Köppen climate classification - wikipedia Köppen climate classification An updated Köppen -- Geiger climate map Af Am Aw / As BWh BWk BSh BSk Csa Csb Cwa Cwb Cwc Cfa Cfb Cfc Dsa Dsb Dsc Dsd Dwa Dwb Dwc Dwd Dfa Dfb Dfc Dfd ET EF The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by the climatologist Wladimir Köppen ( 1846 - 1940 ) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notably in 1918 and 1936. Later, the climatologist Rudolf Geiger ( 1954, 1961 ) introduced some changes to the classification system, which is thus sometimes called the Köppen -- Geiger climate classification system. The Köppen climate classification divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five main groups are A ( tropical ), B ( dry ), C ( temperate ), D ( continental ), and E ( polar ). Each group and subgroup is represented by a letter. All climates are assigned a main group ( the first letter ). All climates except for those in the E group are assigned a seasonal precipitation subgroup ( the second letter ). For example, Af indicates a tropical rainforest climate. The system assigns a temperature subgroup for all groups other than those in the A group, indicated by the third letter for climates in B, C, and D, and the second letter for climates in E. For example, Cfb indicates an oceanic climate with warm summers as indicated by the ending b. Climates are classified based on specific criteria unique to each climate type. Köppen designed the system based on his experience as a botanist, so the main climate groups are based on the different variety of vegetation that grows in climates belonging to each group. In addition to identifying climates, the system can be used to analyze ecosystem conditions and identify the main types of vegetation within climates. Due to its link with the plant life of a region, the system is useful in predicting future changes in plant life within a region. The Köppen climate classification system has been further modified, within the Trewartha climate classification system in the middle 1960s ( revised in 1980 ). The Trewartha system sought to create a more refined middle latitude climate zone, which was one of the criticisms of the Köppen system ( the C climate group was too broad ). Contents 1 Meaning of symbols 2 Scheme 2.1 Group A : Tropical / megathermal climates 2.1. 1 Tropical rainforest climate 2.1. 2 Tropical monsoon climate 2.1. 3 Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate 2.2 Group B : Dry ( desert and semi-arid ) climates 2.3 Group C : Temperate / mesothermal climates 2.3. 1 Mediterranean climates 2.3. 2 Humid subtropical climates 2.3. 3 Oceanic climate 2.3. 4 Highland climates 2.4 Group D: Continental / microthermal climates 2.4. 1 Hot summer continental climates 2.4. 2 Warm summer continental or hemiboreal climates 2.4. 3 Subarctic or boreal climates 2.5 Group E : Polar climates 3 Ecological significance 4 Trewartha climate classification scheme 5 Other Köppen climate maps 6 See also 7 References 8 External links 8.1 Climate records Meaning of symbols Köppen climate classification scheme symbols description table 1st 2nd 3rd A ( Tropical ) f ( Rainforest ) m ( Monsoon ) w ( Savanna, Wet ) s ( Savanna, Dry ) B ( Arid ) W ( Desert ) S ( Steppe ) h ( Hot ) k ( Cold ) n ( With frequent fog ) C ( Temperate ) s ( Dry summer ) w ( Dry winter ) f ( Without dry season ) a ( Hot summer ) b ( Warm summer ) c ( Cold summer ) D ( Cold ( continental ) ) s ( Dry summer ) w ( Dry winter ) f ( Without dry season ) a ( Hot summer ) b ( Warm summer ) c ( Cold summer ) d ( Very cold winter ) E ( Polar ) T ( Tundra ) F ( Eternal winter ( ice cap ) ) The Köppen climate classification scheme divides climates into five main climate groups : A ( tropical ), B ( dry ), C ( temperate ), D ( continental ), and E ( polar ). The second letter indicates the seasonal precipitation type, while the third letter indicates the level of heat. Group A : Tropical ( megathermal ) climates This type of climate has every month of the year with an average temperature of 18 ° C ( 64.4 ° F ) or higher, with significant precipitation. Af = Tropical rainforest climate ; average precipitation of at least 60 mm ( 2.4 in ) in every month. Am = Tropical monsoon climate ; driest month ( which nearly always occurs at or soon after the `` winter '' solstice for that side of the equator ) with precipitation less than 60 mm ( 2.4 in ), but more than 4 % the total annual precipitation. Aw or As = Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate ; with the driest month having precipitation less than 60 mm ( 2.4 in ) and less than 4 % of the total annual precipitation. Group B : Dry ( arid and semiarid ) climates This type of climate is defined by little precipitation. Multiply the average annual temperature in Celsius by 20, then add ( a ) 280 if 70 % or more of the total precipitation is in the spring and summer months ( April -- September in the Northern Hemisphere, or October -- March in the Southern ), or ( b ) 140 if 30 % -- 70 % of the total precipitation is received during the spring and summer, or ( c ) 0 if less than 30 % of the total precipitation is received during the spring and summer. If the annual precipitation is less than 50 % of this threshold, the classification is BW ( arid : desert climate ) ; if it is in the range of 50 % -- 100 % of the threshold, the classification is BS ( semi-arid : steppe climate ). A third letter can be included to indicate temperature. Originally, h signified low - latitude climate ( average annual temperature above 18 ° C ( 64.4 ° F ) ) while k signified middle - latitude climate ( average annual temperature below 18 ° C ), but the more common practice today, especially in the United States, is to use h to mean the coldest month has an average temperature above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), with k denoting that at least one month 's averages below 0 ° C ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ). The n is used to denote a climate characterized by frequent fog. BWh = Hot desert climate BWk = Cold desert climate BWn = Desert climate with frequent fog BSh = Hot semi-arid climate BSk = Cold semi-arid climate BSn = Semi-arid climate with frequent fog Group C : Temperate ( mesothermal ) climates This type of climate has the coldest month averaging between 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 18 ° C ( 64.4 ° F ) and at least one month averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). Cfa = Humid subtropical climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), at least one month 's average temperature above 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). No significant precipitation difference between seasons ( neither abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled ). No dry months in the summer. Cfb = Temperate oceanic climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), all months with average temperatures below 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). No significant precipitation difference between seasons ( neither abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled ). Cfc = Subpolar oceanic climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). No significant precipitation difference between seasons ( neither abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled ). Cwa = Monsoon - influenced humid subtropical climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), at least one month 's average temperature above 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter ( alternative definition is 70 % or more of average annual precipitation is received in the warmest six months ). Cwb = Subtropical highland climate or Monsoon - influenced temperate oceanic climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), all months with average temperatures below 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter ( an alternative definition is 70 % or more of average annual precipitation received in the warmest six months ). Cwc = Cold subtropical highland climate or Monsoon - influenced subpolar oceanic climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter ( alternative definition is 70 % or more of average annual precipitation is received in the warmest six months ). Csa = Hot - summer Mediterranean climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), at least one month 's average temperature above 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and driest month of summer receives less than 30 mm ( 1.2 in ). Csb = Warm - summer Mediterranean climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), all months with average temperatures below 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and driest month of summer receives less than 30 mm ( 1.2 in ). Csc = Cool - summer Mediterranean climate ; coldest month averaging above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and driest month of summer receives less than 30 mm ( 1.2 in ). Group D: Continental ( microthermal ) climates This type of climate has at least one month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and at least one month averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). Dfa = Hot - summer humid continental climate ; coldest month averaging below − 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), at least one month 's average temperature above 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). No significant precipitation difference between seasons ( neither abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled ). Dfb = Warm - summer humid continental climate ; coldest month averaging below − 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), all months with average temperatures below 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). No significant precipitation difference between seasons ( neither abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled ). Dfc = Subarctic climate ; coldest month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). No significant precipitation difference between seasons ( neither abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled ). Dfd = Extremely cold subarctic climate ; coldest month averaging below − 38 ° C ( − 36.4 ° F ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). No significant precipitation difference between seasons ( neither abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled ). Dwa = Monsoon - influenced hot - summer humid continental climate ; coldest month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), at least one month 's average temperature above 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter ( alternative definition is 70 % or more of average annual precipitation is received in the warmest six months ). Dwb = Monsoon - influenced warm - summer humid continental climate ; coldest month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), all months with average temperatures below 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ), and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter ( alternative definition is 70 % or more of average annual precipitation is received in the warmest six months ). Dwc = Monsoon - influenced subarctic climate ; coldest month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter ( alternative definition is 70 % or more of average annual precipitation is received in the warmest six months ). Dwd = Monsoon - influenced extremely cold subarctic climate ; coldest month averaging below − 38 ° C ( − 36.4 ° F ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter ( alternative definition is 70 % or more of average annual precipitation is received in the warmest six months ). Dsa = Mediterranean - influenced hot - summer humid continental climate ; coldest month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), average temperature of the warmest month above 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ) and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and driest month of summer receives less than 30 mm ( 1.2 in ). Dsb = Mediterranean - influenced warm - summer humid continental climate ; coldest month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), average temperature of the warmest month below 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ) and at least four months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and driest month of summer receives less than 30 mm ( 1.2 in ). Dsc = subarctic climate ; coldest month averaging below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and driest month of summer receives less than 30 mm ( 1.2 in ). Dsd = extremely cold, subarctic climate ; coldest month averaging below − 38 ° C ( − 36.4 ° F ) and 1 -- 3 months averaging above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and driest month of summer receives less than 30 mm ( 1.2 in ). Group E : Polar and alpine ( montane ) climates This type of climate has every month of the year with an average temperature below 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). ET = Tundra climate ; average temperature of warmest month between 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ) and 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). EF = Ice cap climate ; eternal winter, with all 12 months of the year with average temperatures below 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ). Scheme Group 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 ( 64.4 ° F ) or higher. They are subdivided as follows : Tropical rainforest climate Main article : Tropical rainforest climate All 12 months have an average precipitation of at least 60 mm ( 2.4 in ). These climates usually occur within 10 ° latitude of the equator. This climate is dominated by the doldrums low - pressure system all year round, so has no natural seasons in terms of thermal and moisture changes. Examples Apia, Samoa ( Af ) Balikpapan, Indonesia ( Af ) Davao, Philippines ( Af ) Georgetown, Guyana ( Af ) Hilo, Hawaii, United States ( Af ) Honiara, Solomon Islands ( Af ) Innisfail, Queensland, Australia ( Af ) Kampala, Uganda ( Af ) Kisumu, Kenya ( Af ) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ( Af ) Kuching, Malaysia ( Af ) Lae, Papua New Guinea ( Af ) Medan, Indonesia ( Af ) Medellín, Colombia ( Af ) Moroni, Comoros ( Af ) Paramaribo, Suriname ( Af ) Pontianak, Indonesia ( Af ) Quibdó, Colombia ( Af ) Ratnapura, Sri Lanka ( Af ) Salvador da Bahia, Brazil ( Af ) Santos, Brazil ( Af ) Singapore ( Af ) Suva, Fiji ( Af ) Toamasina, Madagascar ( Af ) Victoria, Seychelles ( Af ) West Palm Beach, Florida, United States ( Af ) Some of the places with this climate are indeed uniformly and monotonously wet throughout the year ( e.g., the northwest Pacific coast of South and Central America, from Ecuador to Costa Rica ; see, for instance, Andagoya, Colombia ), but in many cases, the period of higher sun and longer days is distinctly wettest ( as at Palembang, Indonesia ) or the time of lower sun and shorter days may have more rain ( as at Sitiawan, Malaysia ). ( Note. The term aseasonal refers to the lack in the tropical zone of large differences in daylight hours and mean monthly ( or daily ) temperature throughout the year. Annual cyclic changes occur in the tropics, but not as predictably as those in the temperate zone, albeit unrelated to temperature, but to water availability whether as rain, mist, soil, or ground water. Plant response ( e.g., phenology ), animal ( feeding, migration, reproduction, etc. ), and human activities ( plant sowing, harvesting, hunting, fishing, etc. ) are tuned to this ' seasonality '. Indeed, in tropical South America and Central America, the ' rainy season ' ( and the ' high water season ' ) is called invierno or inverno, though it could occur in the Northern Hemisphere summer ; likewise, the ' dry season ' ( and ' low water season ' ) is called verano or verão, and can occur in the Northern Hemisphere winter ). Tropical Monsoon climate Main article : Tropical monsoon climate This type of climate 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 ​ ⁄ the total annual precipitation. Examples Cairns, Queensland, Australia ( Am ) Chittagong, Bangladesh ( Am ) Coatzacoalcos, Mexico ( Am ) Conakry, Guinea ( Am ) Douala, Cameroon ( Am ) Freetown, Sierre Leone ( Am ) Guanare, Venezuela ( Am ) Huế, Thừa Thiên -- Huế, Vietnam ( Am ) Jakarta, Indonesia ( Am ) Kochi, India ( Am ) Libreville, Gabon ( Am ) Malabo, Equatorial Guinea ( Am ) Malé, Maldives ( Am ) Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil ( Am ) Miami, Florida, United States ( Am ) Monrovia, Liberia ( Am ) Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria ( Am ) Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela ( Am ) Qionghai City, China ( Am ) San Juan, Puerto Rico ( Am ) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ( Am ) Taitung, Taiwan ( Am ) Yangon, Myanmar ( Am ) Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate Main article : Tropical savanna climate Aw climates have a pronounced dry season, with the driest month having precipitation less than 60 mm and less than ​ ⁄ of the total annual precipitation. Examples Abidjan, Ivory Coast ( Aw, bordering on Am ) Abuja, Nigeria ( Aw ) Accra, Ghana ( Aw ) Bamako, Mali ( Aw ) Bangkok, Thailand ( Aw ) Banjul, The Gambia ( Aw ) Barquisimeto, Venezuela ( Aw ) Brasília, Brazil ( Aw ) Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo ( Aw ) Bujumbura, Burundi ( Aw ) Cali, Colombia ( Aw ) Cancun, Mexico ( Aw ) Caracas, Venezuela ( Aw ) Cartagena, Colombia ( Aw ) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India ( Aw ) Dar es Salaam, Tanzania ( Aw ) Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia ( Aw ) Dhaka, Bangladesh ( Aw ) Dili, East Timor ( Aw ) Guatemala City, Guatemala ( Aw ) Guayaquil, Ecuador ( Aw ) Havana, Cuba ( Aw, bordering on Am ) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ( Aw ) Kano, Nigeria ( Aw ) Kaohsiung, Taiwan ( Aw ) Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia ( Aw ) Key West, Florida, United States ( Aw ) Kigali, Rwanda ( Aw ) Kingston, Jamaica ( Aw ) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo ( Aw ) Kolkata, West Bengal, India ( Aw ) Kumasi, Ghana ( Aw ) Kupang, Indonesia ( Aw ) Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria ( Aw ) Managua, Nicaragua ( Aw ) Maputo, Mozambique ( Aw ) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India ( Aw ) Naples, Florida, United States ( Aw ) Panamá City, Panamá ( Aw ) Phnom Penh, Cambodia ( Aw ) Port - au - Prince, Haiti ( Aw ) Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago ( Aw ) Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil ( Aw ) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ( Aw, bordering on Am ) Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia ( Aw ) Sanya, Hainan, China ( Aw ) Surabaya, Indonesia ( Aw ) Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico ( Aw ) Vientiane, Laos ( Aw ) Yaoundé, Cameroon ( Aw ) Most places that have this climate are found at the outer margins of the tropical zone from the low teens to the mid-20s latitudes, but occasionally an inner - tropical location ( e.g., San Marcos, Antioquia, Colombia ) also qualifies. Actually, the Caribbean coast, eastward from the Gulf of Urabá on the Colombia -- Panamá border to the Orinoco River delta, on the Atlantic Ocean ( about 4,000 km ), have long dry periods ( the extreme is the BSh climate ( see below ), characterised by very low, unreliable precipitation, present, for instance, in extensive areas in the Guajira, and Coro, western Venezuela, the northernmost peninsulas in South America, which receive < 300 mm total annual precipitation, practically all in two or three months ). This condition extends to the Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles forming the circum - Caribbean dry belt. The length and severity of the dry season diminishes inland ( southward ) ; at the latitude of the Amazon River -- which flows eastward, just south of the equatorial line -- the climate is Af. East from the Andes, between the dry, arid Caribbean and the ever - wet Amazon are the Orinoco River 's llanos or savannas, from where this climate takes its name. Sometimes As is used in place of Aw if the dry season occurs during the time of higher sun and longer days. This is the case in parts of Hawaii, northwestern Dominican Republic, East Africa, and the Brazilian Northeastern Coast. In most places that have tropical wet and dry climates, however, the dry season occurs during the time of lower sun and shorter days because of rain shadow effects during the ' high - sun ' part of the year. Examples Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic ( As ) Recife, Brazil ( As ) Natal, Brazil ( As ) Trincomalee, Sri Lanka ( As ) Mombasa, Kenya ( As ) Group B : dry ( desert and semi-arid ) climates Main articles : Desert climate and Semi-arid climate These climates are characterized by actual precipitation less than a threshold value set equal to the potential evapotranspiration. The threshold value ( in millimeters ) is determined as : Multiply the average annual temperature in ° C by 20, then add ( a ) 280 if 70 % or more of the total precipitation is in the high - sun half of the year ( April through September in the Northern Hemisphere, or