Koppen Classification System

Name the 5 categories in theKoppen Classification System.

CitationPidwirny, M. (2011). Köppen Climate Classification System. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/162263

• 1. Humid, Tropical Climate 2. Dry Climate 3. Humid Mid Latitude Climate 4. Polar climate 5. Highlands Climate

Humid Tropical Climate

http://sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/dataset.php?id=418#

Humid Tropical Climate

• Three characteristics

• 1. SE coasts of continents

• 2. temp 50 to 95

• 3. 48 inches of rainfall annually

Within the Köppen Climate Classification System, tropical moist climates extend northward and southward from the equator to about 15 to 25° of latitude. In these climates, all months have average temperatures greater than 18° Celsius (64°Fahrenheit). Annual precipitation is often greater than 1500 mm (59 in.).

CitationPidwirny, M. (2011). Tropical Moist Climates - A Climate Type. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/162264

Dry Climate

Dry Climate

• Three characteristics

• 1. Temp freezing to hot

• 2. covers 12% of Earth

• 3. less than 20 inches annual rainfall

These Köppen climate types extend from 20 to 35° North and South of the equator and in large continental regions of the mid-latitudes often surrounded by mountains.

http://sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/dataset.php?id=418#

Humid Mid Latitude

Humid Mid Latitude

• Three characteristics

• 1. Heavy rain during mild winters

• 2. 30 to 50 degrees latitude

• 3. hot muggy summers

Locations: Southeastern United States, northern Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, southern Japan, and southern China.

http://sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/dataset.php?id=418#

Polar

Polar

• Three characteristics

• 1. temps not over 50

• 2. northern land masses

• 3. lichens and scrubby vegetation

Polar climates are found on the northern coastal areas of North America, Europe, Asia, and on the landmasses of Greenland and Antarctica.

Highlands

Highland

• Three characteristics

• 1. temps not above 50

• 2. high mountain locations

• 3. locations has snow-capped peaks most of the year

Highland (H) climates are defined by the effect altitude has on a location’s climate. As such, these climates are located from the tropics to the poles.

• Rocky Mountains, USA Peru Nepal

• The most obvious climate characteristic that is altered in these climates is temperature. Annual and monthly temperatures are lower because of adiabatic cooling, and due to the fact that the atmosphere at high altitudes contains less moisture.

• Citation

• Pidwirny, M. (2011). Highland Climates - H Climate Type. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/162312

References

• Aguado, E. and James E. Burt. 2010. Understanding Weather and Climate. Fifth Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

• Ahrens, C. D. 2006. Meteorology Today. An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment. Eighth Edition. Thompson, Brooks/Cole. USA.

• Lutgens, F.K. and E.J. Tarbuck. 2004. The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology. Ninth Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

• Lydolph, P.E. 1985. The Climate of the Earth. Rowman and Allanheld Publishers, Totowa, New Jersey.

• NOAA. Climate, JetStream - Online School for Weather, National Weather Service.

• NOAA. Climate Classification.

• Oliver, J.E. and J.J. Hidore. 2002. Climatology: An Atmospheric Science. Second Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

• Peel, Murray C. 2011. Updated Köppen-Geiger Climate Map of the World. http://people.eng.unimelb.edu.au/mpeel/koppen.html