Köppen's Climate Classification (KOPPEN'S CLASSIFICATION OF WORLD CLIMATES)

Köppen's Climate Classification

 (KOPPEN'S

 CLASSIFICATION OF WORLD CLIMATES)

 Germany's famous climatologist Dr. Bludimir Köppen first presented the classification of the world's climate in 1918 and later in 1931. The last revised form of their classification was published in 1936, which is still very important today. In this classification, Köppen considered the influence on vegetation and the bio-world to be particularly important. For this reason, it is also called Empirical classification of natural vegetation. Köppen said that for the development of plants, the effectiveness of rainfall, the amount of rainfall and the smooth attainment of temperature are absolutely necessary. He used botanicals presented by Candol in 1874 in his climate classification. Candol divided the world into 5 divisions - megathermal, xerophyte, mesothermal, microthermal and hechistothermal.

 Köppen divided the climate into the first 6 parts, which were represented by capital letters A, B, C, D, E and H in English.

 

 A-Tropical or Equatorial wet climate

 B-Dry climate

 C-Warm temperate humid climate

 D-Cold temperate climate E-polar climate

 H-High mountain climate has also been given subdivisions such as BS of B, BW, E of ET, EF etc. In addition, these letters are used with A, C, D and E:

 f-Moist w-Winter season dry s-Summer dry

 In addition to the above signs, the summer monsoon abundant rainfall is used as follows:

 w-more rain in autumn

 Maximum twice and minimum rainfall twice a year - The warmest and coldest months are below 5 ° C g - Summer rainfall just after solistics h - Average annual temperature above 18 ° C k - Average annual Temperature below 18 ° C k- Warmest month temperature 18 ° C n- Foggy heat a- Extreme heat in summer season Warmest month temperature above 22 ° C b- Summer cold - Warmest month temperature 22 Below ° C

 -With the coldest winter and eight months of the shortest year, above 18 ° C d. The average temperature of the coldest month is below 18 ° C. Thus, Köppen divided the 6 parts of the climate into several subdivisions. This division is considered the basis of seasonal distribution of rainfall and dryness of seasons, distribution of temperature and relation of climate and vegetation. Thus according to Köppen the following are the main climatic regions of the world.

 (1) A- (warm humid climate) In this type of climate, the average temperature of each month of the year (including the coldest month) is more than 18 ° C. Based on this temperature, the quality of uniformity is present here and it usually rains throughout the year. The average evaporation here is less than the rainfall and the winter season is not found. It is divided into the following sub-divisions according to the period of rainfall, temperature, temperature and dryness:

 (i) Af-tropical forest with abundant rainfall - here it rains year after year. The annual temperature is not there at all, so there is a lack of dryness.

 (ii) Am - Tropical monsoon rains and abundant forests - it is also called humid monsoon climate, due to the increase in rainfall here, forests meet in abundance. A short dry season is also found here.

 (iii) Aw-temperate wet and dry forest forest - also known as tropical Savanna. It is winter in this part. The temperature remains high throughout the year. Large part of India in

 Comes.

 As 'As' climate is found on the Tamil Nadu coast in India as it receives rainfall during winter.

 (2) B— (dry climate) - The main feature of this climate is that evaporation is greater than the total amount of annual rainfall. Therefore, there is a shortage of excess water here. It is divided into two sub-divisions based on the maximum temperature and the months of rainfall:

 (i) BS-Steppe climate - This is known as semi-arid climate. In order to determine the climatic range of this sub-class correctly, special formula has to be taken help. The amount of rainfall in this region varies from 38 cm to 75 cm.

 (ii) BW-Desert Climate: Rainfall in this subdivision is very less. The average annual rainfall is less than 25 cm. The formula has to be taken to find the right range of this climate.

 The above mentioned steppe and desert climate was again divided into two subdivisions based on temperature.

 Steppie climate

 (a) BSh - Tropical steppy climate - It has an average annual temperature of over 18 ° C. The western desert of India has a similar climate.

