Climate classifications fall into two categories: genetic and empirical. Genetic classifications group climates by their causes, focusing on how temperature relates to distance from the North Pole or South Pole or Equator, continentality versus ocean-influenced factors, the effects of mountains, or combinations of several factors. Genetic classifications are qualitative, and climatic regions are drawn in a subjective manner. In contrast, empirical classifications—such as the Köppen climate classification—group each climate type according to one or more aspects of the climate system, such as natural vegetation.
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