The 30 types of climates on Earth (according to Köppen)

Wladimir Peter Köppen classified the Earth's climates according to temperature and rainfall. In this way, he named 5 main climates that will be divided into 4 subtypes according to the amount of rainfall and which in turn will be classified into 6 subtypes bearing in mind the temperature.

Thus, the subtypes can receive similar names according to the temperature that will vary, for the most part, according to the rainfall, drier or more humid. Below we will briefly present the main characteristics of the climate division and later we will explain each one more specifically.

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Classification of climates according to Köppen-Geiger

In 1900 Wladimir Peter Köppen, a Russian geographer with a specialty in climatology, created a climate classification currently known as Köppen-Geiger, and which later made modifications in 1936 together with Rudolf Geiger.

This classification makes a division of five main climates, subclimates and types of climates that will be identified with different letters depending on the temperature and rainfall, taking into account different variables such as coldest month and warmest month or driest month and more humid month. In this way, depending on the characteristics of each climate, it will also affect or determine the type of vegetation in the region.

The classification of climates carried out by Köppen and Geiger, despite being an old division, is still the most used throughout the world, given its simple approach. In general terms, each main type of climate will be divided, as we have said according to rainfall, in: “f” if it rains throughout the year, it does not present periods of drought, "s" there is drought in summer, "w" winter is the dry season and "m" there is monsoon-type rainfall, winds that produce intense rains.

In the same way, each subtype will divide again according to temperature: “A” the average temperature of the warmest month is higher than 22ºC, “b” the average temperature of the warmest month is lower than 22ºC but higher than 10ºC, “c” the average temperature higher than 10ºC occurs in less than four months, “d” the coldest month is below -38ºC, “h” the average annual temperature exceeds 18ºC and “k” the mean annual temperature is below 18 ° C.

1. Climate A: tropical or macro-thermal

This type of climate is characterized by high temperatures where every month the average is above 18ºC, therefore there will be no winter. Also being abundant rains, with precipitation higher than evaporation. Thus, the regions of the Earth where this type of climate is found are usually tropical forests and jungles.

1.1. Af: Equatorial

The equatorial is a subtype of tropical climate where constant rains occur and abundant, it is typical that there is rainfall throughout the year. Likewise, the temperature is also high during the year. The areas that present this type of subclimate are called the equatorial zone, as is the case in the Amazon and the Congo.

1.2. Am: Tropical monsoon

The monsoon tropical subclimate is characterized by presenting contrasts regarding both temperature and rainfall. Maintaining temperatures not very cold, in winter these can be 15ºC on average reaching 35ºC in summer.

Regarding rainfall, the same happens, despite be one of the wettest subclimatesWinter is characterized by low rainfall in contrast to summer, which is much more humid. This type of climate is very characteristic in Asia.

1.3. Aw: Savanna tropical

This tropical subclimate presents a longer period of no precipitation than the other tropical subclimates, being characteristic the dry winters in opposition to more rainy summers with intense precipitations. Thus, it is characteristic of some regions of South America such as Caracas or Panama City, some areas of central, western and eastern Africa and regions of India and Oceania.

2. Climate B: Dry

As its name indicates, this type of climate is characterized by little rainfall during the year, thus being regions with low humidity where evaporation is higher than the amount of rainfall that is produce.

2.1. Bs: semi-arid

The semi-arid subclimate is distinguished by having little rainfall, a fact that produces little vegetation. This subtype can also be called steppes, thus an intermediate point between Mediterranean climates and deserts. In turn, this subclimate is divided into two classes of climate that differ greatly according to the average annual temperature, hot or cold.

2.1.1. Bsh: warm semi-arid

The warm semi-arid type of climate is the middle ground between humid and arid climates. With an annual average temperature above 18ºC, there are great variations, and with few rains that appear irregularly. Examples of regions with this type of subclimate are: Luanda in Angola or Murcia in Spain.

2.1.2. Bsk: Cold semi-arid

The cold semi-arid type is defined by presenting average annual temperatures below 18 ºC with great variations depending on the region of the Earth with this type of climate. It is typical of central areas of the continents, far from water sources. In summer it is the season where there is more probability that precipitations appear that can discharge a great amount of water. Appearing in some regions of Spanish such as the municipality of Teruel or Alicante.

2.2. Bw: Arid

The arid subtype is characterized by being related to a lower number of precipitations than the semi-arid subtype, giving rise to areas with very little or no precipitation. Thus, the regions that will show this climate will be deserts and some semi-deserts. In the same way as the previous subtype, it will also be divided into warm or cold according to the average annual temperature reached.

2.2.1. Bwh: warm arid

In the hot arid type, the average annual temperature is above 18ºC. A typical area with this type of climate is the Sahara desert where high temperatures occur during the day, falling at night giving rise to sensations of cold. In reference to the rains, these will appear in a very scarce and irregular way, which causes the vegetation to be almost nil.

2.2.2. Bwk: Cold Arid

Cold deserts receive this name because they show temperatures below 18ºC, with very cold winters and a high contrast of temperature variations. In the same way that it happens with the hot arid type, the precipitations are very irregular and scarce. These temperature and precipitation characteristics are typical of some regions such as Patagonia or Central Asia.

3. Climate C: Temperate or Mesothermic

Climate C is defined as being temperate and humid, presenting average temperatures in winter, colder months, between -3ºC to 18ºC and in summer, in the warmer months, higher than 10ºC.

