Köppen climate classification

A system for dividing the world into climate regions using temperature, precipitation, and seasonal vegetation patterns. Its letter codes distinguish major climate groups and their subtypes.

Köppen climate classification code: A letter sequence identifying a climate type in the Köppen system. The code encodes thresholds and seasonal patterns that determine each classification.
Climate: The long-term pattern of atmospheric conditions in a region. Köppen classes summarize recurring regional patterns rather than individual weather events.
Wladimir Köppen: A Russian-born German climatologist who developed a widely used climate classification system. His 1884 classification connected climatic zones with the distribution of vegetation.
Climate map: A map showing the spatial distribution of climate characteristics or climate regions. Köppen codes provide a compact way to display broad climate regions.
Trewartha climate classification: A climate classification system that modifies Köppen’s groups using vegetation and human-relevant temperature criteria. Trewartha changes several boundaries to better represent climatic conditions in populated regions.
Köppen A climates: Tropical climates with every month above the Köppen system’s temperature threshold. The A group is defined chiefly by consistently high monthly temperatures.
Temperature: A measure of how hot or cold the air or another substance is. Monthly temperature thresholds separate major groups and many subtypes.
Rudolf Geiger: A German meteorologist who revised and extended the Köppen climate classification. His collaboration with Köppen produced the form that underlies many modern maps.
Climate dataset: A structured collection of climate observations, estimates, or model outputs. Gridded Köppen classifications let datasets summarize climate patterns consistently.
Thornthwaite climate classification: A climate classification system based on precipitation effectiveness and potential evapotranspiration. It makes water balance central rather than relying mainly on fixed temperature and precipitation thresholds.

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