TITLE:
Climate Map of Madagascar According to the Köppen-Geiger Classification (Beck et al., 2018) Based on Climate Data from 1991 to 2020
AUTHORS:
Sitraka Ravelomanantsoa, Bienvenue Raheliarilalao
KEYWORDS:
Climate Zones, Climate Classifications, Madagascar, Köppen, Beck
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.11,
November
11,
2026
ABSTRACT: Detailed climate characterization—now essential for adapting to environmental changes and managing natural resources—requires integrated approaches that combine international standardization, high spatial resolution, and regular updates to reference data. The central challenge is updating climate norms in accordance with the recommendations of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In Madagascar, the historical zoning system of the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM), although pragmatic and operational for local stakeholders, is based on an empirical classification (zones A through J) that does not accurately represent a small, distinct area with characteristics of a Mediterranean to temperate summer climate (Csb) or the fine distinction between temperate oceanic (Cfb) and temperate humid (Cfa) climates. This article aims to produce an updated climate map of Madagascar for the reference period 1991-2020 by applying the Köppen-Geiger classification improved by Beck et al. (2018). The method is based on a hierarchical approach that incorporates extreme temperatures and precipitation seasonality, using high-resolution ENACTS data (4 km × 4 km grid). Our results reveal a mosaic of eight active climate types. In the eastern regions (Af tropical rainforest and Am monsoon), abundant rainfall throughout the year requires rigorous management of moisture and runoff. In the west, the savanna climate (Aw) is characterized by severe water stress during the southern winter. In the central highlands, temperate climates (Cfa hot summer and Cfb mild summer) feature regular precipitation, in contrast to the far south, where hot arid climates (BWh) prevail, and the high-altitude Mediterranean climate (Csb) is found locally in the Diana Highlands—an area not previously identified by the DGM.