KOPPEN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION

1. "A" CLIMATES - TROPICAL / HOT

(i)Af: TROPICAL RAINFOREST

-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-DRIEST MONTH WITH AT LEAST 6CM/2.40" OF PRECIPITATION
-LOCATIONS:
AMAZON RIVER BASIN (SOUTH AMERICA)
CONGO RIVER BASIN (AFRICA)
EASTERN COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA
EASTERN COAST OF BRAZIL PHILIPPINES
EASTERN COAST OF MADAGASCAR EASTERN INDIA
SOUTHERN BANGLADESH MALAYSIA
INDONESIA
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
HIGH YEAR AROUND INSOLATION/PRECIPITATION RESULT
OF ITCZ/DOLDRUMS
RISING AIR ALONG TRADE WIND COASTS
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
CONSTANT HIGH TEMPERATURES
EQUAL LENGTH DAY AND NIGHT
LOWEST ANNUAL AVERAGE TEMP RANGES (2-3C/3-5F)
OCEAN ISLAND/CENTRAL PACIFIC HAS O DEGREE ANNUAL
TEMPERATURE RANGE!
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED HVY ANNL PCPN (AVG 250CM/100";
EXTREME UP TO 500CM/250")
HIGH AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER AND HUMIDITY YEAR
AROUND
(ii) Aw: TROPICAL WET-DRY (LOW SUN DRY) - SAVANNA
-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-MORE THAN 2 MONTHS HAVE LESS THAN 6CM/2.40"
PRECIPITATION
-LOCATIONS:
GENERALLY POLEWARD OF Af CLIMATE AREAS
NORTHERN AND EASTERN INDIA
INTERIOR MYANMAR (BURMA)
INDO-CHINESE PENINSULA
NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
BORDERLANDS OF CONGO RIVER BASIN (AFRICA)
SOUTH CENTRAL AFRICA
WESTERN CENTRAL AMERICA
LLANOS OF VENEZUELA & CAMPOS OF BRAZIL (SAVANNA)
EXTREME SOUTHERN FLORIDA
CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
ALTERNATION BETWEEN HIGH SUN ITCZ/DOLDRUMS AND
 LOW SUN SUBTROPICAL
HIGHS AND TRADES CAUSED BY SHIFTING WINDS AND
PRESSURE BELTS
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
DISTINCT HIGH-SUN WET AND LOW-SUN DRY SEASONS
RAINFALL AVGS 75-130CM/30-70" (RANGES FROM 180CM/70"
RAINFOREST MARGINS
100CM/39" DRIER MARGINS
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE RANGES OF "A" CLIMATE FAMILY
(iii) As: TROPICAL WET-DRY (HIGH SUN DRY) - SAVANNA
-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-MORE THAN 2 MONTHS HAVE LESS THAN 6CM/2.40
PRECIPITATION DISTINCT DRY SEASON DURING HIGH SUN SEASON (SUMMER) –
VERY RARE CLIMATE
-LOCATIONS:
EXTREME EASTERN TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA (BRAZIL)
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
OCEANIC INFLUENCE RESULTS IN THIS RARE CLIMATE TYPE
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
DISTINCT HIGH SUN DRY AND LOW SUN WET SEASONS,
RAINFALL AVGS 75-130CM/30-70" (RANGES FROM 180CM/70"
RAINFOREST
MARGINS, 100CM/39" DRIER MARGINS,
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE RANGES OF "A" CLIMATE FAMILY
(iv) Am: TROPICAL MONSOON
-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-ONE OR MORE MONTHS LESS THAN 6CM/2.40" PRECIPITATION
-EXCESSIVELY WET DURING RAINY SEASON (VERY PRONOUNCED
WET SEASON)
-LOCATIONS:
COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN INDIA
SRI LANKA
BANGLADESH
MYANMAR (BURMA)
SOUTHWESTERN AFRICA
GUYANA
SURINAM
FRENCH GUIANA
PARTS OF NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST BRAZIL
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
SUMMER ONSHORE, WINTER OFFSHORE AIR MOVEMENT
RELATED TO SHIFTING ITCZ
AND CHANGING PRESSURE CONDITIONS OVER LARGE LANDMASSES
TRANSITIONAL BETWEEN Af AND Aw TO SOME DEGREE
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERICS:
OUTSIDE OF HAWAII, HEAVIEST RAINFALL RECORDS IN WORLD EXIST IN
THIS CLIMATE
CHERRIPUNJI, INDIA - 476" RAIN IN YEAR (40 FEET OF RAIN!!)
HEAVY HIGH-SUN RAINFALL (ESPECIALLY W/OROGRAPHIC LIFT)
 VERY SHORT LOW SUN (WINTER) DROUGHT
ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGE OF 2-6C/3-10F
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE ANNUALLY JUST PRIOR TO RAINY SEASON
PRECIPITATION WIDELY RANGES FROM BETWEEN 150-400CM/60-150"
ANNUALLY

2. "B" CLIMATES - ARID/SEMIARID

(i) BWh: DRY/ARID (HOT) - LOW LATITUDE DESERTS
-EVAPORATION EXCEEDS PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE PRECIPITATION IS LESS
THAN HALF OF POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-USUALLY LOWER LATITUDE, HOT DESERT CLIMATE
-MEAN AVERAGE TEMP IS OVER 18C/64.4F; FROST ABSENT OR INFREQUENT
WINTER
-LOCATIONS:
NORTHERN MEXICO/SOUTHWESTERN USA/BAJA CALIFORNIA
NORTHERN AFRICA/SAUDI ARABIA/IRAN/WESTERN INDIA
CENTRAL/WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SOUTHERN AND WESTERN AFRICA
-DESERTS:
SAHARA DESERT
SONORIAN DESERT
ARABIAN DESERT
THAR DESERT (WESTERN INDIA & PAKISTAN)
AUSTRALIAN DESERT
KALAHARI DESERT
(ii) BWk: DRY/ARID (COOL) - MIDDLE LATITUDE DESERTS
-EVAPORATION EXCEEDS PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE PRECIPITATION IS LESS
THAN HALF OF POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-USUALLY MID-LATITUDE, COOLER DESERT CLIMATE
-MEAN AVERAGE TEMP IS BELOW 18C/64.4F; BELOW FREEZING TEMPS WINTER
-LOCATIONS:
CASPIAN SEA EASTWARD TO NORTHERN CHINA & MONGOLIA
PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA
-DESERTS:
RUSSIAN TURKESTAN DESERT
TAKLA MAKAN DESERT
GOBI DESERT
MOHAVE DESERT

APPLIES TO BOTH BWk & BWh:

-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
DESCENDING, DIVERGING CIRCULATION OF SUBTROPICAL HIGHS
CONTINENTALITY OFTEN LINKED WITH RAIN SHADOW LOCATIONS
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
ARIDITY, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF SUNSHINE OF ALL CLIMATE TYPES
HIGHEST DIURNAL (DAY TO NIGHT) TEMPERATURE RANGES OF ALL
CLIMATES
HIGHEST DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES OF ALL CLIMATE TYPES
WINDY & BREEZY CONDITIONS
(iii) BSh: SEMI-ARID, STEPPE (HOT)
-EVAPORATION EXCEEDS PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE PRECIPITATION IS MORE
THAN HALF BUT LESS THAN POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-STEPPE/GRASSLAND/BUNCH GRASSES (WEST TEXAS NORTHWARD)
-MEAN AVERAGE TEMP IS OVER 18C/64.4F
-LOCATIONS:
APPROXIMATELY 13-15 DEGREES NORTH LATITUDE IN AFRICA –
SOUTHERN
BORDER OF ARID CLIMATE
20 DEGREES SOUTH LATITUDE SOUTHERN AFRICA
BORDERLANDS AUSTRALIAN DESERT
PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA
PORTIONS OF INDIA
BORDERS BWh CLIMATES OF NORTHWESTERN AFRICA, SAUDI ARABIA,
WESTERN INDIA

(iv) BSk: SEMI-ARID, STEPPE (COOL)

-EVAPORATION EXCEEDS PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE PRECIPITATION IS MORE
THAN HALF BUT LESS THAN POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-USUALLY MID-LATITUDE, STEPPE/GRASSLAND/BUNCH GRASSES (MONTANA
SOUTH)
-MEAN AVERAGE TEMP IS BELOW 18C/64.4F
-LOCATIONS:
WESTERN GREAT PLAINS OF USA & SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA
BORDERS BWh AREAS CASPIAN SEA EASTWARD TO CHINA/MONGOLIA

APPLIES TO BOTH BSh & BSk:

-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
SAME AS DESERTS..USUALLY TRANSITIONAL BETWEEN DESERTS AND
HUMID CLIMATES.
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
SEMIARID CONDITIONS, ANNUAL RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION SIMILAR TO
NEAREST HUMID
CLIMATE W/PRECIPITATION BETWEEN 25-50CM/10-20"
TEMPERATURES GREATLY VARY W/LATITUDE, ELEVATION & CONTINENTALITY

3. "C" CLIMATES - SUBTROPICAL

(i) Cwa: HUMID SUBTROPICAL - WARM WITH DISTINCTLY DRY

WINTER
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH AVERAGES OVER 22C/72F
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND
ABOVE
-3C/26.6F
-WINTER DROUGHT; AT LEAST 10 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING
 WETTEST SUMMER
(ii)Cfa: HUMID SUBTROPICAL - EAST COASTS
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH AVERAGES OVER 22C/72F
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND
ABOVE
-3C/26.6F
-YEAR AROUND RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION

APPLIES TO BOTH Cwa & Cfa:

-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
EAST COASTAL LOCATIONS BETWEEN 20 & 40 DEGREES NORTH &
SOUTH
LATITUDE
HUMID, ONSHORE AIR MOVEMENT IN SUMMER, CYCLONIC STORMS IN
WINTER
-LOCATIONS:
SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES (FLORIDA NORTHWARD TO NORTH
CAROLINA AND WESTWARD THROUGH ALL OF OKLAHOMA, EXCEPT
PANHANDLE, AS WELL AS CENTRAL AND EAST TEXAS)
SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH AMERICA
COASTAL SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH AFRICA
EASTERN AUSTRALIA
EASTERN ASIA (FROM NORTHERN INDIA THROUGH SOUTHERN CHINA TO
SOUTHERN JAPAN
WHICH IS Cwa - DRY/WET MONSOONAL)
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
HIGH HUMIDITY
SUMMER ARE MUCH LIKE HUMID TROPICS
FROST WITH POLAR AIR MASSES IN WINTER
PRECIPITATION HIGHLY VARIABLE; 65-250CM/25-100"
YEARLY..DECREASES
INLAND
MONSOONAL INFLUENCE (Cwa) ONLY FOUND IN ASIA
(iii) Csa: HUMID SUBTROPICAL (MEDITERRANEAN)
-WARM WITH DISTINCTLY DRY HOT SUMMER W/STRONG CONTINENTAL
INFLUENCE
-AVERAGE TEMP OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE
-3C/26.6F
-AT LEAST 3 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING WETTEST WINTER MONTH
AS IN DRIEST SUMMER MONTH (PRECIPITATION IN DRIEST SUMMER MONTH
LESS THAN 4CM/1.56")
-WARMEST MONTH HAS AVERAGE TEMP OVER 22C/71.6F; AT LEAST 4 MONTHS
HAVE AVERAGE TEMPS OVER 10C/50F
(iv) Csb: HUMID SUBTROPICAL (MEDITERRANEAN)
-COOL WITH DISTINCTLY DRY COOL SUMMER W/STRONG MARITIME INFLUENCE
-AVERAGE TEMP OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE
-3C/26.6F
-AT LEAST 3 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING WETTEST WINTER MONTH
AS IN DRIEST SUMMER MONTH (PRECIPITATION IN DRIEST SUMMER MONTH
LESS
 THAN 4CM/1.56")
-NO MONTH WITH AVERAGE TEMP OVER 22C/71.6F; AT LEAST 4 MONTHS HAVE
AVERAGE TEMPS OVER 10C/50F

APPLIES TO BOTH Csa & Csb:

-LOCATIONS:
CENTRAL, COASTAL AREAS OF CALIFORNIA
CENTRAL, COASTAL CHILE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA BORDERLANDS
IRANIAN HIGHLANDS
CAPETOWN AREA OF SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTHERN AND SOUTHWESTERN AREAS OF AUSTRALIA
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
WEST COAST LOCATIONS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 N & S LATITUDES
ALTERNATION BETWEEN SUBTROPICAL HIGHS IN SUMMER AND
WESTERLIES IN WINTER
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
MILD, MOIST WINTERS & HOT, DRY SUMMERS (INLAND AREAS) AND
FOGGY, COOLER COASTS
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SUNSHINE
HIGH SUMMER DIURNAL RANGE (RANGE BETWEEN HIGH & LOW
TEMPERATURES OF DAY)
FROST DANGER IN WINTER SEASON

(v) Cfb: MARINE WEST COAST - MILD

-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF ALL MONTHS IS BELOW 22C/71.6C
-AT LEAST 4 MONTHS WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 10C/50F
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE
–
3C/26.6C
-RAINFALL EQUALLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR
(vi) Cfc: MARINE WEST COAST - COOL
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF ALL MONTHS IS BELOW 22C/71.6C
-1 TO 3 MONTHS WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 10C/50F
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE
–
3C/26.6F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR

