Final answer:
The D (continental) climate is absent in the southern hemisphere due to the larger proportion of ocean coverage, which moderates the climate. This leads to an absence of the large seasonal temperature differences characteristic of continental climates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Köppen climate type that is absent in the southern hemisphere is the D (continental) climate. While the northern hemisphere contains extensive areas of continental climate due to its large landmasses, the southern hemisphere is predominantly covered by oceans, which have a moderating effect on the climate. This results in the lack of continental climates, characterized by large seasonal temperature differences, in the southern hemisphere.
In the Köppen climate classification, type D climates include subcategory types such as Dfa (hot-summer humid continental), Dfb (warm-summer humid continental), Dfc (subarctic), Dwd (monsoon-influenced subarctic), and Dsc (dry-summer subarctic). These climates are typically found in the interiors of continents and in higher latitudes where there is a greater contrast between summer and winter temperatures. However, in the southern hemisphere, with much of its area comprised of oceanic waters and the landmasses situated closer to the equator or distributed in narrower continental stretches, such as South America and Africa, conditions for continental climates are not prevalent.