Climatic Regions of India — Koppen Classification

6.1 Koppen Classification Applied to India

Wladimir Koppen classified world climates based on temperature and precipitation data. For India, the following types apply:

1. Am — Tropical Monsoon Climate:

• Characteristics: No dry season; at least one month below 60 mm; compensating high monthly rainfall in wet season
• Location: Most of India's high-rainfall regions — Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Goa, coastal Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam
• Annual rainfall: 1,500–5,000 mm
• Typical temp: >18°C in all months

2. Aw — Tropical Savanna Climate:

• Characteristics: Distinct dry season (driest month <60 mm); all months >18°C
• Location: Interior Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, Telangana, AP, Karnataka interior), Tamil Nadu interior, peninsular plains
• Annual rainfall: 750–1,500 mm; concentrated in June–October

3. BSh — Semi-arid (Steppe) Hot Climate:

• Characteristics: Precipitation < potential evapotranspiration × 2; hot; grassland/scrub vegetation
• Location: Interior Deccan rain-shadow zones; parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat (Saurashtra), Madhya Pradesh
• Annual rainfall: 250–500 mm

4. BWh — Arid/Hot Desert Climate:

• Characteristics: Extreme aridity; very low rainfall (<250 mm); hot days, cold nights
• Location: Western Rajasthan (Thar Desert — Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner); parts of Kutch (Gujarat)
• Annual rainfall: 100–250 mm (Jaisalmer ~150 mm)
• Diurnal range: >25°C (hot days, cold nights)

5. Cwa — Humid Subtropical Climate (Monsoon variant):

• Characteristics: Hot wet summer + cool dry winter; warmest month >22°C; at least one month <18°C
• Location: Northern plains (Ganga Plain, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand)
• Annual rainfall: 500–1,200 mm; 80–90% in June–September
• Winter: Cold dry; Western Disturbances bring occasional rain

6. H — Highland / Montane Climate:

• Characteristics: Varies with altitude; cold temperatures; orographic rainfall
• Location: J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (Himalayan regions); Western Ghats highlands; Nilgiri Hills
• Ranges from alpine tundra (>4,000 m) to temperate (2,000–4,000 m) to sub-tropical (below 2,000 m)

Koppen Type	Code	Location in India	Rainfall	Key Feature
Tropical Monsoon	Am	Kerala, NE India, coastal W	1,500–5,000 mm	High rain, brief dry spell
Tropical Savanna	Aw	Interior Deccan, TN	750–1,500 mm	Distinct dry season
Semi-arid Steppe	BSh	Rain-shadow Deccan, Raj	250–500 mm	Insufficient rain
Hot Desert	BWh	Thar, Kutch	<250 mm	Most arid
Humid Subtropical	Cwa	Ganga Plain, Delhi	500–1,200 mm	Cold winter
Highland	H	Himalayas, Ghats peaks	Varies	Altitude-determined

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