3.1. Cf: Humid temperate climate

In humid temperate climate, also called oceanic climate, mild winters and cool summers are characteristic, with little thermal oscillation between them. Rainfall is present throughout the year, which means that there are no dry seasons. This type of climate is divided into three subclimates according to the average annual temperature.

3.1.1. Cfa: Subtropical humid or without dry season

It is defined by having hot summers exceeding the average of 22ºC. This kind of climate is found, for example, in some areas of China such as Shanghai or Japan as in its capital, Tokyo.

3.1.2. Cfb: Temperate oceanic

It receives the name of oceanic or Atlantic climate characteristic for having mild summers, the temperature in this season does not reach 22ºC but is higher than 10ºC. This kind of climate is typical of the northern areas of Western Europe, for example, in Spanish we would find it in La Coruña and Orense, cities in Galicia.

3.1.3. Cfc: Oceanic Subpolar

As its name indicates, it will be a type of oceanic climate that we find closer to the polar areas, therefore these regions will show lower temperatures without being lower than -3ºC, but only 10ºC minus four months will be exceeded. year. Continuously there are precipitations with abundant amounts of water. For example, this kind of climate can be found in coastal areas such as southern Argentina or some regions of the island of Tasmania in Australia.

3.2. Cw: Subhumid temperate climate

In general this type of climate is characterized by having dry winters, that is, with a low number of precipitations and given the areas where it occurs, there is influence of the monsoon climate. In the same way, according to the average temperature present in the warmest month, it is classified into different subtypes.

3.2.1. Cwa: Humid subtropical with dry season

In this subtype of climate, the temperature in the warmest month exceeds 22ºC, presenting quite dry seasons, since normally where this climate is found is the inland regions far from the coast, for example, in the inland region of China and South America.

3.2.2. Cwb: Mountain oceanic with dry winter

Unlike the previous type, the average temperature in the warm months does not exceed 22ºC but is higher than 10ºC. It is typical in high altitude areas such as some regions of the Andes.

3.2.3. Cwc: Subalpine with dry winter

It is a type of climate not very characteristic that occurs in high altitude areas, higher than that of the two previous subtypes, in this way the average temperature in the warm months will be higher than 10ºC but these will last less than four months during the year.

3.3. Cs: Mediterranean climate

This climate is characteristic for presenting a decrease in rainfall during the summer, that is to say, summers are usually dry.

3.3.1. Csa: Typical Mediterranean climate

This type of climate corresponds to subtype "a", so the warm months will exceed 22ºC. It will also show as a characteristic feature the presentation of seasonal rainfall. It is quite characteristic in Spain, being the typical climate, for example, in Barcelona, ​​Granada and Seville.

3.3.2. Csb: Oceanic Mediterranean

In the same way, the subtype "b" in temperate climates indicates warm months not exceeding 22ºC but without falling below 10ºC. It is characterized by mild summers with a decrease in rainfall, therefore it is a drier season.

3.3.3. Csc: Subalpine Mediterranean with dry summer

As expected, subtype "c" indicates a few warm months, less than four, with an average temperature above 10ºC. It is also related to higher altitude areas.

4. Climate D: Continental or Microthermal

It is characterized by a climate with cold winters, where the average temperature of the coldest month is below -3ºC and that of the warmest month exceeds 10ºC.

4.1. Df: Humid continental climate

Given the subtype f it will be a type of climate with abundant rainfall and no dry season. This in turn, as we have seen previously, was subdivided according to the average temperature of the warm months.

4.1.1. Day: Temperate continental without dry season

The average temperature in the warm months will be above 22ºC, in this way, it is similar to the humid subtropical but with a colder winter. It is typical in some areas of Canada and the United States and in southern Russia and Ukraine.

4.1.2. Dfb: Hemiboreal without dry season

It presents characteristics similar to the temperate oceanic but with colder winters. In the same way, regarding the previous subtype, temperate continental also presents similarities but in this case the summer will be colder. Some of the cities where this subtype of climate occurs are Stockholm and Oslo.

4.1.3. Dfc: Subpolar without dry season

Few months with temperatures above 10ºC, although the coldest month has an average higher than -38ºC. For example we observe it in Alaska and Siberia.

4.1.4. Dfd: Extreme without dry season

A very cold winter is characteristic with average temperatures below -38ºC. This climate is specifically found in northern Siberia and Alaska.

4.2. Dw: Continental monsoon climate

Above all characterized by dry winters. We find it in northern China, and in some regions of Korea, Russia and Mongolia. In the same way that we have been observing, it will be divided into subtypes "a", "b", "c" and "d" according to average temperature in months warm, also receiving the same names mentioned above but with the difference that winter will be dried.

4.3. Ds: Continental climate with Mediterranean influence

As we can see in its name, it has characteristics of the Mediterranean climate, already raised, but in a higher altitude situation. A typical noteworthy trait is the presence of dry summers. It is found in plateaus and valleys such as Turkey and Iran. Thus, it is also subdivided into "a", "b", "c" and "d" according to the mean temperature, presenting the same names as the previous subtype, with the remarkable peculiarity that in this case summer is dried.

5. Climate E: Polar

As we can deduce from the name, this climate is characterized by having a temperature below 10ºC in the warmest month. It will be divided into "T" or "F" depending on whether or not it exceeds 0 ºC.

5.1. ET: Tundra Climate

The average temperature of the warmest month is between 0 and 10ºC. We find it, for example, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean and on the Antarctic peninsula.

5.2. EF: Icy

Unlike the previous the average temperature of the warmest month will be less than 0ºC. It is found in most of Antarctica and in Greenland.