APPLIES TO BOTH Cfb & Cfc:

-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
-WEST COAST LOCATION (AROUND YEAR INFLUENCE OF THE WESTERLIES)
-WARM OCEAN CURRENTS ALONG MOST OF THE COASTS
-LOCATIONS:
COASTAL OREGON, WASHINGTON, BRITISH COLUMB AND SOUTHERN
ALASKA
NORTHWEST EUROPE
SOUTHERN CHILE
INTERIOR SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
 -DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
MILD WINTERS AND MILD SUMMERS WITH LOW ANNUAL TEMPERATURE
RANGE
HEAVY CLOUD COVER
HIGH HUMIDITY
FREQUENT CYCLONIC STORMS WITH PROLONGED RAIN, DRIZZLE OR
FOG
3 TO 4 MONTH FROST PERIOD DURING THE WINTER SEASON

4. "D" CLIMATES - TEMPERATE

(i) Dfa: HUMID CONTINENTAL HOT SUMMERS W/YEAR AROUND

PRECIPITATION
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR

(ii) Dwa: HUMID CONTINENTAL HOT SUMMERS W/DRY WINTERS

-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-WINTERS DRY; AT LEAST TEN TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING THE
WETTEST SUMMER MONTH AS IN THE DRIEST WINTER MONTH

APPLIES TO BOTH Dfa & Dwa:

-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATION IN THE LOWER MIDDLE LATITUDES (35 TO 45 DEGREES)
CYCLONIC STORMS ALONG THE POLAR FRONT
PREVAILING WESTERLIES
CONTINENTALITY PREVAILS
POLAR ANTICYCLONE IN WINTER (RESULTS IN Dwa CLIMATE TYPE) –
HIGH
CONTINENTALITY
-LOCATIONS:
EASTERN AND MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES (ATLANTIC COAST TO
THE
100TH MERIDIAN POLEWARD OF THE "C" CLIMATE TYPE)
EAST CENTRAL EUROPE
NORTHERN CHINA, MANCHURIA, NORTHERN KOREA, AND HONSHU
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
HOT, OFTEN HUMID SUMMERS; OCCASIONAL WINTER COLD WAVES
RATHER LARGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGES
GREAT WEATHER VARIABILITY ON ESPECIALLY YEARLY BASIS
PRECIPITATION 50-115CM/20-45" ANNUALLY DECREASING INLAND AND
POLEWARD
AN APPROXIMATE 140-200 DAY GROWING SEASON

(iii) Dfb: HUMID CONTINENTAL MILD SUMMER WITH YEAR AROUND

RAINFALL
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
 -AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-NO MONTH WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OVER 22C/71.6F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR
(iv) Dwb: HUMID CONTINENTAL MILD SUMMER WITH DRY WINTERS
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-NO MONTH WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OVER 22C/71.6F
-AT LEAST 10 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION IS THE WETTEST SUMMER MONTH
AS IN DRIEST WINTER MONTH

APPLIES TO BOTH Dfb & Dwb:

-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATIONS IN THE MID-LATITUDES (45 TO 55 DEGREES)
CYCLONIC STORMS ALONG THE POLAR FRONT
PREVAILING WESTERLIES
CONTINENTALITY PREVAILS
POLAR ANTICYCLONE IN WINTER (RESULTS IN Dwb CLIMATE TYPE)
-LOCATIONS:
NEW ENGLAND, THE GREAT LAKES REGION, AND SOUTH CENTRAL
CANADA
SOUTHEASTERN SCANDINAVIA
EASTERN EUROPE
WEST CENTRAL ASIA
EASTERN MANCHURIA & ASIA
HOKKAIDO
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
MODERATE SUMMERS
LONG WINTERS WITH FREQUENT SPELLS OF CLEAR, COLD WEATHER
LARGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGES
VARIABLE WEATHER W/ LESS TOTAL PPRECIPITATION THAN AREAS

(v) Dfc: SUBARCTIC WITH COOL SUMMERS AND YEAR AROUND

RAINFALL
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-1 TO 3 MONTHS WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ABOVE 10C/50F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR

(vi) Dfd: SUBARCTIC WITH COLD WINTERS AND YEAR AROUND

RAINFALL
-COLDEST MONTH HAS AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF -38C/-36.4F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR

