Köppen climate classes
Simplified Köppen–Geiger climate types at world scale.
The Köppen–Geiger system classifies climates by temperature, precipitation, and seasonality — the standard used in geography textbooks and research summaries.
This map shows simplified Köppen groups at world scale. Desert patches (BWh/BSk) overlay the latitude-based bands where hyper-arid regions break the simple north–south pattern. Use alongside the latitude climate map for beginners, then read articles for regional detail.
- Af / Am / Aw — tropical rainforest, monsoon, and savanna climates.
- BWh / BSk — hot and cold deserts (Sahara, Arabia, Outback, SW North America).
- Cfa / Cfb / Csa — humid temperate, oceanic, and Mediterranean climates.
- Dfb / ET — cold continental, tundra, and polar ice climates.
See also: Latitude climate bands, Biomes & ecosystems.
- Understanding patterns in climate zone distribution and classification — How climate classes are defined.
- Climate zones and their role in international economic strategies — Why Köppen zones matter for agriculture and trade.
- The pattern of temperature variations in continental climates — Continental (D-type) climate behavior.