 (b) BSk - Cold steppe climate - Average annual temperature is less than 18 ° C.

 Desert climate

 (a) BWh-temperate desert climate - average annual temperature remains above 18 ° C

 (b) BWk - Cold tropical desert climate - Average annual temperature is below 18 ° C.

 (3) C– (warm temperate climate) - also called hot temperate climate. The average temperature of the coldest month is less than 18 ° C and more than -3 ° C. In this climate, both cold and summer seasons are found equal. This climate is divided into three sub-divisions based on the seasonal distribution of rainfall:

 (i) Cf - Hot and temperate climate throughout the year - It rains every season of the year. The driest month of summer also receives more than 3 cm of rainfall. It is also called Humid Mesothermal Climate.

 (ii) Cs - Hot-temperate climate throughout the year - Summer is very dry here. The rainfall in the driest month is less than 3 cm. The driest month of winter receives three times more rainfall than the driest month of summer.

 (ii) Cwg - Warm-temperate climate throughout the year - Winter is very dry here. summer season

 In the driest month of winter, there is ten times more rainfall than the driest month of winter. It is also called Humid Mesothermal climate. The climate is warm towards the lower latitudes and colder towards the higher latitudes, it is colder in the inland parts. These conditions are found in both northern India and eastern China.

 (4) D- (Cold-temperate climate) - Here it is cold. Therefore, it is also known as Snow Climate. The temperature of the hottest month in the year is more than 10 ° C and the temperature of the coldest month is less than -3 ° C. This climate is divided into two parts:

 (i) Df — Cold-temperate humid forests - There is no dry season. It rains throughout the year. These are also called Taiga regions.

 (ii) Dw-winter-temperate forest- Here the winter season remains dry.

 (5) E- (Polar climate) - In this part the average temperature of the hottest month is less than 10 ° C and there is no sign of summer season. It has two subdivisions.

 (i) ET - Himalayan Tundra Climate - The temperature in the hottest month is less than 10 ° C, but higher than 0 ° C.

 (ii) EF - Continuous snow-capped climate - the temperature of the year remains below 0 ° C.

 (6) H — High mountain climate — This type of climate is found only on the higher mountains of the world. Here the conditions of snow rain and moderately angled forests are found; Such climates are found on the Himalayan Mountains in India, Rocky Mountains in North America, Alps Mountains in Europe and the higher ranges of the Andes Mountains in South America and the mountainous region of Norway, Sweden etc.

 Evaluation of Köppen's climate classification

 The following are the salient features of Köppen's climate classification:

 (i) Köppen has used easily known elements (temperature and precipitation) in his classification.

 (ii) Köppen has been at the forefront of using letters in the World Climate Classification. Later, many people have presented classifications using letters based on this.

 (iii) Köppen has used small letters of English in the subclassification of climate. Due to this, the large climate region has been easily divided into several subdivisions. The new climate subdivision is explained by adding a new letter in front of capital letters of English.

 (iv) The greatest feature of this classification is that apart from knowing the major parts,

 (v) The climate classification of Köppen is not only a classification scheme, but it is characterized by relating the nature of vegetation to atmospheric conditions.

 Criticism

 (i) The classification of Köppen has been opposed by scholars such as Thornweight, Brooks, Heyer, Ward, Crowe etc. According to these scholars, Köppen has given great importance to the effectiveness of rainfall, which is contrary to the rule.

 (ii) In this climate classification, the direction and flow of wind, surface formation, effect of ocean currents, rainy days etc. have ignored the elements, while these are also necessary.

 (iii) Kopen has also included tree forests on the Puget Sound region in the Mediterranean (Cs) region, which is wrong as per the rules.

 (iv) Agricultural characteristics have been ignored in the classification, while climate is a major supporting element of agriculture.

 (v) It also does not include the characteristics of air vines.

 (vi) Difficulty in remembering the descriptors used for the major types of climate as well as subdivisions. Some of Köppen's climate classification

 Despite the shortcomings, it still holds importance, as it presents a generalized picture of the world climate.