Due to its link with the plant life of a given region, the system is useful in predicting future changes in plant life within that region. In addition to identifying climates, the system can be used to analyze ecosystem conditions and identify the main types of vegetation within climates. Īs Köppen designed the system based on his experience as a botanist, his main climate groups are based on what types of vegetation grow in a given climate classification region. Climates are classified based on specific criteria unique to each climate type. For example, Cfb indicates an oceanic climate with warm summers as indicated by the ending b. The system assigns a temperature subgroup for all groups other than those in the A group, indicated by the third letter for climates in B, C, and D, and the second letter for climates in E. For example, Af indicates a tropical rainforest climate. All climates except for those in the E group are assigned a seasonal precipitation subgroup (the second letter). All climates are assigned a main group (the first letter). Each group and subgroup is represented by a letter. The five main groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar). The Köppen climate classification divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. Later, the climatologist Rudolf Geiger (1894-1981) introduced some changes to the classification system, which is thus sometimes called the Köppen–Geiger climate classification system. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notably in 19. The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems.