Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Where are Type B climates found around the world?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Köppen climate classification
The major climatic types are based on patterns of average precipitation, average temperature, and natural vegetation. This map depicts the world distribution of climate types based on the classification originally invented by Wladimir Köppen in 1900.
Type B climates, which are defined by their dryness, cover approximately one-quarter of Earth’s land surface. While they can be found between 50° N and 50° S, they are primarily located within the 15–30° latitude belt in both hemispheres.1
Their specific geographic distribution is influenced by several factors:
- Continental Interiors: Many Type B climates are situated deep within the interiors of continents, far from moisture-bearing maritime air. In some regions, such as the Great Plains of the United States, this aridity is intensified by upwind mountain barriers.23
- Subtropical Highs: Tropical and subtropical deserts are typically dominated by the subtropical anticyclone, which inhibits precipitation through descending air and clear skies.3
- Western Coastal Margins: Certain "West Coast Desert" areas, such as the Atacama Desert and the Namib, are found on the western edges of continents. These regions are cooled by ocean currents, which contribute to their extreme aridity despite their coastal location.3
- Peripheral Regions: Steppe climates (BSh and BSk) generally occur on the periphery of true deserts, acting as a transition to moister climate types.24