October through March in the Southern ), or ( b ) 140 if 30 % -- 70 % of the total precipitation is received during the applicable period, or ( c ) 0 if less than 30 % of the total precipitation is so received. According to the modified Köppen classification system used by modern climatologists, total precipitation in the warmest six months of the year is taken as reference instead of the total precipitation in the high - sun half of the year. If the annual precipitation is less than 50 % of this threshold, the classification is BW ( arid : desert climate ) ; if it is in the range of 50 % -- 100 % of the threshold, the classification is BS ( semi-arid : steppe climate ). A third letter can be included to indicate temperature. Originally, h signified low - latitude climate ( average annual temperature above 18 ° C ) while k signified middle - latitude climate ( average annual temperature below 18 ° C ), but the more common practice today, especially in the United States, is to use h to mean the coldest month has an average temperature above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ), with k denoting that at least one month averages below 0 ° C. Desert areas situated along the west coasts of continents at tropical or near - tropical locations are characterized by cooler temperatures than encountered elsewhere at comparable latitudes ( due to the nearby presence of cold ocean currents ) and frequent fog and low clouds, despite the fact that these places rank among the driest on earth in terms of actual precipitation received. This climate is sometimes labelled BWn. The BSn category can be found in foggy coastal steppes. Desert climate examples Coober Pedy, Australia ( BWh ) Alice Springs, Australia ( BWh ) Almería, Andalusia, Spain ( BWh, bordering on BSh ) Baghdad, Iraq ( BWh ) Upington, Northern Cape South Africa ( BWh ) Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico ( BWh ) Phoenix, Arizona, United States ( BWh ) Death Valley, California, United States ( BWh ), location of the hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States ( BWh ) Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain ( BWh ) Eilat, Southern District, Israel ( BWh ) ' Aziziya, Jafara, Libya ( BWh ) Karachi, Pakistan ( BWh ) Doha, Qatar ( BWh ) Mecca, Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia ( BWh ) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ( BWh ) Kuwait City, Capital Governorate, Kuwait ( BWh ) Dubai, United Arab Emirates ( BWh ) Muscat, Oman ( BWh ) Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ( BWh ) Cairo, Egypt ( BWh ) Alexandria, Egypt ( BWh ) Khartoum, Sudan ( BWh ) Djibouti City, Djibouti ( BWh ) Nouakchott, Mauritania ( BWh ) Timbuktu, Mali ( BWh ) Turpan, Xinjiang, China ( BWk ) Leh, India ( BWk ) Nukus, Uzbekistan ( BWk ) Aktau, Kazakhstan ( BWk ) Damascus, Syria ( BWk ) Lima, Peru ( BWn ) Walvis Bay, Erongo Region, Namibia ( BWn ) Semi-arid examples Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan ( BSh ) Jodhpur, India ( BSh ) Oranjestad, Aruba ( BSh ) Alicante, Spain ( BSh ) Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain ( BSh ) Ivanhoe, New South Wales, Australia ( BSh ) Honolulu, Hawaii, United States ( BSh ) Odessa, Texas, United States ( BSh ) Monterrey, Mexico, ( BSh ) Querétaro City, Querétaro, Mexico ( BSh ) Maracaibo, Venezuela ( BSh ) Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil ( BSh ) Piraeus, Greece ( BSh ) Nicosia, Cyprus ( BSh ) Amman, Amman Governorate, Jordan ( BSh ) Tripoli, Libya ( BSh ) Mogadishu, Somalia ( BSh ) Dakar, Senegal ( BSh ) Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ( BSh ) Niamey, Niger ( BSh ) N'Djamena, Chad ( BSh ) Luanda, Angola ( BSh ) Windhoek, Namibia ( BSh ) Yerevan, Armenia ( BSk bordering Dfa ) Baku, Azerbaijan ( BSk ) Denver, Colorado, United States ( BSk ) Zaragoza, Spain ( BSk ) Konya, Turkey ( BSk ) Zacatecas City, Zacatecas, Mexico ( BSk ) Ulan - Ude, Russia ( BSk ) Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada ( BSk ) Brooks, Alberta, Canada ( BSk ) Kabul, Afghanistan ( BSk ) Aleppo, Syria ( BSk ) Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China ( BSk ) Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China ( BSk bordering on Dwb ) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia ( BSk bordering on Dwb ) Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina ( BSk ) La Quiaca, Jujuy, Argentina ( BSk ) L'Agulhas, Western Cape, South Africa ( BSn ) Sana'a, Yemen ( BSk ) On occasion, a fourth letter is added to indicate if either the winter or summer half of the year is `` wetter '' than the other half. To qualify, the wettest month must have at least 60 mm ( 2.4 in ) of average precipitation if all 12 months are above 18 ° C ( 64 ° F ), or 30 mm ( 1.2 in ) if not ; plus at least 70 % of the total precipitation must be in the same half of the year as the wettest month -- but the letter used indicates when the ' dry ' season occurs, not the ' wet ' one. This would result in Khartoum, Sudan, being reckoned as BWhw ; Niamey, Niger, as BShw ; Alexandria, Egypt, as BWhs ; Asbi'ah, Libya, as BShs ; Ömnögovi Province, Mongolia, as BWkw ; and Xining, Qinghai, China, as BSkw ( BWks and BSks do not exist if 0 ° C in the coldest month is recognized as the h / k boundary. ) If the standards for neither w nor s are met, no fourth letter is added. Group C : temperate / mesothermal climates Main article : Temperate climate In the Koppen climate system, temperate climates are defined as having an average temperature above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( or − 3 ° C ( 26.6 ° F ), as noted previously ) in their coldest month but below 18 ° C ( 64.4 ° F ). The average temperature of − 3 ° C ( 26.6 ° F ) roughly coincides with the equatorward limit of frozen ground and snowcover lasting for a month or more. The second letter indicates the precipitation pattern -- w indicates dry winters ( driest winter month average precipitation less than one - tenth wettest summer month average precipitation. s indicates at least three times as much rain in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer. f means significant precipitation in all seasons ( neither above - mentioned set of conditions fulfilled ). The third letter indicates the degree of summer heat -- a indicates warmest month average temperature above 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ) while b indicates warmest month averaging below 22 ° C. Mediterranean climates Main article : Mediterranean climate These climates usually occur on the western sides of continents between the latitudes of 30 ° and 45 °. 