Classification

climate classification, the formalization of systems that recognize, clarify, and simplify climatic similarities and differences between geographic areas in order to enhance the scientific understanding of climates. Such classification schemes rely on efforts that sort and group vast amounts of environmental data to uncover patterns between interacting climatic processes. All such classifications are limited since no two areas are subject to the same physical or biological forces in exactly the same way. The creation of an individual climate scheme follows either a genetic or an empirical approach.