CLIMATIC ZONES OF

INDIA
CLIMATOLOGY

Prepared By- Ar.Roopa Chikkalgi. BGS SAP

CLIMATIC ZONES OF INDIA
Regions having similar characteristic features of climate are grouped under one
climatic zone. Based on the factors influencing climate viz.

■ Temperature
■ Humidity
■ Precipitation
■ Sky condition
■ Solar radiation
■ Wind
■ Vegetation
Climate of India
India is divided in to six climatic zones

• Hot and Dry

• Warm and Humid

• Moderate

• Cold & Cloudy

• Cold & Sunny

• Composite
Climatic Zones of India
Mean Monthly Temp. Mean Monthly R.H. Mean Monthly
Zone (°C) (%) Precipitation
(c.m.)

Hot & Dry >30 <55 <5

Hot & Humid >25-30 <55-75 >5

Cold <20 55 5

Moderate 25-30 <75 <5

Composite It has a very hot and dry summer, followed by a humid season with monsoon
rains.
HOT AND DRY CLIMATE
▪Places like Rajasthan, Ahmadabad, Gujarat comes
under this region.

▪An important characteristic is a high temperature

variation, Very high temperature during day and cold at
night.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HOT AND DRY CLIMATE
TEMPERATURE
■ IN SUMMER, 40-45ºC DURING DAY & 20-30ºC AT NIGHT.
■ IN WINTER, 5-25ºC DURING DAY & 0-10ºC AT NIGHT.

HUMIDITY
■ HUMIDITY IS VERY LOW RANGING FROM 25-40%

PRECIPITATION
■ DUE TO VERY LESS RAINFALL THE ANNUAL PRECIPITATION IS LESS THAN 50 mm.

SKY CONDITIONS
■ SKY IS NORMALLY CLEAR AND BLUE.
■ SOMETIMES DUST STORMS FILL COMPLETE SKY AND CREATE UNBEARABLE GLARE.

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF HOT AND
DRY CLIMATE
SOLAR RADIATIONS
■ SOLAR RADIATION IS DIRECT AND STRONG DURING DAY AND OFTEN ESCAPES INTO CLEAR SKIES DURING
NIGHTS.

WIND
■ HIGH SPEED DUSTY WINDS (20 TO 30 KM/HR )ARE VERY COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF CLIMATE.
■ WIND OFTEN CHANGE DIRECTIONS LOCALLY.

SOIL AND VEGETATION

■ SOIL IS VERY LOOSE AND SANDY WITH VERY POOR VEGETATION.
■ ONLY THICK LEAVES AND THORNY PLANTS CAN EASILY SURVIVE HERE.
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

■ ARCHITECTS MAIN AIM IS TO AVOID HOT SUN AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

■ TO CAPTURE AS MUCH COOL AIR AS POSSIBLE.

 HOT AND DRY REGION
▪ Places like Rajasthan, Ahmadabad, Gujarat comes under this region.
▪ An important characteristic is a high temperature variation, Very high temperature during day and cold at night.
▪ BUILDING FORM AND ORIENTATION
▪ Orientation and placement to minimize sun exposure.
▪ Compact form to reduce surface areas of heat gain.
▪ Courtyard or Portico with vegetation for natural
ventilation, and small water body for humidity control.
▪ Small openings in thick white coloured exterior walls.
▪ Double roof or white coloured single roof.
 DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS
ORIENTATION
1. NORTH –SOUTH ORIENTATION BEST SUITS FOR THIS TYPE OF CLIMATE AS IT PROTECTS FROM MORNING
AND EVENING SOLAR RADIATIONS.

SUN
RAYS WILL
HOUSE PLANS BE LESS
HARSH
HERE.

WINDOW

WINDOW
DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS
HOUSE PLANS
1. COMPACT PLANS ARE PREFFRED AS THESE WILL EXPOSE MINIMUM SURFACE TO HARSH SOLAR
RADIATIONS.

2. DEEPER ROOMS ARE BETTER AGAINST HOT OUTSIDE SOLAR RADIATIONS.

3. INWARD LOOKING PLANS BEST SUITS FOR THIS TYPE OF CLIMATE AS THESE STRAIGHT AWAY PROTECT
US FROM EXTERNAL SOLAR HEAT AND RADIATIONS.

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DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS
HOUSE PLANS
4. COURTYARD PLANNING ALONG WITH SOME TREES AND SMALL WATER BODY CREATES VERY GOOD COOL
MICROCLIMATE AS EVAPORATIVE COOLING EFFECTS OCCURES IN THIS TYPE OF COURTYARD.

5. THICKER EXTERNAL WALLS WITH MINIMUM WINDOWS SHOULD BE USED TO AVOID HEAT AND SOLAR
RADIATIONS.

6. HEAT PRODUCING AREAS SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM OTHER AREAS OF HOUSE.

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DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS THICK
EXTERNAL
WALLS

COURT YARD
WITH
VEGETATION

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COURTYARD EFFECT
DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS
ROOFS
1. ROOF SHOULS BE INSULATED FROM HOT SOLAR RADIATIONS.
2. THICKER INSULATING MATERIALS SHOULD BE USED FOR THIS.
3. A LIGHT COLOURED OR TOTALLY WHITE TERRACE SURFACE WILL REDUCE EFFECT OF HOT SOLAR
RADIATIONS.
4. ROOFS SHOULD BE MADE HIGHER SO THAT RADIATIONS FROM CEILING IS LESS HARSH AND THERE IS
ENOUGH SPACE FOR HOT DICIPATED AIR.

