CLIMATE CLASSIFICATIONS

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

coldest month greater than 18°C rainfall every month greater than 60

mm

SAVANNA

coldest month greater than 18°C summer rainy season, winter dry

season, one month less than 60 mm rainfall

MONSOON

coldest month greater than 18°C monsoon: very heavy rain in summer,

almost none in winter

HOT DESERT

evaporation is greater than precipitation, precipitation is less than 500mm/year

dry, rain less than 250mm/year hot, average annual temperature over

18°C

COLD DESERT

evaporation is greater than precipitation, precipitation is less than 500mm/year

dry, rain less than 250mm/year cold, average annual temperature

under 18°C

HOT STEPPE

evaporation is greater than precipitation, precipitation is less than 500mm/year

semi-arid, rain 250mm to 500mm hot, average annual temperature over

18°C

COLD STEPPE

evaporation is greater than precipitation, precipitation is less than 500mm/year

semi-arid, rain 250mm to 500mm cold, average annual temperature

under 18°C

SUBTROPICAL

warmest month greater than 10°C, coldest month -3°C to 18°C

rainfall every month greater than 30 mm

warmest month over 22°C

MARINE WEST COAST (A OR B)

warmest month greater than 10°C, coldest month -3°C to 18°C

rainfall every month greater than 30 mm

A) warmest month below 22°C     OR

B) fewer than 4 months over 10°C

MEDITERRANEAN (A OR B)

warmest month greater than 10°C, coldest month -3°C to 18°C

summer drought, winter heavy rain A) warmest month over 22°C      

OR B) warmest month below 22°C

CONTINENTAL (A OR B)

warmest month greater than 10°C, coldest month below 18°C

rainfall every month greater than 30 mm

A) warmest month over 22°C       OR

B) warmest month below 22°C

SUBARCTIC (A OR B)

warmest month greater than 10°C, coldest month below 18°C

rainfall every month greater than 30 mm

A) fewer than 4 months over 10°C       OR

B) coldest month below -38°C

POLAR (A OR B)

warmest month below 10°C A) tundra, average temperature 0°C to

10°C     B) Icecap, average temperature below

0°C, ice covered