World Climatic Regions (Köppen
Classification)
Climatic regions are categorized into three main groups based on latitude and air
mass dominance:
Low-Latitude Climatic Regions
1. Tropical Wet Region (Af)
Location: Near the equator (6°N to 6°S).
Temperature: Monthly average 24°C to 28°C.
Precipitation: Rainfall throughout the year.
Vegetation: Rainforests with dense, tall, broad-leafed evergreen trees.
Examples: Amazon Basin, Congo Basin.
2. Tropical Wet and Dry Region (Aw)
• Location: 6° to 15° N and S latitude.
• Climate: Transitional zone between wet tropics and subtropical deserts.
• Vegetation: Savanna grasslands with scattered trees.
• Examples: India, West Africa, southern Africa, northern Australia.
3. Dry Desert (BWh) and Steppe (BSh) Region
• Location: 15° to 25° N and S latitude.
• Features: Low humidity, minimal precipitation, high temperatures, and strong
winds.
• Vegetation: Sparse vegetation and desert scrub.
• Examples: Sahara Desert, northern Mexico, South Africa.
Mid-Latitude Climatic Regions
1. Mid-Latitude Desert (BWk) and Steppe (BSk)
• Location: 30° to 55° N and S latitude.
• Climate: Hot summers (continental tropical air masses) and cold winters
(continental polar air masses).
• Vegetation: Sparse vegetation adapted to arid conditions.
• Examples: Death Valley (USA).
2. Mid-Latitude Wet Region
• Location: Latitudes above 55°.
• Climate: Marine tropical air masses in summer (thunderstorms) and polar
cyclones in winter (rainfall year-round).
• Vegetation: Deciduous and evergreen forests.
• Examples: South America, New Zealand, southeastern Australia.
3. Mid-Latitude Winter Dry (Cw and Dw)
• Climate: Distinct seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns.
• Summers: Hot, humid, with thunderstorms.
• Winters: Dry and cold (continental polar air masses).
• Vegetation: Grasslands and arid zones.
• Examples: North America, Eurasia.
4. Mid-Latitude Summer Dry (Cs)
• Location: 30° to 50° latitudes.
• Climate: Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and wet winters (mid-latitude cyclones).
• Vegetation: Forests, woodlands, and shrubs.
• Examples: Central and southern California, South Africa.
High-Latitude Climatic Regions
1. Polar Tundra (ET)
• Climate: Cold winters, cool summers, and less than 10 inches of rainfall annually.
• Vegetation: Low shrubs, mosses, and lichens.
• Examples: Arctic coasts of North America, Iceland, Greenland.
2. Polar Ice Cap (EF)
• Climate: Below 0°C year-round, snow-covered with high-velocity winds.
• Examples: Greenland, Antarctica.
Highland Climate
• Features: Variable climate depending on altitude and latitude.
• Climate: Generally cooler temperatures with higher precipitation in some areas.
• Distribution: Found in mountainous regions worldwide.
Factors Influencing World Climate Regions
1. Latitude (Seasonality)
• Sun angle: From 90° (overhead) to 0° (on the horizon).
• Equator: 12 hours of sunlight daily, minimal seasonal variation.
• Poles: Extreme seasons with cool summers and long days, bitterly cold winters with long
nights.
2. Earth's Revolution, Rotation, and Tilt
• Earth’s tilt and rotation cause variations in day length and solar energy.
• Example: On June 21, day length increases from 12 hours at the equator to 24 hours at the
Arctic Circle.
3. Continentality (Distance from Water Bodies)
• Oceans moderate temperatures: warm winters and cool summers in marine climates.
• Continental climates: Hot summers and cold winters in inland areas.
• Water stores energy in summer and releases it slowly in winter, influencing nearby
Factors Influencing World Climate Regions
4. Atmospheric Circulation
• High and low-pressure zones determine wind patterns and weather systems.
• Subtropical High Pressure (STH): Drives surface westerlies and influences
weather at 30° latitude.
• Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): Low-pressure zone near the equator,
causing clouds and rain.
• Coriolis Effect: Deflects winds due to Earth's rotation, impacting air circulation.
5. Ocean Circulation
• Surface currents, driven by winds and pressure zones, balance energy and
influence coastal climates.
6. Topography (Elevation)
• Temperature decreases with altitude: 6.4°C per kilometer in the troposphere.
• Higher elevations are cooler than lowlands at the same latitude.
• Thank you