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. Examples Beirut, Lebanon ( Csa ) Latakia, Syria ( Csa ) Halabja, Iraq ( Csa ) Jerusalem, Israel ( Csa ) Tel Aviv, Israel ( Csa ) Ramallah, Palestine ( Csa ) Tangier, Morocco ( Csa ) Casablanca, Morocco ( Csa ) Algiers, Algeria ( Csa ) Valletta, Malta ( Csa ) Rome, Italy ( Csa ) Naples, Italy ( Csa ) Seville, Spain ( Csa ) Málaga, Spain ( Csa ) Palma de Mallorca, Spain ( Csa ) Lisbon, Portugal ( Csa ) Faro, Portugal ( Csa ) Monaco ( Csa ) Marseille, France ( Csa ) Nice, France ( Csa ) Athens, Greece ( Csa bordering on BSh ) Tunis, Tunisia ( Csa ) Antalya, Turkey ( Csa ) Izmir, Turkey ( Csa ) Tashkent, Uzbekistan ( Csa ) Dushanbe, Tajikistan ( Csa ) Rasht, Gilan Province, Iran ( Csa ) Los Angeles, California, United States ( Csa / Csb bordering on BSh / BSk ) Sacramento, California, United States ( Csa ) Medford, Oregon, United States ( Csa ) Perth, Australia ( Csa ) Adelaide, Australia ( Csa ) Dry - summer climates sometimes extend to additional areas ( sometimes well north, or south of ) typical Mediterranean climates, however the warmest month mean does not reach 22 ° C ( 71.6 ° F ) they are classified as ( Csb ). Some of these areas would border the Oceanic climate ( Cfb ), except their dry - summer patterns meet Köppen 's Cs minimum thresholds. Examples Santiago, Chile ( Csb bordering BSk ) A Coruña, Spain ( Csb ) Essaouira, Morocco ( Csb ) Porto, Portugal ( Csb ) Potenza, Italy ( Csb ) San Francisco, California, United States ( Csb ) Santa Barbara, California, United States ( Csb ) Seattle, Washington, United States ( Csb ) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada ( Csb ) Cape Town, South Africa ( Csb ) Albany, Western Australia, Australia ( Csb ) Cold - summer Mediterranean climates ( Csc ) exist in high - elevation areas adjacent to coastal Csb climate areas, where the strong maritime influence prevents the average winter monthly temperature from dropping below 0 ° C. This climate is rare and is predominantly found in climate fringes and isolated areas of the Cascades and Andes Mountains, as the dry - summer climate extends further poleward in the Americas than elsewhere. Rare instances of this climate can be found in some coastal locations in the North Atlantic and at high altitudes in Hawaii. Examples Balmaceda, Chile ( Csc ) Haleakalā Summit, Hawaii, United States ( Csc ) Humid subtropical climates Main article : Humid subtropical climate These climates usually occur on the eastern coasts and eastern sides of continents, usually in the high 20s and 30s latitudes. Unlike the dry summer Mediterranean climates, humid subtropical 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 southerly 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 the more southerly subtropical climates like the far southern United States, southern China and Japan. Examples Buenos Aires, Argentina ( Cfa ) Montevideo, Uruguay ( Cfa ) Asunción, Paraguay ( Cfa, bordering on Aw ) Campinas, Brazil ( Cfa ) Porto Alegre, Brazil ( Cfa ) São Paulo, Brazil ( Cfa ) Brisbane, Australia ( Cfa ) Sydney, Australia ( Cfa ) Albury, Australia ( Cfa ) Washington DC, United States ( Cfa ) Orlando, Florida, United States ( Cfa ) Dallas, Texas, United States ( Cfa ) Astara, Azerbaijan ( Cfa ) Horta, Azores, Portugal ( Cfa ) Flores Island, Azores, Portugal ( Cfa, bordering on Cfb ) Adapazarı, Turkey ( Cfa ) Belgrade, Serbia ( Cfa ) Lugano, Switzerland ( Cfa, bordering on Cfb ) Sochi, Russia ( Cfa ) Kutaisi, Georgia ( Cfa ) Koper, Slovenia ( Cfa ) Kozani, Greece ( Cfa ) Milan, Italy ( Cfa ) Venice, Italy ( Cfa ) Srinagar, India ( Cfa ) Shanghai, China ( Cfa ) Taipei, Taiwan ( Cfa ) Tokyo, Japan ( Cfa ) Osaka, Japan ( Cfa ) Durban, South Africa ( Cfa ) Subtropical - Dry Winter ( Cwa ) is monsoonal influenced, having the classic dry winter / wet summer pattern associated with tropical monsoonal climates. Examples Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo ( Cwa ) Lusaka, Zambia ( Cwa ) Córdoba, Argentina ( Cwa ) Santiago del Estero, Argentina ( Cwa ) Mackay, Queensland, Australia ( Cwa ) Islamabad, Pakistan ( Cwa ) Sialkot, Pakistan ( Cwa ) New Delhi, India ( Cwa ) Patna, India ( Cwa ) Imphal, India ( Cwa ) Kathmandu, Nepal ( Cwa ) Haikou, China ( Cwa ) Zhengzhou, China ( Cwa ) Chengdu, Sichuan, China ( Cwa ) Hong Kong ( Cwa ) Taunggyi, Myanmar ( Cwa ) Hanoi, Vietnam ( Cwa ) Guadalajara, Mexico ( Cwa ) Oceanic climate Main article : Oceanic climate Cfb climates usually occur in the higher middle latitudes on the western sides of continents between the latitudes of 40 ° 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 63 ° N in Norway. These climates are dominated all year round by the polar front, leading to changeable, often overcast weather. Summers are mild due to cool ocean currents, although hotter, stable weather patterns can set in for periods of time, typically longer at the lower latitude range in the northern hemisphere. Winters are milder than other climates in similar latitudes, but usually very cloudy however not always wet. 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 ''. Examples Paris, France ( Cfb ) Bordeaux, France ( Cfb ) Dunkirk, France ( Cfb ) Skagen, Denmark ( Cfb, bordering on Dfb ) Copenhagen, Denmark ( Cfb, bordering on Dfb ) Bergen, Hordaland, Norway ( Cfb ) Berlin, Germany ( Cfb ) Cologne, Germany ( Cfb ) Munich, Bavaria, Germany ( Cfb, bordering on Dfb ) Vienna, Austria ( Cfb ) Zürich, Switzerland ( Cfb, bordering on Dfb ) Vaduz, Liechtenstein ( Cfb ) London, United Kingdom ( Cfb ) Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom ( Cfb ) Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom ( Cfb ) Dublin, Ireland ( Cfb ) Brussels, Belgium ( Cfb ) Amsterdam, Netherlands ( Cfb ) Luxembourg City, Luxembourg ( Cfb ) Bilbao, Spain ( Cfb ) Santiago de Compostela, Spain ( Cfb ) Andorra la Vella, Andorra ( Cfb ) Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal ( Cfb, bordering on Cfa ) Zagreb, Croatia ( Cfb, bordering on Dfb ) Ljubljana, Slovenia ( Cfb, bordering on Cfa, Cfb and Dfb ) Zonguldak, Turkey ( Cfb ) Auckland, North Island, New Zealand ( Cfb ) Wellington, New Zealand ( Cfb ) Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada ( Cfb ) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ( Cfb, bordering on Csb ) Forks, Washington, United States ( Cfb ) Ketchikan, Alaska, United States ( Cfb ) Block Island, Rhode Island, United States ( Cfb ) George, Western Cape, South Africa ( Cfb ) Port Elizabeth, South Africa ( Cfb ) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ( Cfb ) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia ( Cfb ) Collinsvale, Tasmania, Australia ( Cfb bordering on Cfc ) Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina ( Cfb ) Valdivia, Los Ríos Region, Chile ( Cfb ) Subpolar oceanic climates ( Cfc ) occur poleward of or at higher elevations than the maritime temperate climates, and are mostly confined either to narrow coastal strips on the western poleward margins of the continents, or, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, to islands off such coasts. They occur in both hemispheres, most often at latitudes from 60 ° north and south to 70 ° north and south. Examples Reykjavík, Iceland ( Cfc, borders on Dfc ) Tórshavn, Faroe Islands ( Cfc ) Røst, Norway ( Cfc ) Mount Read, Tasmania, Australia ( Cfc, borders on ET ) Auckland Islands, New Zealand ( Cfc ) Punta Arenas, Chile ( Cfc ) Unalaska, Alaska, United States ( Cfc ) Highland climates Dry - winter highland climate ( Cwb ) is a type of climate mainly found in highlands