Climate zones in Curaçao, 1991 to 2020
Share of Curaçao's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 496 map cells used cover 89% of the country's outline (about 416 km²).
By major group: A (tropical) 75%, B (arid) 25%.
Aw, tropical savannah, is the main climate of Curaçao, covering 75% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020, with BSh (hot semi-arid (steppe)) next at 25%. In plain terms, tropical savannah means hot all year, with a clear dry season. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 75% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to BSh (hot semi-arid (steppe)). The most common zone would then be BSh (hot semi-arid (steppe)).
How Curaçao's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 65% | 65% | Aw +65.3 percentage points | BSh -65.3 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 65% | 65% | BSh +65.1 percentage points | Aw -65.1 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 75% | 75% | BSh +75.2 percentage points | Aw -75.2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 75% | 75% | BSh +75.2 percentage points | Aw -75.2 percentage points |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aw Tropical savannah | 9.9% | 75% | 10% | - | - |
| BSh Hot semi-arid (steppe) | 90% | 25% | 90% | 100% | 100% |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Zones found in Curaçao
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was BSh. See data sources and licences.