Understanding Climate Classifications: Köppen System Overview
Climatologists use a classification system developed by Wladimir Köppen in 1918 to categorize global climates based on temperature and precipitation patterns. This system segments climates into six primary groups: tropical, mild, dry, continental, polar, and high elevation. While most climates are classified by temperature, dry climates are uniquely categorized based on precipitation levels. This detailed classification aids in understanding environmental conditions and helps identify specific climate types such as humid tropical, humid mid-latitude, and various dry climates.
Understanding Climate Classifications: Köppen System Overview
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter: Climate Section 2: Climate Types
Climate Types 2 Classifying Climates • Climatologists—people who study climates—usually use a system developed in 1918 by Wladimir Köppen to classify climates. • Köppen observed that the types of plants found in a region depended on the climate of the area. • He classified world climates by using the annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation of different regions.
Climate Types 2 Classifying Climates • The climate classification system separates climates into six groups—tropical, mild, dry, continental, polar, and high elevation.
Climate Types 2 Classifying Climates
Climate Classification System • What is the most widely used and best known? • Koppen Climate Classification System • Uses monthly values of temperature and precipitation to classify climates • Classifies climate regions in a realistic way • It has 5 principal groups- What are they? (hint pg 592)
How are climate classified? • All of them are classified by temperature EXCEPT…. • Dry climates • Dry climates are classified by amount of precipitation that falls over an area
Pages 593-599 • What are Humid Tropical Climates, Humid Mid- Latitude Climates and Dry Climates? • Fill in the blanks: • 1. World Climates • A. Humid tropical • Wet tropics • B Humid mid-latitude • C Dry • D • E
Climates • Table 1- Wet Tropical • Table 2- Tropical Wet and Dry • Table 3- Humid Mid – Latitude (mild winters) • Table 4- Humid Mid – Latitude (severe winters) • Table 5- Polar Climates • Table 6- Highland Climates
Assignment • Read about your climate and make notes of the key ideas in the text. • I will call on a representative of your table to share with the class
Map Master – this will be collected • Page 594-595 (Sahara = northern Africa) • Do the map master skills activity • THEN answer the following: • Name 3 places that have severe winters • Name 4 places that have arid climates • What climate does NC have? • Pick a place to go on vacation that would have a tropical wet and dry climate.
Worldwide Climate Zone Activity Objective: • To identify the Earth’s climate zones by isotherm boundaries • To analyze a map of the Earth’s climate zones
Section Check 2 Question 1 What two factors do climatologists use to classify climates?
Section Check 2 Answer Climatologists use a system developed by Wladimir Koppen that classifies climates using average temperatures and precipitation.