inside the tropics of Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Madagascar, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa or central Argentina and areas outside of the tropics ( such as in the subtropics ). Winters are noticeable and dry, and summers can be very rainy. In the tropics, the rainy season is provoked by the tropical air masses and the dry winters by subtropical high pressure. Examples Da Lat, Vietnam ( Cwb ) Shimla, India ( Cwb ) Thimphu, Bhutan ( Cwb ) Mokhotlong, Lesotho ( Cwb ) Mbabane, Swaziland ( Cwb ) Nairobi, Kenya ( Cwb ) Baguio, Philippines ( Cwb ) Kunming, China ( Cwb ) Mexico City, Mexico ( Cwb ) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ( Cwb ) Harare, Zimbabwe ( Cwb ) Antananarivo, Madagascar ( Cwb ) Johannesburg, South Africa ( Cwb ) Cusco, Peru ( Cwb ) La Paz, Bolivia ( Cwb bordering on Cwc ) Salta, Argentina ( Cwb ) Highland climates with uniform rainfall ( Cfb ) are a type of oceanic climate mainly found in highlands of Australia, such as in or around the Great Dividing Range in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, and also sparsely in other continents, such as in South America, among others. Unlike a typical Cwb climate, they tend to have rainfall spread evenly throughout the year. They have characteristics of both the Cfb and Cfa climates. Though unlike these climates, they have a high diurnal temperature variation and low humidity, owing to their inland location and relatively high elevation. Examples Quito, Pichincha Province, Ecuador ( Cfb ) Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia ( Cfb ) Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil ( Cfb ) São Joaquim, Santa Catarina, Brazil ( Cfb ) Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil ( Cfb ) Boone, North Carolina, United States ( Cfb ) Constanza, Dominican Republic ( Cfb ) Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia ( Cfb ) Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia ( Cfb ) Orange, New South Wales, Australia ( Cfb ) Cameron Highlands, Malaysia ( Cfb ) Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka ( Cfb ) Mendi, Papua New Guinea ( Cfb ) Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea ( Cfb ) Group d: Continental / microthermal climates Main article : Continental climate The snowy city of Sapporo These climates have an average temperature above 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ) in their warmest months, and a coldest month average below 0 ° C ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ), as noted previously ). These usually occur in the interiors of continents and on their upper east coasts, normally north of 40 ° N. 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 40 -- 60 ° S, existing only in some highland locations. Hot summer continental climates Main article : Hot - summer humid continental climate Dfa climates usually occur in the high 30s and low 40s latitudes, with a qualifying average temperature in the warmest month of greater than 22 ° C / 72 ° F. In Europe, these climates tend to be much drier than in North America. In eastern Asia, Dwa climates extend further south due to the influence of the Siberian high pressure system, which also causes winters there to be dry, and summers can be very wet because of monsoon circulation. Dsa exists at higher elevations adjacent to areas with hot summer Mediterranean ( Csa ) climates. Examples Almaty, Kazakhstan ( Dfa ) Oral, Kazakhstan ( Dfa ) Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan ( Dfa ) Nagano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan ( Dfa ) Sapporo, Japan ( Dfa, bordering on Dfb ) Chicago, Illinois, United States ( Dfa ) Boston, Massachusetts, United States ( Dfa ) Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States ( Dfa ) Toronto, Ontario, Canada ( Dfa, bordering on Dfb ) Montreal, Quebec, Canada ( Dfa, bordering on Dfb ) Windsor, Ontario, Canada ( Dfa ) Bucharest, Romania ( Dfa ) Rostov - on - Don, Russia ( Dfa ) Volgograd, Russia ( Dfa ) Pyongyang, North Korea ( Dwa ) Seoul, South Korea ( Dwa ) Beijing, China ( Dwa ) Harbin, China ( Dwa ) Tianjin, China ( Dwa ) Dsa exists only at higher elevations adjacent to areas with hot summer Mediterranean ( Csa ) climates. Examples Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan ( Dsa ) Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, Iran ( Dsa ) Arak, Markazi Province, Iran ( Dsa ) Hakkâri, Turkey ( Dsa ) Muş, Turkey ( Dsa ) Cambridge, Idaho, United States ( Dsa ) Warm summer continental or hemiboreal climates Main article : Warm - summer humid continental climate Dfb and Dwb climates are immediately poleward of hot summer continental climates, generally in the high 40s and low 50s latitudes in North America and Asia, and also extending to higher latitudes in central and eastern Europe and Russia, between the maritime temperate and continental subarctic climates, where it extends up to 65 degrees latitude in places. Examples Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan ( Dfb ) Karaganda, Kazakhstan ( Dfb ) Stockholm, Sweden ( Dfb ) Oslo, Norway ( Dfb ) Lillehammer, Norway ( Dfb ) Helsinki, Finland ( Dfb ) Tallinn, Estonia ( Dfb ) Riga, Latvia ( Dfb ) Vilnius, Lithuania ( Dfb ) Kiev, Ukraine ( Dfb ) Budapest, Hungary ( Dfb ) Moscow, Russia ( Dfb ) Kaliningrad, Russia ( Dfb ) Saint Petersburg, Russia ( Dfb ) Minsk, Belarus ( Dfb ) Warsaw, Poland ( Dfb ) Pristina, Kosovo ( Dfb ) Erzurum, Turkey ( Dfb ) Ardahan, Turkey ( Dfb ) Calgary, Alberta, Canada ( Dfb ) Quebec City, Quebec, Canada ( Dfb ) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ( Dfb ) Buffalo, New York, United States ( Dfb ) Portland, Maine, United States ( Dfb ) Marquette, Michigan, United States ( Dfb ) Heihe, China ( Dwb ) Vladivostok, Russia ( Dwb ) Irkutsk, Russia ( Dwb ) Baruunturuun, Mongolia ( Dwb ) Pyeongchang County, South Korea ( Dwb ) Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, United States ( Dwb ) Dsb arises from the same scenario as Dsa, but at even higher altitudes or latitudes, and chiefly in North America, since the Mediterranean climates extend further poleward than in Eurasia. Examples Sivas, Turkey ( Dsb ) Roghun, Tajikistan ( Dsb ) Dras, India ( Dsb ) Flagstaff, Arizona, United States ( Dsb ) South Lake Tahoe, California, United States ( Dsb ) Wallace, Idaho, United States ( Dsb ) Subarctic or boreal climates Main article : Subarctic climate Dfc, Dsc and Dwc climates occur poleward of the other group D climates, generally in the 50 and low 60 degrees of North latitude. In some places, it extends northward to beyond 70 ° N latitude. Examples : Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada ( Dfc ) Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada ( Dfc ) Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( Dfc ) Anchorage, Alaska, United States ( Dfc ) Fairbanks, Alaska, United States ( Dfc ) Fraser, Colorado, United States ( Dfc ) Mount Buller, Victoria, Australia ( Dfc ) Charlotte Pass, New South Wales, Australia ( Dfc ) Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast, Russia ( Dfc ) Arkhangelsk, Russia ( Dfc ) Aldan, Russia ( Dfc ) Tromsø, Norway ( Dfc ) St. Moritz, Grisons, Switzerland ( Dfc ) Kangerlussuaq, Greenland ( Dfc ) Homer, Alaska, United States ( Dsc ) Bodie, California, United States ( Dsc ) Brian Head, Utah, United States ( Dsc ) Mohe County, Heilongjiang, China ( Dwc ) Yushu City, Qinghai, China ( Dwc ) Mörön, Mongolia ( Dwc ) Lukla, Nepal ( Dwc ) Places with this climate ( Dfd, Dwd, Dsd ) have severe winters, with the temperature in their coldest month lower than − 38 ° C. These climates occur only in eastern Siberia. The names of some of the places with this climate have become veritable synonyms for extreme, severe winter cold. Examples Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia ( Dfd ) Verkhoyansk, Sakha Republic, Russia ( Dfd ) Amga, Sakha Republic, Russia ( Dfd ) Oymyakon, Sakha Republic, Russia ( Dwd ) Seymchan, Magadan Oblast, Russia ( Dwd ) Group E : polar climates In the Köppen climate system, polar climates are defined as the warmest temperature of any month is below 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ). Polar climates are further divided into two types, tundra climates and icecap climates : Tundra climate ( ET and ETf ) : Warmest month has an average temperature between 0 and 10 ° C. These climates occur on the northern edges of the North American and Eurasian land masses ( generally north of 70 ° N although it may be found farther south depending on local conditions ), and on nearby islands. ET climates are also found on some islands near the Antarctic Convergence, and at high elevations outside the polar regions, above the tree line. Examples Mount Rainier, Washington, United States ( ET ) Macquarie Island, Australia ( ET ) Crozet Islands ( ET ) Campbell Island, New Zealand ( ET ) Kerguelen Islands ( ET ) Prince Edwards Islands ( ET ) Stanley, Falkland Islands ( ET ), borders subpolar oceanic ( Cfc ) Ushuaia, Argentina ( ET ), ( borders on Cfc ) Mount Wellington, Tasmania, Australia ( ET ) Nagqu, Tibet, China ( ET ) Letseng diamond mine, Lesotho ( ET, bordering on Cfc and Dfc ) La Rinconada, Peru ( ET ) Cairn Gorm, United Kingdom ( ET ) These climates are a colder and more continental variants of tundra. They would have characteristics of the ice cap climate, but still manage to see monthly average temperatures above 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) : Examples Nanortalik, Greenland ( ETf ) Mount Fuji, Japan ( ETf ) Murghab, Tajikistan ( ETf ) Mount Washington, New Hampshire, United States ( ETf ) Zugspitze, Bavaria, Germany ( ETf ) Eureka, Nunavut, Canada ( ETf ) Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada ( ETf ) Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada ( ETf ) Nuuk, Greenland ( ETf, bordering on Dfc ) Svalbard, Norway ( ETf ) Mys Shmidta, Russia ( ETf ) Dikson Island, Russia ( ETf ) Nord, Greenland ( ETf ) Esperanza Base, Antarctica ( ETf ) Ice cap climate ( EF ) : This climate is dominant in Antarctica and inner Greenland, but also occurs at extremely high altitudes on mountains, above even tundra. Monthly average temperatures never exceed 0 ° C ( 32 ° F ) ( ( or − 3 ° C ( 27 ° F ) ). Examples Mount Ararat, Turkey ( EF ) Grossglockner, Carinthia, Austria ( EF ) Mount Everest, China / Nepal ( EF ) Summit Camp, Greenland ( EF ) Scott Base, Antarctica ( EF ) Vostok Station, Antarctica ( EF ), location of the lowest air temperature ever recorded on Earth. McMurdo Station, Antarctica ( EF ) Byrd Station, Antarctica ( EF ) Occasionally, a third, lower - case letter is added to ET climates ( distinguishing between ETf, ETs, and ETw ), if either the summer or winter is clearly drier than the other half of the year. When the option to include this letter is exercised, the same standards that are used for Groups C and D apply, with the additional requirement that the wettest month must have an average of at least 30 mm precipitation ( Group E climates can be as dry or even drier than Group B climates based on actual precipitation received, but their rate of evaporation is much lower ). Seasonal precipitation letters are almost never attached to EF climates, mainly due to the difficulty in distinguishing between falling and blowing snow, as snow is the sole source of moisture in these climates. Ecological significance The Köppen climate classification is based on the empirical relationship between climate and vegetation. This classification provides an efficient way to describe climatic conditions defined by temperature and precipitation and their seasonality with a single metric. Because climatic conditions identified by the Köppen classification are ecologically relevant, it has been widely used to map geographic distribution of long term climate and associated ecosystem conditions. Over the recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using the classification to identify changes in climate and potential changes in vegetation over time. The most important ecological significance of the Köppen climate classification is that it helps to predict the dominant vegetation type based on the climatic data and vice versa. In 2015, a Nanjing University paper published in Nature analyzing climate classifications found that between 1950 and 2010, approximately 5.7 % of all land area worldwide had moved from wetter and colder classifications to drier and hotter classifications. The authors also found that the change `` can not be explained as natural variations but are driven by anthropogenic factors. '' Trewartha climate classification scheme This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2018 ) Main article : Trewartha climate classification The Trewartha climate classification is a climate classification system published by American geographer Glenn Thomas Trewartha in 1966, and updated in 1980. It is a modified version of the 1899 Köppen system, created to answer some of the deficiencies of the Köppen system. The Trewartha system attempts to redefine the middle latitudes to be closer to vegetation zoning and genetic climate systems. It was considered a more true or `` real world '' reflection of the global climate. For example, under the standard Köppen system, in the United States, western Washington and Oregon are classed into the same climate zone as southern California, even though the two regions have strikingly different weather and vegetation. Under the old Köppen system cool oceanic climates like that of London or Seattle were classed in the same zone as hot subtropical cities like Savannah, Georgia or Brisbane, Australia. In the United States, locations like Colorado and Iowa which have long, severe winter climates where plants are completely dormant, were classed into the same climate zone as Louisiana or northern Florida which have mild winters and a green winter landscape. Other Köppen climate maps All maps use the ≥ 0 ° C definition for temperate climates and the 18 ° C annual mean temperature threshold to distinguish between hot and cold dry climates. North America Europe Russia Central Asia East Asia South America Africa Middle East South Asia Southeast Asia Australia / Oceania See also Holdridge life zones climate classification by three dimensions : precipitation, humidity, and potential evapotranspiration ratio Savory brittleness scale Hardiness zone References ^ Jump up to : Peel, M.C. ; Finlayson, B.L. ; McMahon, T.A. ( 2007 ). `` Updated world map of the Köppen -- Geiger climate classification ''. