climatelab3.pdf - Climate Classification Lab Exercise...

Climate Classification Lab Exercise
Köppen Classification System
Purpose: This exercise reviews the concepts and application of the Köppen classification system.
The Köppen climate classification system uses average temperatures and precipitation levels to classify climates.
Köppen based this system on the types of vegetation that naturally occurs given the averages found in an area. The
approach is an empirical approach using the data that has been collected for decades.
When classifying climates it is important to follow the directions carefully and never skip steps or do out of order. It
may be helpful if assume that any set of data that is presented can be any type of climate. You can write down the
major climates (A, B, C, D, and E) along with the potential season variations in precipitation (s, w, or f). Work with
the data below as you follow the steps:
Data set #1.
J F M A M J J A S O N D YR.
C -8 -7 -1 7 13 19 21 21 16 10 2 -6 7
cm. 3.3 2.5 4.8 6.9 8.6 11 9.6 7.9 8.6 5.6 4.8 3.8 77
The temperature and precipitation data is broken down into monthly and yearly averages. In this system winter
consists of the months January, February, March, October, November, and December. Summer is April, May, June,
July, August, and September. For this exercise all climate data is from the Northern Hemisphere.
Step 1: Is the warmest month is below 0 degrees Celsius (C)? If so then you have an Ice-Cap (EF) Climate.
If the warmest month is between 0 and 10 degrees C then is a Tundra (ET) climate.
Step 2: Is an important step that must be completed carefully and in order.
The site has a summer drought (s) if the driest month in summer is below 3 cm and it is less than one-third of the
total of the wettest winter month.