Current World Environment

Climate being a significant driver for best selection of crops in a region, allocation of similar climatic zones has always received plunge.Twenty per cent or more precipitation decrease is anticipated for many parts of the arid regions in the next century. Rainfall is a crucial agro-climatological factor in the seasonally arid parts of the world and its analysis is an essential prerequisite for agricultural planning in India. Ninety years (1911-2000) of both South West Monsoon (SWM) and North East Monsoon (NEM) rainfall data of Tamil Nadu (excluding urbanite Chennai)and potential evapotranspiration data were collected and analysed. The moisture index (Im) was computed based on Thornthwaite and Mather model. Based on the moisture index value of the SWM and NEM, the districts were classified under different climate groups.Over 90 years study, seven districts comes under arid (E), 17 under semi-arid(D), five under dry sub humid(C1) and one each in moist sub humid(C2) and per humid (A) class respectively(SWM period). During NEM no districts registered under (E) or (D) climate class. Further seven districts fell each in (C1) and (C2) class respectively and12 districts comes under Humid(B) and five districts under (A) climate class for Tamil Nadu.During SWM, both the data slice (30 years) and decadal (10 years) analysis explored Trichy district might experience severe moisture stress compared to the past. Madurai, Perambalur and Virudhunagar showed a change from (B1) to (C2) during NEM which showed there might be a change in reduction in soil moisture status among the data slice period.  Remaining districts fell within the same climate group.