CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION

SYSTEM
WORLD CLIMATE ZONES

GROUP 2:
ANDREANA DENISE CADELINA
RYAN JORGE DELA CRUZ
AL CHINO CHAN

Climate Classification Systems

A: Tropical/megathermal Climates
Tropical climates are characterized by constant high temperatures (at sea
level and low elevations) all 12 months of the year have average
temperatures of 18 C

Tropical rainforest climate

All 12 months have average precipitation of at least 60 mm (2.4 in). These

climates usually occur within 510 latitude of the equator. In some
eastern-coast areas, they may extend to as much as 25 away from the
equator. This climate is dominated by the doldrums low-pressure system
all year round, so has no natural seasons.

Tropical monsoon climate

This type of climate, most common in South America, results from

the monsoon winds which change direction according to the seasons. This
climate has a driest month (which nearly always occurs at or soon after
the "winter" solstice for that side of the equator) with rainfall less than
60 mm, but more than 1/25 the total annual precipitation.

Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate

These climates have a pronounced dry season, with the driest month
having precipitation less than 60 mm and less than 1/25 of the total
annual precipitation.

B: Dry (arid and semiarid) climates

The most obvious climatic feature of this climate is that potential
evaporation and transpiration exceed precipitation. These climates extend
from 20 - 35 North and South of the equator and in large continental regions
of the mid-latitudes often surrounded by mountains.

Dry arid (Desert)

It is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of

hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal

life. Environments subject to arid climates tend to lack vegetation and are
called xeric or desertic. Most "arid" climates surround the equator; these
places include most of Africa and parts of South America, Central
America and Australia.

Dry semiarid (Steppe)

Is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate

grasslands,
savannas,
and
shrublands biomes,
characterized
by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes.
Is a grassland climate that covers 14% of the Earth's land surface. It
receives more precipitation than the dry arid either from the intertropical
convergence zone or from mid-latitude cyclones.

C: Temperate/mesothermal climate
These climates have an average monthly temperature above 10 C
(50 F) in their warmest months (April to September in northern
hemisphere), and an average monthly temperature above 3 C (27 F)
in their coldest months. Some climatologists prefer to observe 0 C rather
than 3 C in the coldest month as the boundary between this group and
the colder group D (continental).

Dry-summer or Mediterranean climates

These climates usually occur on the western sides of continents between

the
latitudes
of
30
and
50.
These climates are in the polar front region in winter, and thus have
moderate temperatures and changeable, rainy weather. Summers are hot
and dry, due to the domination of the subtropical high pressure systems,
except in the immediate coastal areas, where summers are milder due to
the nearby presence of cold ocean currents that may bring fog but
prevent rain.

Warm temperate or Humid subtropical climates

These climates usually occur on the eastern coasts and eastern sides of
continents, from 25 to 45 latitude, although in China and nearby areas
they are found as far south as 20N. Unlike the dry summer Mediterranean
climates, warm temperate climates have a warm and wet flow from the
tropics that creates warm and moist conditions in the summer months. As
such, summer (not winter as is the case in Mediterranean climates) is

often the wettest season. The flow out of the subtropical highs and the
summer monsoon creates a southern flow from the tropics that brings
warm and moist air to the lower east sides of continents. This flow is often
what brings the frequent but short-lived summer thundershowers so
typical of subtropical east-coast climates.

Maritime temperate climates or Oceanic climates

It usually occur on the western sides of continents between the latitudes

of 45 and 60; they are typically situated immediately poleward of the
Mediterranean climates, although in Australia and extreme southern
Africa this climate is found immediately poleward of temperate climates,
and at a somewhat lower latitude. In western Europe, this climate occurs
in coastal areas up to 63N in Norway. These climates are dominated all
year round by the polar front, leading to changeable, often overcast
weather. Summers are cool due to cool ocean currents, but winters are
milder than other climates in similar latitudes, but usually very
cloudy. Cfb climates are also encountered at high elevations in certain
subtropical and tropical areas, where the climate would be that of a
subtropical/tropical rain forest if not for the altitude. These climates are
called "highlands".

D: Continental/microthermal climates
These climates have an average temperature above 10 C (50 F) in their
warmest months, and a coldest month average below 3 C (or 0 C in
some versions, as noted previously). These usually occur in the interiors
of continents and on their upper east coasts, normally north of 40N. In
the Southern Hemisphere, group D climates are extremely rare due to the
smaller land masses in the middle latitudes and the almost complete
absence of land at 4060S, existing only in some highland locations.

Taiga

Also known as boreal forest or snow forest, is a biome characterized

by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces and larches. It
occur poleward of the other group D climates, mostly in the 50 and low
60 north latitude, although it might occur as far north as 70N.

E: Polar and alpine climates

These climates are characterized by average temperatures below 10 C in
all 12 months of the year

Tundra

Is a type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures

and short growing seasons. In tundra, the vegetation is composed of
dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses, and lichens. Scattered trees
grow in some tundra regions. The ecotone (or ecological boundary region)
between the tundra and the forest is known as the tree line or timberline.

Ice cap climate

All twelve months have average temperatures below 0 C (32 F). This
climate is dominant in Antarctica and inner Greenland, but also occurs at
extremely high altitudes on mountains, above even tundra.

WORLD CLIMATE ZONES

Polar - very cold and dry all year

 Temperate - cold winters and mild summers

Arid - dry, hot all year
Tropical - hot and wet all year
Mediterranean - mild winters, dry hot summers
Mountains (tundra) very cold all year