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 : 1633 -- 1644. doi : 10.5194 / hess - 11 - 1633 - 2007. ISSN 1027 - 5606. ( direct : Final Revised Paper ) Jump up ^ Köppen, Wladimir ( 1884 ). Translated by Volken, E. ; Brönnimann, S. `` Die Wärmezonen der Erde, nach der Dauer der heissen, gemässigten und kalten Zeit und nach der Wirkung der Wärme auf die organische Welt betrachtet '' ( The thermal zones of the earth according to the duration of hot, moderate and cold periods and to the impact of heat on the organic world ) ). Meteorologische Zeitschrift ( published 2011 ). 20 ( 3 ) : 351 -- 360. Bibcode : 2011MetZe... 20... 351K. doi : 10.1127 / 0941 - 2948 / 2011 / 105 -- via http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/schweiz/mz/2011/00000020/00000003/art00009. Jump up ^ Rubel, F. ; Kottek, M ( 2011 ). `` Comments on : ' The thermal zones of the Earth ' by Wladimir Köppen ( 1884 ) ''. Meteorologische Zeitschrift. 20 ( 3 ) : 361 -- 365. Bibcode : 2011MetZe... 20... 361R. doi : 10.1127 / 0941 - 2948 / 2011 / 0258. Jump up ^ Köppen, Wladimir ( 1918 ). `` Klassification der Klimate nach Temperatur, Niederschlag and Jahreslauf ''. Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen. 64. pp. 193 -- 203, 243 -- 248 -- via http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/koeppen.htm. Jump up ^ Köppen, Wladimir ( 1936 ). `` C ''. In Köppen, Wladimir ; Geiger ( publisher ), Rudolf. Das geographische System der Klimate ( The geographic system of climates ) ( PDF ). Handbuch der Klimatologie. 1. Berlin : Borntraeger. Jump up ^ Geiger, Rudolf ( 1954 ). `` Klassifikation der Klimate nach W. Köppen '' ( Classification of climates after W. Köppen ). Landolt - Börnstein -- Zahlenwerte und Funktionen aus Physik, Chemie, Astronomie, Geophysik und Technik, alte Serie. Berlin : Springer. 3. pp. 603 -- 607. Jump up ^ Geiger, Rudolf ( 1961 ). Überarbeitete Neuausgabe von Geiger, R. : Köppen - Geiger / Klima der Erde. ( Wandkarte 1 : 16 Mill. ) -- Klett - Perthes, Gotha. Jump up ^ Kottek, Markus ; Grieser, Jürgen ; Beck, Christoph ; Rudolf, Bruno ; Rubel, Franz ( 2006 ). `` World Map of the Köppen - Geiger climate classification updated ''. Meteorologische Zeitschrift. 15 ( 3 ) : 259 -- 263. Bibcode : 2006MetZe... 15... 259K. doi : 10.1127 / 0941 - 2948 / 2006 / 0130. ^ Jump up to : McKnight, Tom L ; Hess, Darrel ( 2000 ). `` Climate Zones and Types ''. Physical Geography : A Landscape Appreciation. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall. ISBN 0 - 13 - 020263 - 0. Cite error : Invalid < ref > tag ; name `` McKnight '' defined multiple times with different content ( see the help page ). ^ Jump up to : Cereceda, P. ; Larrain, H. ; osses, P. ; Farias, M. ; Egaña, I. ( 2008 ). `` The climate of the coast and fog zone in the Tarapacá Region, Atacama Desert, Chile ''. Atmospheric Research. 87 ( 3 - 4 ) : 301 -- 311. Bibcode : 2008AtmRe... 87... 301C. doi : 10.1016 / j. atmosres. 2007.11. 011. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Koppen climate classification climatology ''. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 04. ^ Jump up to : Chen, Hans ; Chen, Deliang. `` Köppen climate classification ''. hanschen.org. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 04. ^ Jump up to : `` CLASIFICACIÓN CLIMÁTICA DE KÖPPEN '' ( in Spanish ). Universidad de Chile. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. ^ Jump up to : Inzunza, Juan. `` Capitulo 15. Climas de Chile '' ( PDF ). Meteorología Descriptiva y Aplicaciones en Chile ( in Spanish ). p. 427. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018. Jump up ^ Linacre, Edward ; Bart Geerts ( 1997 ). Climates and Weather Explained. London : Routledge. p. 379. ISBN 0 - 415 - 12519 - 7. Jump up ^ Critchfield, H.J. ( 1983 ). `` Criteria for classification of major climatic types in modified Köppen system '' ( 4 ed. ). University of Idaho. Archived from the original on 2009 - 09 - 30. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) Jump up ^ Melvin R. George. `` Mediterranean Climate ''. UCRangelands. University of California. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 04. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 26. Jump up ^ Chen, D. ; Chen, H.W. ( 2013 ). `` Using the Köppen classification to quantify climate variation and change : An example for 1901 -- 2010 ''. Environmental Development. 6 : 69 -- 79. doi : 10.1016 / j. envdev. 2013.03. 007. ( direct : Final Revised Paper ) Jump up ^ Critchfield, Howard J ( 1983 ). General Climatology ( 4th ed. ). New Delhi : Prentice Hall. pp. 154 -- 161. ISBN 978 - 81 - 203 - 0476 - 5. Jump up ^ Chan, D. and Wu, Q. ( 2015 ). `` Significant anthropogenic - induced changes of climate classes since 1950 ''. Scientific Reports. 5 ( 13487 ). Bibcode : 2015NatSR... 513487C. doi : 10.1038 / srep13487. CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter ( link ) External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Köppen - Geiger. World Map of the Köppen -- Geiger climate classification for the period 1951 -- 2000 Global climate maps, using Köppen classification ( FAO, 1999 ) Climate records IPCC Data Distribution Center Climate types under the Köppen climate classification Class A Tropical rainforest ( Af ) Tropical monsoon ( Am ) Tropical savanna ( Aw, As ) Class B Desert ( BWh, BWk, BWn ) Semi-arid ( BSh, BSk, BSn ) Class C Humid subtropical ( Cfa, Cwa ) Oceanic ( Cfb, Cwb, Cfc, Cwc ) Mediterranean ( Csa, Csb, Csc ) Class D Humid continental ( Dfa, Dwa, Dfb, Dwb, Dsa, Dsb ) Subarctic ( Dfc, Dwc, Dfd, Dwd, Dsc, Dsd ) Class E Tundra ( ET ) Ice cap ( EF ) Alpine ( ET, EF ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= Köppen_climate_classification&oldid = 853071014 '' Categories : Köppen climate classifications Climate Classification systems Hidden categories : Pages with reference errors Pages with duplicate reference names CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017 Articles needing additional references from March 2018 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Aragonés Asturianu Bân - lâm - gú Беларуская भोजपुरी Български Bosanski Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Frysk Gaeilge Galego 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית ქართული Latina Latviešu Lietuvių Македонски മലയാളം Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Occitan Polski Português Română Русский Scots Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் ไทย Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt 粵語 中文 54 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 August 2018, at 07 : 13 ( UTC ). 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Question: ice sheets and tundra are typical of which koppen climate category
Answer: polar