(vii) Dwc: SUBARCTIC WITH COOL SUMMERS AND DRY WINTERS

-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH OF -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-1 TO 3 MONTHS WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ABOVE 10C/50F
 -AT LEAST 10 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION IN THE WETTEST SUMMER MONTH
AS IN DRIEST WINTER MONTH

(viii) Dwd: SUBARCTIC WITH COLD WINTERS AND DRY WINTERS

-COLDEST MONTH HAS AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF -38C/-36.4F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-AT LEAST 10 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION IN THE WETTEST SUMMER MONTH
AS IN DRIEST WINTER MONTH

APPLIES TO Dfc, Dwc, Dfd & Dwd:

-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATION IN THE HIGHER MIDDLE LATITUDE (50 TO 70 DEGREES)
WESTERLIES IN SUMMER
STRONG POLAR ANTICYCLONE IN WINTER (CREATES Dwc & Dwd
CLIMATE
TYPES)
OCCASIONAL CYCLONIC STORMS
EXTREME CONTINENTALITY
-LOCATIONS:
NORTHERN NORTH AMERICA (FROM NEWFOUNDLAND TO ALASKA)
NORTHERN EURASIA (FROM SCANDINAVIA THROUGH SIBERIA TO THE
BERING SEA AND THE SEA OF OKHOTSK)
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
BRIEF, COOL SUMMERS AND LONG, BITTERLY COLD WINTERS
LARGEST ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGES
LOWEST TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE OF ANTARCTICA
LOW PRECIPITATION OF 25-50CM/10-20" ANNUALLY
UNRELIABLE 50-80 DAY GROWING SEASON
PERMAFROST COMMON

5. "E" CLIMATES – POLAR

(i) ET: TUNDRA CLIMATE
-AVERAGE TEMP OF WARMEST MONTH IS BELOW 10C/50F BUT IS GREATER
THAN
0C/32F
-PRECIPITATION EXCEEDS POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-LOCATIONS:
ARCTIC OCEAN BORDERLANDS OF NORTH AMERICA, GREENLAND AND
EURASIA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
SOME POLAR ISLANDS
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATION IN HIGH LATITUDES
SUBSIDENCE AND DIVERGENCE OF THE POLAR ANTICYCLONE
PROXIMITY TO COASTS
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
SUMMERLESS, AT LEAST 9 MONTHS AVERAGE BELOW FREEZING
VERY LOW EVAPORATION
PRECIPITATION USUALLY BELOW 25.5CM/10"
 COASTAL FOG
STRONG WINDS
(ii) EF: ICECAP CLIMATE
-AVERAGE TEMP OF WARMEST MONTH IS 0C/32F OR BELOW
-PRECIPITATION EXCEEDS POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-LOCATIONS:
INTERIOR GREENLAND
MOST OF ANTARCTICA (EXCEPT ANTARCTIC PENINSULA)
PERMANENTLY FROZEN PORTIONS OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN AND
ASSOCIATED ISLANDS
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATIONS IN HIGH LATITUDES AND INTERIORS OF LANDMASSES
YEAR-AROUND INFLUENCE OF THE POLAR ANTICYCLONE
ICE COVER
ELEVATION OF ICE DOME
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
SUMMERLESS, ALL MONTHS AVERAGE BELOW FREEZING
WORLD'S COLDEST TEMPERATURES
EXTREMELY MEAGER PRECIPITATION IN FORM OF SNOW, EVAPORATION
EVEN LESS

6. "H" CLIMATES - HIGHLAND AREAS

H: HIGHLAND CLIMATE
-DUE TO MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, CAN ENCOMPASS ANY OF THE ABOVE CLIMATE
CLASSIFICATIONS
-VERY COMPLEX AND TIGHT KNIT CLIMATIC ZONE.
-TEMPERATURE DECREASE WITH INCREASING ALTITUDE = AVG 3.6F/1000FT
-ZONES OF CLIMATE IN HIGHLAND REGIONS BASED ON CHANGES IN
TEMPERATURE WITH ELEVATION THAT ROUGHLY COORESPOND TO KOPPENS
CLIMATIC ZONES BASED ON THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE WITH
LATITUDE...WITH ONE IMPORTANT EXCEPTION..SEASONS ONLY EXIST IN
HIGHLANDS IF THEY ALSO EXIST IN THE NEARBY LOWLAND REGIONS.
(EXAMPLE: ALTHOUGH ZONES OF INCREASINGLY COOLER TEMPERATURES
OCCUR AT PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE TROPICAL
REGIONS ("A" CLIMATES), THE SEASONAL CHANGES OF KOPPENS "C", "D" AND
"E"
CLIMATES