Genetic classification
Topic: World Climate Classification: Koeppen's Scheme · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 11 "World Climate and Climate Change"
Meaning
Genetic classification groups climates by what causes them. The causes include air masses (large bodies of air with the same temperature and moisture), pressure belts and the general circulation of winds. Two places land in the same group if the same forces control their weather. Strahler's air-mass scheme is the standard example. This approach explains why a climate exists, while an empirical scheme only describes it.
Example
A genetic scheme would explain the dryness of the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan by its causes, such as sinking dry air and the absence of moist winds. It would not class the desert by its low rainfall figures alone.
Don't confuse with
- Empirical classification: this uses observed temperature and precipitation values and ignores causes. Koeppen's scheme is empirical, not genetic.
Related concepts
- Empirical classification
- Koeppen climate classification
- Koeppen seasonality letters
- Koeppen temperature letters
- Thornthwaite classification