Climate in kerala

There was a diversity of climate in Kerala. Kerala alone has the two monsoons-Edavapathi and Thulavarsham.Thus we get rainfall both from the south west and northeast monsoons.We have an average rainfall of 116”, average temperature of 81 o and anaverage humidity of 82o.The abundance of rainfall enabled the people to chooseagriculture as their main occupation.Agriculture, as often said, is a gamble in themonsoon. 

The variations in climate and seasons had their impact on vegetation andagriculture.The two main crops-Virippu and Muntakan-were dependent on rain fall.Theclimatic factors have influenced our History also. The epoch making discovery of S.W.monsoon by Hippalus, the Egyptian pilot in 45 AD facilitated the direct see voyage fromthe Persian gulf to Kerala.The climatic factors also condition the military operations inKerala (e.g) Tippu’s retreat due to Periyar flood in 1789.The monsoon has caused floodsin rivers.It was uncle monsoon who saved the Cochin Raja and his Portuguese allies fromthe Zamorins attack in 1503.The fauna and flora has made Kerala ‘the God’s own country’.The forests of Kerala arerich in woods, animals and birds of rare varieties.In ancient times, Kerala seems to haveexported the elephant, the peacock and the monkey to the west. It also exported aromaticplants, spices, ivory, teak and coir.It was the demand for spices, especially the Black Gold(pepper) that brought the Europeans to Kerala, leading to the Da Gama Epoch of AsiaticHistory. Kerala is rich in mineral resources and white clay and graphite deposits. Kautilyarefers to River Churni from where pearls arefound.The fertile soil has facilitated thegrowth of agricultural villages.In short, geographical factors have influenced our historydeeply.It is one of the eyes of Kerala History.