Climate zones in Samoa, 1991 to 2020
Share of Samoa's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 3,220 map cells used cover 96% of the country's outline (about 2,686 km²).
By major group: A (tropical) 97%, C (temperate) 2.8%.
Almost all of Samoa is one climate: Af, tropical rainforest, which covers 97% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020. In plain terms, tropical rainforest means hot, wet and green every month of the year. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 2.1% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Af (tropical rainforest).
How Samoa'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) | 1.9% | 1.8% | Af +1.7 percentage points | Cfb -1.6 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 1% | 0.9% | Af +1 percentage point | Cfb -0.9 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 2.1% | 2% | Af +2.1 percentage points | Cfb -2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 3.1% | 2.8% | Af +2.9 percentage points | Cfb -2.8 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Af Tropical rainforest | 95% | 97% | 98% | 99% | 100% |
| Cfb Temperate oceanic | 4.5% | 2.8% | 2% | 0.9% | - |
| Am Tropical monsoon | 0.2% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% |
| Cwb Subtropical highland (dry winter) | 0.1% | - | - | - | - |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Zones found in Samoa
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Af. See data sources and licences.