ThinkRankWorld Climate and Climate Change
Overview
Earth’s climates vary systematically based on latitude and moisture. This chapter explains Koeppen’s world-renowned classification system and addresses the critical issue of contemporary global climate change.
Learning Objectives
- Apply Koeppen’s criteria for climate classification
- Identify the characteristics of major climate groups (A to E)
- Analyze the natural and anthropogenic causes of climate change
- Evaluate the consequences of global warming
Key Concepts
Koeppen's Classification
Uses alphabetical symbols (A: Tropical, B: Dry, C: Warm Temp, etc.) based on monthly temperature and precipitation values.
Anthropogenic Climate Change
The rapid warming of the planet due to the human-led increase in greenhouse gas concentrations since the Industrial Revolution.
Key Terms
El NinoDesertificationGreenhouse effectPermafrostIce Age
Examples
Amw Climate
Tropical Monsoon Climate, typical of parts of coastal India and Southeast Asia.
Quick Check
- What does Group 'E' represent in Koeppen’s system?
- List two greenhouse gases.