What factors are used to classify climate in the Köppen climate classification system?
1 Answer
Temperature and precipitation are used to classify different climates when using the Köppen climate classification system.
Explanation:
The Köppen climate classification system relies on temperature and precipitation data. More specifically, it uses annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation to first designate one of five categories:
A. Average temperature of 18 °C or higher
B. Low precipitation. Potential evaporation and transpiration are greater than precipitation
C. Temperatures for the coldest month average between 0-18°C and at least one month of the year averages above 10°C
D. At least one month on average below 0°C and at least one month on average above 10°C
E. Average monthly temperatures always below 10°C
Each of these five classes can then be broken down even further.
Map of the world using the Köppen climate classification:
Read more about this classification system here.
