In the Köppen climatic classification, the Limpopo River basin falls into several different classes (Köppen 1918; Rosenberg 1999; Rubel and Kottek 2010):
The basin as a whole is classified as semi-arid, dry and hot - BSh
The central river valley, arid, dry and hot - BWh
The highveld of South Africa is classified as temperate, with summer rainfall and cool to hot summers - Cwc and Cwa.
The map below shows the distribution of the Köppen classes for the Limpopo River basin. These data are calculated at a global scale, hence the coarse nature of the map data.
KÖPPEN-GIEGER CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION FOR THE LIMPOPO RIVER BASIN. SOURCE: KOTTEK ET AL. 2006
This institute has also used historical climate records from the German Weather Service Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC), to develop a global retrospective assessment of Köppen-Gieger Classes for the period of 1901 to 1925. Furthermore, they have used inputs from global climate models to develop a projected Köppen-Gieger Climate Classification for 2076 to 2100.
RETROSPECTIVE KÖPPEN-GIEGER CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION FOR THE LIMPOPO RIVER BASIN (1901 - 1925). SOURCE: RUBEL AND KOTTEK 2010
PROJECTED KÖPPEN-GIEGER CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION FOR THE LIMPOPO RIVER BASIN (2076 - 2100). SOURCE: RUBEL AND KOTTEK 2010
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Current ongoing initiatives.
LIMCOM's current ongoing interventions being undertaken
