the natural vegetation.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Köppen climate classification and its characteristics.