Climate zones in Germany, 1991 to 2020
Share of Germany's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 660,252 map cells used cover 100% of the country's outline (about 355,806 km²).
By major group: C (temperate) 80%, D (cold (continental)) 20%.
Cfb, temperate oceanic, is the main climate of Germany, covering 80% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020, with Dfb (warm-summer humid continental) next at 20%. In plain terms, temperate oceanic means mild and damp, with no extremes. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 38% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Cfa (humid subtropical).
How Germany'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) | 40% | 39% | Cfb +39.1 percentage points | Dfb -38.4 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 17% | 15% | Cfb +13.4 percentage points | Dfb -14.9 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 38% | 19% | Cfa +21.4 percentage points | Dfb -18.2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 90% | 20% | Cfa +86.9 percentage points | Cfb -66.7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cfb Temperate oceanic | 41% | 80% | 93% | 77% | 13% |
| Dfb Warm-summer humid continental | 58% | 20% | 5.1% | 1.8% | 0.3% |
| Dfc Subarctic (boreal) | 1% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.1% | - |
| ET Tundra | 0.1% | - | - | - | - |
| Cfa Humid subtropical | - | - | 1.8% | 21% | 87% |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in Germany and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfa Humid subtropical |
| Hamburg | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
| Munich | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfa Humid subtropical |
| Köln | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
| Frankfurt am Main | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfa Humid subtropical |
| Düsseldorf | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
| Stuttgart | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfa Humid subtropical |
| Essen | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
Zones found in Germany
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Dfb. See data sources and licences.