Polar climates (E)
Also called: Group E climates · Topic: World Climate Classification: Koeppen's Scheme · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 11 "World Climate and Climate Change"
Meaning
Group E is the Koeppen group in which every month averages below 10°C. It lies poleward of about 70°. The 10°C line for the warmest month roughly matches the tree line, so trees cannot grow in E climates. The group has two types. Tundra (ET) has a warmest month between 0°C and 10°C. Ice cap (EF) has every month below 0°C.
Example
In India, Ladakh and the high peaks of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are marked E on Koeppen's map. Their cold comes from height, not from latitude. Around the world, northern Canada and Siberia (tundra) and Antarctica (ice cap) are polar climates.
Don't confuse with
- Highland climates (H): Trewartha added H for mountains, where climate belts are stacked one above another because temperature falls with height. Koeppen's maps often show these areas as E or Dw.