CHAPTER -V
CLIMATIC CLASSIFICATION
Climatic Classification of any region is an important for various fields like,
agriculture, forestry, animal and plant ecology, soil moisture, hydrology, land surface
and its associated fields. By using the climatic class, we can manage all the activities
within the region. The climatic condition of any area defines several weather elements
like soil moisture, temperature, rainfall, water budget, evaporation, humidity etc. On a
regional and global level, many meteorologists defined different methods to
determine the climatic classification. Different schemes and indices of climatic
classification have been introduced by Koppen, Thornthwaite, Trewartha, Lang,
Ayoda, De-mortonne, Subrahamanyam, Reichel, Mayer, Kira etc. Koppen’s scheme
and Thornthwaite’s indices are mostly used for the classification of climate of India.
In the recent study, the following methods are applied for the determination of
climatic classification of Satara district.
(i) Koppen's Scheme
(ii) Thornthwaite's scheme
(iii) Lang's Rain Factor
(iv) De-Mortonee's index of aridity
5.1 KOPPEN’S SCHEME
A German Meteorologist Wladimir Koppen proposed the climatic
classification based on seasonal characteristic of temperature and rainfall in 1900 by
using vegetation cover. He revised his classification in 1918 and 1936. He used six
capital alphabets of A, B, C, D, E and H for the recognition of principal categories.
These letters define the main climatic zone, where other two small additional letters
added for demarcating the rainfall and temperature characteristics. The following
Table V.I shows the scheme of Koppen’s climatic classification.
194
TABLE V.I
TYPES OF CLIMATE BY KOPPEN (1936)1
Major types First order sub-divisions Second order sub-divisions
Af-wet all seasons or
constant rain
A – Tropical rainy
Am-monsoon type Asi – isothermal
climates
Aw-dry tropical (savanna)
As-dry summers (rare)
BSh –(semi arid)
BS –steppe BSk- cool semi-arid
midlatitude steppe
B- Dry climates BWh- (arid) low latitude
desert
BW- desert BWk-(arid), mid-latitude
desert.
Cf-Wet at ail seasons Cfa-Humid sub-tropical
Cfb-Marine west coast
Cs-dry summers
C- Humid mesothermal or subtropical or
warm temperate Mediterranean
rainy climates Cw-dry winters
Csf-rather dry summer,
very wet winter
Dfa-summer long and
warm continental
Df-wet at all seasons Dfb-summer long and cool
Dfc-summer short and cool
D- Humid micro thermal (sub-arctic)
or cold snow-forest Ds-dry summers
climates Dwa-continental with long
cool summer
Dw-dry winters Dwc-cool short
summer (sub-Arctic)
Dwd-cold winters
E-Polar or snow ET-tundra
climates ES-permanent snow fields
H- Mountain climates
1
Lal D.S. (2011): Climatology, Sharada Pustak Bhavan [Link].318-319
195
In the present study, mean annual and monthly rainfall and temperature (1983-
2012) have been used for the classification of this scheme. Based on Koppen’s
scheme, the Satara district is divided into the following two climatic zones (Figure 5.1
A) :
5.1.1 Tropical monsoon hot seasonally excessive rainfall (Am)
The tropical monsoon climate has a short dry in winter season and the rainfall
is heavy during the south west monsoon season. This zone observed the evergreen
rain forest. This climatic condition is found in the western part of the district. In this
type, the average temperature of coolest month is above 18o C and the rainfall in driest
month is less than 6 cm but equal or greater than 10-total rainfall/25 (10-r/25). The
whole Mahableshwar tahsil and western part of Jaoli, Wai and Patan tahsils are
occupied by this type.
5.1.2 Tropical Savanna, hot, seasonal dry in winter (Aw)
This climate is called tropical savanna grassland. The main feature of this
climate is monsoon deciduous forest. In this type of climate, temperature of the
coolest month is above 18o C, May is hottest month and winter is dry. The rainfall in
the driest month is less than 10-r/25 and annual rainfall mostly received in the south
west monsoons season. The central and eastern part of the district is occupied by this
wet and dry tropical savanna climate. Satara, Khatav, Khandala, Phaltan, Koregaon,
Man, Karad tahsils, and eastern and central part of Patan, Wai and Jaoli tahsils
occupied such types of climate.
