There is normally a .STAT file included in the EnergyPlus weather file and this includes the climate type for that location.
Also, ASHRAE Standard 90.1 indicates the proper climate zone for many locations, including a description of how they are calculated.
Unfortunately, Columbia is not in the list, but you can probably find a similar city nearby.
B2. MAJOR CLIMATE TYPE DEFINITIONS
Use the following information along with Table B-4 to
determine climate zone numbers and letters for international
climate zones.
Marine (C) definition?Locationns meeting
all four criteria:
1. Mean temperature of coldest month between 27°F and
65°F.
2. Warmest month mean <72°F.
3. At least four months with mean temperatures over 50°F.
4. Dry season in summer. The month with the heaviest precipitation
in the cold season has at least three times as much
precipitation as the month with the least precipitation in the
rest of the year. The cold season is October through March
in the Northern Hemisphere and April through September
in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dry (B) definition?Locations mmeeting
the following criteria:
not marine and
Pin
< 0.44 Ã? (TF
? 19.5) ,
where
P
= annual precipitation, in.; and
T
= annual mean temperature, °F.
Moist (A) definition?Locationss that
are not marine and not dry.
James V Dirkes II, PE, BEMP, LEED AP
www.buildingperformanceteam.com
Energy Analysis, Commissioning & Training Services
1631 Acacia Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 USA
616 450 8653
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of FrancescoP
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 4:56 PM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: Climate Zone Question