Agro-climatic zonation of Uttarakhand using remote sensing and GIS

The climatic data of 32 stations of Uttarkahand and adjoining region were collected and the thematic layers of climatic parameters, annual average temperature and precipitation were generated using the spatial analyst Extension of ARC-View. The grid interpolation was applied to generate the surface of annual average temperature and later it was rectified with Digital Elevation Model (DEM) prepared with ASTER data and employing environmental lapse rate (0.65 degrees C / 100 m). Decision Tree Classifier (DTC) embedded in ENVI image processing software was used for agro-climatic zonation of Uttarakhand by considering climatic parameters of annual average temperature and precipitation. During the process of zonation, the temperature map of Uttarakhand was divided into four thermal regimes 1) <0 degrees C, 2) 0 degrees C - 10 degrees C, 3) 10 degrees C - 20 degrees C and 4) >20 degrees C, thereafter, boundaries of the precipitation distribution (in three regimes 1) < 800 mm, 2) 800-1400 mm, and 3) > 1400 mm) in the state have been overlaid on temperature regimes, which divided entire state of Uttarakhand into twelve Agro-climatic zones.