5.2 THORNTHWAIT’ S SCHEME
American Meteorologist C.W. Thornthwaite introduced scheme of climatic
classification in 1931 and 1948. The scheme of 1931 was closed to the Koppen’s
scheme and 1948 was based on potential evapotranspiration (PE). In 1955
Thornthwaite and Mather revised this classification and proposed by using moisture
index, thermal efficiency and summer concentration.
In the present study, three components are calculated, i.e, Moisture Index,
Thermal Efficiency and Summer Concentration of the Satara district on the basis
Thornthwaite scheme.
196
5.2.1 Moisture Index and Humidity Province of Satara district
The moisture index is requiring for the calculation of degree of aridity and
identify of humidity province. The moisture index (Im) of Thornthwaite and Mather
(1978) is calculated by using following formula.
Im = 100((P/PE) – 1),
Where,
Im = moisture index
P= mean annual precipitation
PE = annual potential evapotranspiration
The humidity province and moisture index according to the Thornthwaite
classification are given in Table [Link]. The value of 0 separated to the dry and humid
climate. The negative values indicate dry and arid climatic condition and positive
values shows humid climate. Based on moisture index, Thornthwaite defined nine
climatic classes.
TABLE [Link]
MOISTURE INDEX AND HUMIDITY PROVINCE2
Moisture index Humidity province Letter
100 and Above Per-humid A
80 to 100 B4
60 to 80 B3
Humid
40 to 60 B2
20 to 40 B4
0 to20 Moist subhumid C2
-33 to 0 Dry subhumid C1
-67 to -33 Semi-arid D
Below -67 Arid E
Moisture index of Satara district ranges from +727.6 at Mahableshwar to -61.2
at Phaltan (Table V.V). It defined the climatic class from per humid to the semi arid.
Satara district is divided in three moisture regions on this basis.
2
Awasthi, (1995), Indian Climatology, APH Publishing Corporation, New [Link]-157.
197
(i) A- Per humid
(ii) C1 - Dry sub humid
(iii) D- Semi arid
5.2.2 Thermal Efficiency (TE) and Thermal Province
The thermal efficiency shows the amount of energy present at the particular
location. The thermal efficiency is calculated from temperature fluctuation at 32
Fahrenheit. The following formula is used for the computation of TE.
TE=Σ12 (t-32/4)
Where,
TE= Thermal efficiency
Σ12 = sum of annual temperature
t= monthly temperature in Fahrenheit
On the basis of TE, Thornthwaite defined nine thermal provinces of A to E.
The following table shows the Thermal efficiency index of Thornthwaite.
TABLE [Link]
THERMAL EFFICIENCY INDEX3
TE Index (cm) Thermal Province Letter
114 and Above Megathermal A’
99.7 to 114 B’4
85.5 to 99.7 Mesothermal B’3
71.2 to 85.5 B’2
57 to 71.2 B’1
42.7 to 57 C’2
Microthermal
28.5 to 42.7 C’1
14.2 to 28.5 Tundra D’
Below 14.2 Frost E’
Thermal efficiency index of Satara district ranges from +112.9 at
Mahableshwar to 142.1 at Phaltan (Table V.V). It defines the climatic class form per
Megathermal and Mesothermal. On this basis, the Satara district is divided into two
thermal provinces.
3
Awasthi, (1995), Indian Climatology, APH Publishing Corporation, New [Link]-160
198
(i) A’ Megathermal
Central and eastern part of the Satara District.
(ii) B’4 Mesothermal
Western part of Satara district.
5.2.3 Summer Concentration of Thermal Efficiency (SCTE)
The seasonal variation of temperature influenced the thermal efficiency index
of the geographical area. In the analysis of climatic class, they are required to the
identification of the seasonal variation of temperature. The summer month shows
maximum variation in temperature and highest potential evapotranspiration. The
following formula is used for the identification of summer concentration index of
thermal efficiency.
ST
X 100
AT
Where,
SCTE = Summer concentration index of thermal efficiency
ST = Total temperature of summer month
AT= Sum of annual temperature
On the basis of SCTE, Thornthwaite has defined eight climatic classes which
are depicted in the Table- [Link].
