Theory question 204
Climate(a)(i) Name any three of Koppen's major climatic groups (ii) What is the basis of this type of classification?
(b) Name any two types of climate within Koppen's first group and show the unique features of each type.
Show the model answer
(a)(i) Any three of: A – tropical rainy; B – dry; C – warm temperate (mesothermal); D – cold snow-forest (microthermal); E – polar
(ii) Based on mean monthly and annual temperature and precipitation (and seasonality of rain), with limits chosen to match natural vegetation
(b) Group A: Af – tropical rain forest/equatorial: every month above 18°C, rain in every month (driest month 60 mm or more), small annual range; Aw – savanna: above 18°C all year, distinct dry season in winter (low-sun period); Am – monsoon: short dry season but very heavy total rainfall
Group A climates all have every month above 18°C.