Moist Continental Mid-latitude Climates - D Climate Type
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Location of the D climate types in the Köppen Classification System. (Image Source: Wikimedia).
Introduction
Within the Köppen Climate Classification System, moist continental mid-latitude climates have warm to cool summers and cold winters. The location of this Köppen climate type is pole ward of the C climates. The average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F), while the coldest month is less than -3°C (27°F). Winters are severe with snowstorms, strong winds, and bitter cold from Continental Polar or Arctic air masses.
See link for high reslution Köppen Climate Map to see the spatial distribution of the D climate type.
This Köppen climate type has three second-level categories: Dw - dry winters; Ds - dry summers; and Df - wet all year.
Dfa/Dwa
Dfa: Humid Continental Hot Summer, Wet All Year
Average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). Precipitation is equally spread across the year.
Dwa: Humid Continental Hot Summer, Dry Winter
Average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). Wettest summer month has about 10 times more precipitation when compared to the driest winter month.
Locations (both Dfa and Dwa): northeastern and mid-western United States, east-central Europe, northern China, and northern Korea.
Controlling Weather Factors (both Dfa and Dwa): Weather influenced by mid-latitude cyclones that form along the polar front in fall, winter, and spring. Winter weather can be clear and cold when Continental Polar air dominates. Occasional thunderstorms during summer months.
Climate Characteristics (both Dfa and Dwa): Climate has hot, often humid summers. Occasional winter spells with very cold temperatures and clear skies. Immense weather variability on yearly basis and quite large annual temperature ranges. Yearly precipitation total is between 500 to 1150 mm (20 and 45 in.).
Example:
Dfb/Dwb
Dfb: Humid Continental Mild Summer, Wet All Year
Average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). No month has an average temperature over 22°C (72°F). Precipitation is equally distributed across the year.
Dwb: Humid Continental Mild Summer, Dry Winter
Average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). No month has an average temperature over 22°C (72°F). Wettest summer month has about 10 times more precipitation when compared to the driest winter month.
Locations (both Dfb and Dwb): New England and around the Great Lakes in the United States, south-central and southeastern Canada, southeastern Scandinavia, eastern Europe, west-central Asia, and north-eastern China.
Controlling Weather Factors (both Dfb and Dwb): Weather influenced by mid-latitude cyclones that form along the polar front in fall, winter, and spring. Winter weather can be clear and cold when Continental Polar and Arctic air masses are present. Occasional thunderstorms during summer months.
Climate Characteristics (both Dfb and Dwb): Climate has mild summers. Long winters with frequent periods of very cold temperatures and clear skies. Immense weather variability on yearly basis and quite large annual temperature ranges. Yearly precipitation total is less than Dfa or Dwa climates.
Example:
Dfc/Dwc/Dfd/Dwd
Dfc: Subarctic With Cool Summer, Wet All Year
Average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). One to three months with an average temperature over 10°C (50°F). Precipitation is equally distributed across the year.
Dfd: Subarctic With Cold Winter, Wet All Year
Average temperature of the coldest month is -38°C (-36°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). Precipitation is evenly distributed over the year.
Dwc: Subarctic With Cool Summer, Dry Winter
Average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). One to three months with an average temperature over 10°C (50°F). Wettest summer month has about 10 times more precipitation when compared to the driest winter month.
Dwd: Subarctic With Cold Winter, Dry Winter
Average temperature of the coldest month is -38°C (-36°F) or lower. Average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 10°C (50°F). Wettest summer month has about 10 times more precipitation when compared to the driest winter month.
Locations (Dfc, Dwc, Dfd and Dwd): Northern North America and northern Eurasia.
Controlling Weather Factors (Dfc, Dwc, Dfd and Dwd): Weather influenced by occasional mid-latitude cyclones in spring, summer, and fall. Continental Polar and Arctic air masses are dominant during much of the year.
Climate Characteristics (Dfc, Dwc, Dfd and Dwd): Climate has brief cool summer. Winters are very long with extended periods of extremely cold temperatures and clear skies. Immense weather variability on yearly basis and quite large annual temperature ranges. Permafrost common. Yearly precipitation total is between 250 to 500 mm (10 and 20 in.).
Example:
Online Köppen Maps
References
- Aguado, E. and James E. Burt. 2010. Understanding Weather and Climate. Fifth Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
- Ahrens, C. D. 2006. Meteorology Today. An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment. Eighth Edition. Thompson, Brooks/Cole. USA.
- Lutgens, F.K. and E.J. Tarbuck. 2004. The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology. NinthEdition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
- Lydolph, P.E. 1985. The Climate of the Earth. Rowman and Allanheld Publishers, Totowa, New Jersey.
- Oliver, J.E. and J.J. Hidore. 2002. Climatology: An Atmospheric Science. Second Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
- Peel, Murray C. 2011. Updated Köppen-Geiger Climate Map of the World. http://people.eng.unimelb.edu.au/mpeel/koppen.html