TABLE [Link]
SUMMER CONCENTRATION INDEX OF THERMAL EFFICIENCY
(SCTE)4
S.C.T.E. % Climatic types
Below 48 a’
48 to 51.9 b’3
51.9 to 56.3 b’3
56.3 to 61.6 b’2
61.6 to 68 b’1
68 to 76.3 c’2
76.3 to 88 c’1
Above 88 d
4
Awasthi, (1995), Indian Climatology, APH Publishing Corporation, New [Link]-162
199
The summer concentration index of thermal efficiency exceeds 50% (Table
V.V). It ranges from 49.9 % (Mahableshwar) to 52% (Phlatan) and increases toward
the eastward direction.
In the Satara district, three stations are used for the analysis of climatic
classification based on Thornthwaite’s method. The following table is defining
climatic regions in the Satara district.
TABLE V.V
Moisture Index (Im), Thermal Efficiency (TE), Summer Concentration Index of
Thermal Efficiency (SCTE) (1983-2012)
Station Im Climate TE Climate SCTE Climate
A B’4
Mahableshwar 727.6 Per humid 112.9 Mesothermal 49.9 b’
C1 A’
Satara -7.8 Dry sub humid 134.8 Megathermal 51.7 b’
D A’
Phaltan -61.2 Semiarid 142.1 Megathermal 52.0 b’3
Source- Complied by researcher
Climatic Region of Satara district on Thornthwaite’s scheme
The figure 5.1 (B) is showing the climatic region of Satara district on
Thornthwaite’s classification.
(i) AB’4b- (Perhumid Mesothermal)
This type of climate is observed in the western high range of the Satara
district. Mahableshwar, Western part of Wai, Jaoli and Patan tahsils show such
types of climate.
(ii) C1A’b’ (Dry Subhumid Megathermal)
The central part of the district shows this type of climatic condition. Satara,
Koregaon, Khandala, Karad and eastern part of Wai, Jaoli and Patan tahsils show
this climatic class.
200
(iii) DA’b’3 (Semiarid Megathermal)
This type of climate is found in the eastern part of the district. Phaltan,
Khatav and Man tahsils occupied such types of climatic classification.
5.3 LANG’S RAIN FACTOR
The Lang investigates the relationship between natural vegetation and climate
on the basis of rain factor in 1920. The rain factor is calculated by dividing the mean
annual rainfall by the mean annual temperature in 0C. This rain factor determines the
index of aridity. It is mostly used by the climatologists, agriculturalist and botanists.
For the agriculture planning, this index is mostly used in the worldwide. The
following formula is used for the compute of index:
Annual precipitation in mm
Mean annual temperature in degree celcius
The following Table [Link] shows the schemes of climatic classification
according to Long's rain factor. Table - [Link] and Figure 5.1 (C) show the Lang’s rain
factor index of the Satara district.
TABLE [Link]
SCHEMES OF CLIMATIC CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO LANG'S
RAIN FACTOR5
Lang's Rain factor Index Climatic type
100 HP - Per-humid
66 H-Humid
50 HS2 - Sub-humid, moist
34 HS1 - Sub-humid dry
17 AS - Semi-arid
<17 A- Arid
5
Awasthi, (1995), Indian Climatology, APH Publishing Corporation, New [Link]-147.
201
202
TABLE [Link]
SATARA DISTRCT LANG'S RAIN FACTOR INDEX
(1983-2012)
Station Rain Factor Climatic Types
Mahableshwar 277.7 HP Per Humid
Phaltan 20.8 AS- Semi Arid
Satara 35.2 HS1 Sub Humid Dry
Source- Complied by researcher
In the Satara district, the Lang’s rain factor index ranges from 20.8 at Phaltan
to 277.7 at Mahableshwar. Based on this factor the district is divided into the three
climatic regions.
i) HP - Per Humid -
The western part of district shows these types of climate. Mahableshwar,
Western part of Wai Jaoli, Patan tahsils come under this class.
i) AS- Semi Arid
The central part of the district shows such types of climate. Satara, Khandala,
Koregaon, Karad, eastern part of Patan, Wai and Jaoli tahsils occupied such
climatic classification.
ii) HS1- Sub Humid Dry
The eastern part of district, e.i., Man, Khatav and Phaltan tahsils occupied this
type of climatic classification.
5.4 DE-MORTONNE’S INDEX OF ARIDITY
De-Mortonne modified the Lang’s rain factor and suggested new index of
aridity in 1926. Its aridity index is calculated for the annual rainfall in mm. It is
divided by the mean annual temperature in °C + 10. De –Mortonne has used this
index for the climatic classification in France. The following formula is used for
calculation of De Mortonne’s index6:
6
Awasthi, (1995), Indian Climatology, APH Publishing Corporation, New [Link]-149.
