CLIMATIC ZONES IN INDIA

 India possesses a large variety of climates ranging from extremely hot desert regions to high
altitude locations with severely cold conditions similar to northern Europe.
 Within India it is possible to define six regions with distinct climates.
 The criteria of allocating any location in India to one of the five climate zones are that the
defined conditions prevail for more than six months.
 In cases where none of these categories can be identified for six months or longer, the
climatic zone is called Composite.
 On this basis, Bansal and Minke, 1988, originally produced the Climatic Zones in India Map
by evaluation of the mean monthly data from 233 weather stations, and then delineating
the six climatic zones.

 The following zones that dominantly cover the entire areas of India are designated as:

1. Cold & Sunny

2. Cold & Cloudy
3. Moderate
4. Composite
5. Warm & humid
6. Hot and Dry

1. Cold & Sunny: (Leh & Ladakh)

 Leh in Ladakh is a "mountain desert."

 There is very little precipitation and the temperatures vary greatly between the day and
night and also from summer to winter.
 The traditional Ladhaki settlement is usually built on steep slopes facing southward.
 This allows good insolation during the day.
 Heavy walls (mud) and a well insulated roof (timber & mud) dampen the variations of
indoor temperatures.
 The use of glass and nowadays, trombe- wall is very successful as heat can be stored in the
building mass during the day, to stay warm indoors at night.

Mean Monthly Temp. (°C) <25

Mean Monthly R.H. (%) <55
Mean Monthly Precipitation <5
No. of clear days in a month >20
2. Cold & Cloudy: (J&K, Himachal, NW UP, Niligiri)

 Winters are prolonged and summers are short in this climate.

 There is also a fair amount of precipitation- snow or rain, often spread across the year.
 The traditional homes and villages of the sub - Himalayan region are built on hill slopes that
would receive a fair amount of sunshine.
 The lower floor is occupied by cattle and used for storage.
 The upper floor which is away from cold and damp ground has the living rooms.
 The cooking area is a part of it, in order to benefit from the heat generated by it.
 Low timber ceiling provide insulation and conserve the warmth.
 Windows face the sun.

Mean Monthly Temp. (°C) <25

Mean Monthly R.H. (%) >55
Mean Monthly Precipitation >5
No. of clear days in a month <20

3. Moderate: (Bangalore, Deccan)

 This is a climate which is generally comfortable; neither too hot, nor too cold, and where all
of us should be staying!
 All you need to do is be shaded and insulated from direct sun, let in a little breeze when you
feel stuffy or warm: and shut the window if it is chilly or wear some light woolens.
 In Banglore, the ideal comfortable house is built of heavy walls with high ceiling rooms, with
windows that you can shut and open, surrounded by a shade giving verandah.
 High ceilings reduce the effect of heat that would radiate down from the roof which would
get hot under the sun.
 This will also allow the warm air to rise and escape through ventilators, high up in the
walls.

Mean Monthly Temp. (°C) 25-30

Mean Monthly R.H. (%) <75
Mean Monthly Precipitation <5
No. of clear days in a month <20

4. Composite: (New Delhi)

 New Delhi has a Composite climate.

 It has a very hot and dry summer, followed by a humid season with monsoon rains.
 With the departure of the monsoon it gradually becomes comfortable in autumn, followed
by a short winter with the cloudy and wet as well as sunny periods.
 Before the summer returns there is a comfortable but short spring season.
 The Rang Mahal at the Red Fort royal palace has spaces suitable for every season.
 Rooms have thick walls and small openings for summer days and winter nights.
 Verandahs are for evenings and mornings.
 There is a screened balcony that will cut out the sun but enjoy the monsoon breeze during
the humid season.
 Additionally, there is water stream flowing through the middle and the screens and awnings
that can be raised or lowered to modulate the light, provide shade, or insulate against the
heat or cold.

Mean Monthly Temp. (°C) 25-30

Mean Monthly R.H. (%) <75
Mean Monthly Precipitation <5
No. of clear days in a month <20

5. Warm & humid: (Trivandrum, Coastal Areas/ North East)

 High humidity, strong sun, glare from the sky and horizon characterize this climate.
 There are long monsoon periods with heavy rain.
 But the breezes, especially in coastal areas, can alleviate discomfort considerably.
 The Padmanabhapuram Palace in Trivandrum, responds to the climate with steep sloping
high tiled roofs, with deep eaves.
 The sides are open to the breeze, and air ventilates up through the porous tile roofs,
ensuring that the indoor temperature does not build up.
 Using open slatted or perforated timber screens on sides of verandahs cuts out glare,
ensures privacy but allows the breeze flow across the rooms.
 Walls are white to reflect the sun, and often completely shaded by the verandahs.
 For a cluster of buildings, an openness of planning, to allow the natural breeze to flow
through them is of paramount importance.

Mean Monthly Temp. (°C) >30

Mean Monthly R.H. (%) -
Mean Monthly Precipitation >5
No. of clear days in a month -

6. Hot & Dry: (Rajasthan, Gujarat)

 Very high daytime temperatures, with very little precipitation and a short and mild winter
season characterize this climate.
 Another important characteristic is a high diurnal temperature variation.
 You can be boiling during the day and cold at night.
 This is due to the rapid radiative heat loss from the ground or the building to the clear night
sky.
 The desert town of Jaisalmer deals with this by building homes that abut against each other,
with the inner rooms opening towards small courtyards and the front rooms opening
through screened openings towards narrow shaded streets.
 This pattern minimizes the exposure of building surfaces to the outside.
 The buildings are of heavy mass and the windows small, because of which the indoor
temperature changes very little through the day or night, staying close to a more
comfortable daily mean temperature.
 In summers, even though the day is hot, nights are cool, and people spend time out on the
roof terrace.
 Because humidity is low, if water was available, cooling by evaporation of water would be
an easy and effective way of obtaining thermal comfort.

Mean Monthly Temp. (°C) >30

Mean Monthly R.H. (%) <55
Mean Monthly Precipitation <5
No. of clear days in a month >20