World Climatic Types
~10 min read
- Koppen system: Most-used classification by Wladimir Koppen (1918), based on temperature and precipitation.
- Five groups: A (Tropical), B (Dry), C (Temperate), D (Continental), E (Polar).
- India: Mostly A (tropical) and B (arid) — diverse: Aw (savanna), Am (monsoon), BSh (semi-arid), BWh (hot desert).
Climate is the long-term pattern of weather. Koppen's classification groups the world's climates by temperature and rainfall. NDA tests the five main groups and India's classification.
Koppen Climate Classification
Koppen used letters to denote climate groups, sub-types, and seasonal variation:
| Code | Group | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | Tropical / Megathermal | All months > 18°C; high rainfall |
| B | Arid / Dry | Annual evaporation exceeds annual precipitation |
| C | Temperate / Mesothermal | Mild winters, warm summers |
| D | Continental / Microthermal | Cold winters, warm summers; far from oceans |
| E | Polar | All months < 10°C; tundra and ice cap |
Tropical Climates (A)
- Af — Tropical Rainforest: Equatorial regions (Amazon, Congo, Indonesia). Rain all year; constant temperature ~27°C.
- Am — Tropical Monsoon: Heavy seasonal rainfall (Indian subcontinent, SE Asia, Brazil coast). Western Ghats, NE India.
- Aw — Tropical Savanna: Wet and dry seasons (East Africa, Llanos, Indian interior).
Dry and Temperate Climates (B and C)
Dry (B):
- BWh — Hot desert (Sahara, Arabian, Thar).
- BSh — Hot semi-arid steppe (parts of India, Sahel).
- BWk — Cold desert (Gobi, Patagonia).
Temperate (C):
- Cfa — Humid subtropical (SE US, parts of China, S Brazil).
- Csa/Csb — Mediterranean (S Europe, California, S Africa, Chile, S Australia) — dry summer, wet winter.
- Cfb — Marine west coast (Britain, NW Europe, New Zealand) — mild and rainy year-round.
Continental and Polar Climates (D and E)
Continental (D):
- Dfa/Dfb — Cold-summer continental (Russia, Canada).
- Dwa — Cold-winter monsoon (NE China, Korea).
Polar (E):
- ET — Tundra (treeless; arctic Russia, Canada, Alaska).
- EF — Ice cap (Antarctica, Greenland interior).
NDA PYQ Examples
Q: The Koppen climate code 'BWh' refers to:
(a) Tropical rainforest (b) Hot desert (c) Cold desert (d) Mediterranean
Answer: (b) Hot desert — Sahara, Arabian, Thar.
Q: The Mediterranean climate has:
(a) Dry summer, wet winter (b) Wet summer, dry winter (c) Year-round rainfall (d) No precipitation
Answer: (a) Dry summer, wet winter — characteristic of subtropical west coasts.
Q: Which climate has rain in all seasons but heavy in summer?
(a) Equatorial (b) Tropical monsoon (c) Mediterranean (d) Tundra
Answer: (b) Tropical monsoon — India, SE Asia.
Drill World Climatic Types for NDA
NDA-pattern items on World Climatic Types with answer keys and explanations.
Start Free Mock TestFrequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere (temperature, rain, wind). Climate is the long-term average pattern over decades. 'Today it rained' = weather. 'India has a tropical monsoon climate' = climate.
Why is the Mediterranean climate found on west coasts?
Subtropical highs shift seasonally — in summer they sit over the area, blocking rain. In winter they shift towards the equator, allowing westerlies and frontal systems to bring rain. The pattern repeats on every continent's west coast at 30-40° latitude.
Why is India largely tropical despite extending to 37° N?
The Himalayas block cold Central Asian winds from reaching India. Without them, north India would have a humid continental climate. The Himalayas keep India tropical/subtropical.
What is a savanna climate?
Tropical climate with alternating wet (summer) and dry (winter) seasons. Vegetation: grassland with scattered trees. Examples: East African savanna, Brazilian Cerrado, much of central India.
Which is the coldest place on Earth?
Antarctica — Vostok station recorded -89.2 °C in 1983 (the coldest natural temperature ever measured).