Koppen Climates Flashcards
Af
tropical rainforest. found in the equatorial regions between 5-10 degrees of equator. abundant rainfall at least 2.4 inches each month.
example: Hilo, Hawaii
Aw
Tropical savanna. flanks the af climate, characterized by a dry winter. has a dry season.
Example: Lagos, Nigeria
Am
tropical monsoon. prone to monsoons. has a dry month but are still wet for the year. indian monsoon.
Example: Cairns, Australia
Bsh
Steppe climate. annual precip is more than the evapotranspiration. coldest month averages above freezing.
Bsk
steppe climate. precip > ET. coldest month average below freezing
Bwh
Desert climate. ET > precip. coldest month averages above freezing
Bwk
Desert climate. ET > precip. coldest month averages below freezing
Csa
Mediterranean. West side of continents between 30-45 N/S. Summers are hot and dry. warmest month above 22 deg C with at least 4 months above 10 deg C
Csb
mediterranean. west side of continents between 30-45 N/S. Summers are hot and dry. warmest month below 22 deg C with at least 4 months above 10 deg C
Cfa
Humid subtropical. interior continents or east coasts about 30-40 N/S. summers are hot and humid, year round precip.
Cfb
Marine west coast. western sides of continents between 45-55 N/S. summers are cool, winters are mild. precipitation year round. warmest below 22 C with at least 4 months above 10 C.
Cfc
Marine west coast. western sides of continents between 45-55 N/S. summers are cool, winters are mild. precipitation year round. 3 or fewer months above 10 C.
Dfa
humid continental hot summer. high 30s low 40s latitudes. warmest month above 22 C with at least 4 months above 10 C. precipitation evenly distributed throughout year.
Dwa
Humid continental
hot summer. high 30s, low 40s latitudes. warmest month temp above 22 C with at least 4 months above 10 C. precipitation mainly in summer, not evenly distributed.
Dfb
humid continental mild summer. immediately north of humid continental hot summer (high 40s low 50s latitudes). warmest month below 22 C with at least 4 months above 10 C. precip evenly distributed throughout year
Dwb
humid continental mild summer. immediately north of humid continental hot summer (high 40s low 50s latitudes). warmest month below 22 C with at least 4 months above 10 C. precip not evenly distributed throughout year, mainly in summer.
Dfc
subarctic. occur poleward of other d climate (50s and low 60s latitudes). sometimes called boreal climates. precip evenly distributed throughout year. 3 or fewer months above 10 C
Dfd
subarctic. occur poleward of other d climate (50s and low 60s latitudes). sometimes called boreal climates. precip evenly distributed throughout year. very very cold. coldest month less than -38 deg C.
Dwc
subarctic. occur poleward of other d climate (50s and low 60s latitudes). sometimes called boreal climates. precip not evenly distributed throughout the year, manly in summer months. 3 or fewer months above 10 C
Dwd
subarctic. occur poleward of other d climate (50s and low 60s latitudes). sometimes called boreal climates. precipitation not evenly distributed throughout the year, mainly in the summer months. coldest month below -38 deg C, very very cold.
EF
ice sheet. all year below freezing, any precipitation will fall as snow. no precipitation distinction.
Example: Antarctica
ET
tundra. warmest month between freezing and 50 F. a tundra is a treeless plain near the poles with low temps and short growing seasons
Example: Barrow, Alaska
H
highlands. mountains can throw this system a curveball. colder on the mountaintops even though they may be in a warmer climate. the region above the timberline. no month is warmer than 10 deg C, which is the same as polar climates.
Example: Rocky Mountains
