Climatic classification

climatic classification

The division of the earth's climates into a worldwide system of contiguous regions, each one of which is defined by relative homogeneity of the climatic elements.

The earliest known classification of climate, devised by the Greeks, simply divided each hemisphere into a mathematical climate of three zones, the "summerless," "intermediate," and "winterless," thus accounting only for the latitudinal differences in solar effect (the Greek word klima means "inclination"). More recently, these zones have been labeled the Torrid, Temperate, and Frigid zones. Apparently, the first major improvement over this classification was introduced by Alexander Supan in the nineteenth century. He based his zones on actual rather than theoretical temperatures, and named one hot belt, two temperate belts, and two cold caps. Supan also divided the world into 34 climatic provinces, with no attempt to relate similar climates of different locations. Another basic and much used approach recognizes other climatic controls as well as the sun. The resulting climates are called (with variations) polar, temperate, tropical, continental, marine, mountain, and probably others. Of the major climatic classifications in use today, those of W. Köppen (1918) and C. W. Thornthwaite (1931) are referred to most often. Köppen's elaborate "geographical system of climates" is based upon annual and seasonal temperature and precipitation values; his climatic regions are given a letter code designation. The major categories are tropical rainy climate, dry climate, temperate rainy climate, snow forest climate, tundra climate, and perpetual frost climate. Gorczyński (1948) devised a decimal number system similar to the Köppen classification. Thornthwaite's (1931) bioclimatological system utilizes indices of precipitation effectiveness to outline humidity provinces, and thermal efficiency for temperature provinces; and again, a letter code designates regions. Thornthwaite (1948) introduced an approach to a "rational" classification, wherein potential evapotranspiration is used as a measure of thermal efficiency, and is compared to precipitation to form a moisture index and to show amounts and periods of water surplus and deficiency. Definite break points are revealed that are adaptable as climatic boundaries. Many authors have devised modified classifications to instruct a particular audience. An excellent example is that of C. E. P. Brooks (1951) in which climatic regions are defined with respect to human activity.

Supan, A. 1879. Die Temperaturzonen der Erde. Petermanns Geog. Mitt.. 25. 349–358.

Brooks, C. E. P. 1951. Climate in Everyday Life. 17–21.

Köppen, W. P. 1918. Klassification der Klimate nach Temperatur, Niederschlag und Jahreslauf. Petermanns Geog. Mitt.. 64. 193–203; 243–248.

Köppen, W. P. 1931. Grundriss der Klimakunde. 2d ed., Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.

Köppen, W. P., and R. Geiger 1930–1939. Handbuch der Klimatologie. Berlin: Gebruder Borntraeger, 6 vols.

Thornthwaite, C. W. 1931. The climates of North America according to a new classification. Geogr. Rev.. 21. 633–655.

Thornthwaite, C. W. 1948. An approach toward a rational classification of climate. Geogr. Rev.. 38. 55–94.

Gorczyński, W. 1948. Decimal System of World Climates. Przeglad Meteor. Hydrol.. 1. 30–43.

Trewartha, G. T. 1954. An Introduction to Climate. 3d ed., Appendix A, . 223–238.

Term edited 24 August 2023.

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Measure of the effective concentration of a chemical in the gas or liquid phase.