Climate zones in Thailand, 1991 to 2020
Share of Thailand's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 622,202 map cells used cover 100% of the country's outline (about 514,868 km²).
By major group: A (tropical) 98%, C (temperate) 2.5%.
Aw, tropical savannah, is the main climate of Thailand, covering 80% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020, with Am (tropical monsoon) next at 16%. In plain terms, tropical savannah means hot all year, with a clear dry season. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 3.6% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Aw (tropical savannah).
How Thailand'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) | 4.9% | 2% | Aw +1.7 percentage points | Cwa -1.9 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 3.2% | 1.6% | Aw +1.3 percentage points | Cwa -1.4 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 3.6% | 2% | Aw +2 percentage points | Cwa -1.8 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 4.4% | 2.4% | Aw +2.2 percentage points | Cwa -2.2 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 | 78% | 80% | 81% | 82% | 82% |
| Am Tropical monsoon | 16% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Af Tropical rainforest | 1.7% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | 4.1% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Cwb Subtropical highland (dry winter) | 0.3% | 0.2% | - | - | - |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in Thailand and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
Zones found in Thailand
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Aw. See data sources and licences.