Climate: How Wladimir Koppen Studied Weather and Drew the First Climate Map

2026 Best STEM Book

Elementary Science - Weather and Climate

As a teenager, Wladimir Köppen became interested how the landscape changed as he traveled south from St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea in northern Russia to Crimea on the Black Sea. Explaining that changing landscape became his life's work.

In late 1800s, weather and climates were poorly understood. They needed someone to study it carefully over a long period of time. Köppen moved to Hamburg, Germany as head weatherman at the Deutsche Seewarte, the German Marine Observatory on the Baltic Sea. His job was to start one of the world's first daily weather reports. He helped set up weather stations on the North Sea and train its staff. From around the world, he gathered other weather data.

The World's First Climate Map

Slowly, that childhood problem of changing landscapes came into focus as he developed the world's first climate map. Still today, we use Köppen's maps, with some slight modifications. Köppen's maps still help us understand the world's ecosystems and plan for the future.

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Author: Darcy Pattison,Peter Willis
Publisher: Mims House
Published: 05/20/2025
Pages: 34
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.69lbs
Size: 8.50h x 8.50w x 0.25d
ISBN: 9781629443058
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/0001

About the Author
Pattison, Darcy: - Children's book author and indie publisher DARCY PATTISON has written over seventy award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, five Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book (CA Reading Assn.), two Junior Library Guild selections, two CLA Notable Children's Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, a Best STEM Book, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children's History Book award. She's the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature. Her books have been translated into ten languages.Willis, Peter: - continues to be as enthusiastic and passionate about his work as ever. His illustrations have palpable character, bringing them to life through his craft and quirky approach. He lives in northeast England with his wife and daughter. Other books include the ten-book Moments in Science series, and The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story. His awards include a Junior Library Guild selection, two NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, three Eureka! Nonfiction Honor books (CA Reading Assn.), two starred Kirkus reviews, and a CLA Notable Children's Book in Language Arts.

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