203
'
&
( ) 10
Where,
I = index of aridity
P = mean annual rainfall (mm)
T = mean annual temperature (0C)
According to De-Mortonne’s ‘Index of Aridity’, the value of I is less than 20,
the climate becomes considered arid, where above is sub humid to per humid. The
index of aridity of Satara district varies from 15.1 at Phaltan to 187.8 at
Mahableshwar (Table [Link]).
TABLE [Link]
DE-MORTONNE’S INDEX OF ARIDITY
(1983-2012)
Station Mean Rainfall Mean Temperature Index of Aridity
Mahableshwar 5804.6 20.9 187.8
Satara 877.7 24.9 25.1
Phaltan 546.5 26.3 15.1
Source- Complied by researcher
The spatial distribution of ‘Aridity Index’ is depicted in the Figure 5.1 (D).
The western part of district shows the arid climatic condition, where western part
shows per humid. De-Mortonne’s index is decreased toward the eastward direction.
5.5 AGROCLIMATIC CLASSIFICATION
The agroclimatic classification is defining the major climate condition and its
suitability for cultivation of certain crops. Local factors influenced the micro climatic
situation of the particular place. Many methods are used for the identification of the
agroclimatic zone of the world. The planning commission (1985-90) has divided India
into 15 agro-climatic zones using various parameters. Indian meteorology department,
Pune classifies the country into different climatic zones on the basis of temperature,
rainfall and altitude. The rainfall, temperature, vegetation cover, soil and altitude are
204
the major determinants of agroclimatic class. These all factors are superimposed on
the spatial distribution maps of Satara district and have divided the district into four
agroclimatic zones. Figure 5.2 depicted the agroclimatic classification of the Satara
district. The four zones are:
5.5 1 North West zone
This zone includes the Mahableshwar tahsil. This zone received more than
5000 mm annual rainfall and mean temperature below 21o C. The average elevation of
this zone is above 1200 meter with dense vegetation cover. The zone occupied with
medium and shallow laterite soils. The heavy rainfall received in the kharif season
and fog during rabbi season. This zone is suitable for the cultivation of rice, ragi vari,
nachani and sava during kharif season and strawberry and goose berry during cold
season. This zone is suitable for the growth of medicine plants. Strawberry and rice
are the principal crop of this zone.
5.5.2 Western zone
This zone is occupied with the high range and foot hill zone of Sahyadri
Mountain. Western part of Satara tahsil and western and central part of Wai, Patan
and Mahabaleshwar occupy this zone. The mean annual rainfalls of this zone are 1000
to 4000 mm and mean annual temperature is 21 to 22o C. The average elevation is 900
to 1200 meter with semi evergreen forest. The soil is mainly medium and deep
laterite. This zone is suitable for the cultivation of rice, ragi vari, nachani, sava and
jowar in kharif season and jowar, grams, wheat, maize and vegetables in the rabbi
season. The lowlands of Urmodi, Tarali and Koyana rivers in this zone are suitable for
the cash crops.
5.5.3 Central zone
This zone includes the low lands of Krishna river basin in the Satara,
Koregaon, Wai, Patan and Karad tahsils and Nira basin in the Khandala tahsil. The
mean annual temperature of this zone is 22 to 24o C and average annual rainfall is 600
to 1000 mm. The average elevation with 600 to 900 meter occupied with deciduous
forest. The soil types are deep and medium black with high water holding capacity.
205
206
This zone is suitable for the cash crops like sugarcane, floriculture, vegetables
and spices. Optimum irrigation facility and fertilizers increased the productivity of
this zone.
5.5.4 Eastern zone
This zone is in the central and eastern part of the district. Eastern part of
Khandala, Koregaon and Karad tahsils and whole Phaltan, Man and Khatav tahsils
occupied of this zone. The average annual rainfalls are below 600 mm and mean
temperature is above 24o C. The soil type is shallow and medium black with low
fertility. This zone is mostly suitable for horticulture viz, mango, pomgrante and
lemon. The northern part of this zone is suitable for the sugarcane and turmeric
cultivation. However, the central part is suitable for groundnut, cotton, wheat and
jowar crops. The eastern part of this zone is suitable for bajara, jowar and pulses.
The above suggested agroclimatic zone is suitable for certain crops. It is
required for its implementation for the better agriculture management of Satara
district.
207