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DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS
WALLS
1. THE WALLS OF DAY TIME LIVING AREAS SHOULD BE MADE OF HEAT STORING MATERIALS SO THAT THESE CAN
STORE HEAT IN DAY TIME AND KEEP THE INSIDE COOL AND RADIATE HOT SOLAR RADIATION BACK IN TO
ATMOSPHERE DURING NIGHT.

2. EASTERN AND WESTERN WALLS SHOULD BE SHADED WITH TREES OR SOME OTHER SCREENS.

3. DOUBLE WALL CONSTRUCTION WITH PROPER VENTILATION MAY ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED ON WESTERN SIDE.

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SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED
FOR HOT DRY ZONES

CONCRETE
HOLLOW
BLOCK
HOLLOW BLOCK CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE ALSO HELP IN THERMAL INSULATION OF
BUILDINGS.
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DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS

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DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS
OPENINGS
1. EXTERNAL OPENINGS SHOULD BE SMALL.
2. EASTERN AND WESTERN SIDE WINDOWS SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY TREES.
3. LARGE GLASS AREAS SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
4. DEEP SUN SHADES ARE REQUIRED TO SHADE WINDOWS EFFICTEVELY.
5. IT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE,IF WE SOME HOW ,SEPARATE OUR SUN SHADES FROM MAIN STRUCTURE .
6. WINDOW SILLSHOULD BE HIGHER TO PROVIDE DUST PROTECTION

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SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED FOR
HOT DRY ZONES

THERMAL INSULATING MATERIAL IS USED TO PROTECT BUILDING FROM TOP SUN.

DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS
INTERIORS
1. LIGHT COOL COLOURS SHOULD BE USED FOR INTERIORS .
2. SURFACES THAT MAY REFLECT RADIATIONS SHOULD BE PAINTED DARK TO REDUCE GLARING EFFECT.

EXTERIORS
1. DARK SURFACES SHOULD BE AVOIDED AS THESE WOULD ABSORB HEAT.
2. LIGHT COLOURED /SHINEY REFLECTIVE SURFACES SHOULD BE USED TO REFLECT SOLAR HEAT.
3. PROVIDE AS MUCH GREEN SURFACE AS POSSIBLE AS THIS WILL COOL THE SURROUNDINGS.
4. AVOID HARD PAVED SURFACES AS THESE MAY CREATE GLARE AND RADIATE HEAT INSIDE THE BUILDING.

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SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED FOR
HOT DRY ZONES ZONES

DOUBLE ROOF TECHNIQUE PROTECT MAIN STRUCTURE FROM SOLAR HEAT. 23

SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED FOR
HOT DRY ZONES

SOLAR
PANELS

HOT SOLAR RADIATIONS CAN BE CONVERTED IN USEFULL ELECTRICITY BY USING

PHOTOVOLTIC CELLS. 24
SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED FOR
HOT DRY

SUN PROTECTION DEVICES(PERGOLAS) ARE USED TO PROTECT FRONT FACADES

OF HOT DRY REGION. 25
SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED FOR
HOT DRY ZONES

USE OF WINDOWS AND DIFFERENT TYPE OF LOUVERED SUN SHADES ALSO

REDUCE SUN’S HARSHNESS. 26
SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED FOR
HOT DRY ZONES

USE OF DEEPER ENTRANCE DOOR AND BROAD EAVES 27

SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES/ MATERIALS USED
FOR HOT DRY ZONES

EAVES TO PROTECT FROM GLARE OF SUN . 28

HOT AND DRY REGION
BUILDING MATERIALS AND OPENINGS
▪ Sun-dried earth bricks one of the poorest conductors of heat.
▪ Openings and windows are necessary for natural lighting and ventilation. More windows should be provided in the north
facade of the building as compared to the east, west and south as it receives lesser radiation throughout the year.

▪The exterior thick walls of brick, stone to store heat energy in daytime and radiate at cold night.

▪Hot air from interior went out by stack effect complemented by the arrangement and size of openings.

▪Using materials that take a longer time to heat up.

▪Providing buffer spaces (lobbies, etc.) between the living areas and the outside.
HOT AND DRY CLIMATE
BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS

1. NORTH –SOUTH ORIENTATION AS IT PROTECTS FROM MORNING AND EVENING SOLAR RADIATIONS.

2. BEDROOMS SHOULD BE ORIENTED TO RECEIVE COOL NIGHT AIR.

3. COURTYARD ALONG WITH SOME TREES AND SMALL WATER BODY CREATES COOLING EFFECTS.

4. THICKER EXTERNAL WALLS WITH MINIMUM WINDOWS TO AVOID HEAT AND SOLAR RADIATIONS.

5. WINDOW SILL SHOULD BE HIGHER TO PROVIDE DUST PROTECTION.

6. DEEP SUN SHADES ARE REQUIRED TO SHADE WINDOWS EFFECTIVELY.

HOT AND DRY CLIMATE
DESIGN / PLANNING CONCEPTS

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FINALLY A COMPLETE GOOD AND EFFECTIVE BUILDING
OF A HOT & DRY REGION

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