KöppenSystem

The Köppen climate classification is a widely used system for categorizing the Earth's climates. Developed by the Russian-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen, it was first published in 1884 with later modifications by Köppen himself, and a significant revision by Rudolf Geiger in 1954. The system primarily uses average monthly temperature and precipitation data to define climatic regions.

Köppen's original intention was to relate climate zones to vegetation patterns. The system divides the world into five main climate groups, denoted by letters A, B, C, D, and E. Group A encompasses tropical climates, characterized by high temperatures year-round. Group B represents dry climates, where evaporation exceeds precipitation. Group C includes temperate climates with moderate temperatures. Group D features continental climates with significant seasonal temperature variations, and Group E covers polar climates with very cold temperatures.

Each main group is further subdivided into smaller categories using additional letters, such as f (sufficient precipitation), m (monsoon), w (winter dry season), s (summer dry season), h (hot), k (cold), and T (tundra), P (ice cap). For example, a tropical rainforest climate is classified as Af, while a hot desert climate is BWh. This hierarchical structure allows for a detailed description of regional climates. The Köppen system, though empirical and not strictly based on the causes of climate, remains a foundational tool in climatology, geography, and ecology for understanding global climatic patterns and their associated environmental characteristics.