Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate
The Köppen climate classification system is one of the most common and efficient systems in the world. It is mainly used to classify the world climate into five groups. The division is based on the temperature, precipitation, and local vegetation. There are five groups in this classification tropical, dry, mild, continental, and polar. Each group is later divided into different types of climates. Each group and their particular subgroup is represented and denoted by a specific letter. Let us discuss this in detail.
- The first letter of the Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate indicates the climate group. The second letter is used for the season.
- Type A climates in the Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate focus on the seasonality of their precipitation.
- The Köppen classification also includes midlatitude C and D climates.
- These climates are given a second letter in the Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate which can be f, w, or s.
- Here F indicates the no dry season, w indicates specifically the winter dry season, and s indicates summer dry.
- The Köppen classification also includes a third symbol. In Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate the third symbols can be a, b, c, or d.
- The last subclass of the Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate only exists for D climates. It indicates summer warmth or winter coldness.
Climate Category
The Koeppen climate classification system have the five major climatic types. This each type is designated by a capital letter i.e. A, B, C, D, E, and H.
| Group | Letter code |
|---|---|
| A-Tropical Humid Climate | Af Am Aw |
| B-Dry Climate | BSh BWh BSk BWk |
| C-Warm temperate Climates | Cfa Cs Cfb |
| D-Cold Snow-forest Climates | Df Dw |
| E-Cold climates | ET EF |
| H-highland | H |
Season Type
The Köppen climate classification system divides climates into five main groups. This division is totally based on the seasonal precipitation and the temperature patterns.
| Season Type | Description |
|---|---|
| f | No dry season |
| m | Monsoon climate |
| w | Winter dry season |
| s | Summer dry season |
Temperature Severity
The Köppen climate classification system uses different temperature severity. It helps to indicate the severity of the winter. The small letters a, b, c, and d represent the level of heat. The second letter of the Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate indicates the seasonal precipitation type. The third letter of this table indicates only the level of heat.
| Temperature Severity | Description |
|---|---|
| a | Hot |
| b | Warm |
| c | Cool |
| d | Cold |
Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate| Class 11 Geography Notes
Koppen Scheme of Classification of Climate is a weather classification system that was invented in 1884 by Wladimir Peter Koeppen. In this scheme, Koeppen described the close connection between the climate distribution and the vegetation present on Earth. The classification helps people to understand the nature of the climate, specifically of the Earth with a set of data. This data can consist of the monthly and annual averages of precipitation and temperature of a specific location. Over time, the system and the process of the classification have been improved so many times as per the need.
In this article, we are going to discuss the Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate in detail.
Koeppen Scheme of Classification of Climate| Class 11 Geography Notes