Koeppen Classification

The most widely used classification of climate is the climate classification scheme developed by German climatologist and plant geographer V. Koeppen. in 1918. The annual as well as monthly averages of temperature and precipitation formed the basis of Koeppen classification of climate. He also based his classification on the distribution of weather conditions. This classification is both empirical and genetic type. Koeppen in his classification laid great emphasis that all the characteristics of climate can well be expressed through the distribution of

natural vegetation that’s why he tried to associate his climate types with vegetation zones of the world. He made use of annual averages of temperature and precipitation in fixing the climate regions of the world. He presented five main climate types. Each of these climate types was represented by capital English alphabets of A, B, C, D and E. He used the letter 'H' for highland type of climates. While keeping temperature and precipitation variations in view these five climate types were further subdivided as shown in the following table: