Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tiwari, Arpit; Nanjundan, Preethi; Kumar, Ravi Ranjan; Ratna, Satyaban Bishoyi Title A name given to the resource Transition in Kpen Climate Zones and Its Impacts on Hydroclimatic Extremes Across India Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2026 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived International Journal of Climatology; Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.70381" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.70381</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105035168598?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105035168598?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tiwari A., Christ University, Lavasa, Pune, India, Climate Research and Services, India Meteorological Department, Pune, India; Nanjundan P., Christ University, Lavasa, Pune, India; Kumar R.R., Climate Research and Services, India Meteorological Department, Pune, India; Ratna S.B., Climate Research and Services, India Meteorological Department, Pune, India Description An account of the resource Shifting climatic zones across India are reshaping the country's hydroclimatic balance, with significant consequences for drought behaviour and water security. This study examines how spatial changes in KpenGeiger climate zones between two climatological periods (19611990 and 19912020) are influencing long-term drought characteristics. Using high-resolution gridded rainfall and temperature data from the India Meteorological Department, the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) are used to assess drought intensity and extent across five major climate categories: tropical, arid, temperate, continental and polar. Results reveal a noticeable expansion of the arid zone by 3.86% and a contraction of the temperate zone by 6.94%, indicating a transition toward warmer and drier climates. These spatial shifts have altered regional drought behaviour, with formerly moderate zones experiencing more frequent and intense droughts. The arid and tropical zones, where expansion is observed, show increasing drought severity, largely driven by rising evapotranspiration due to temperature increases of 0.12C0.25C/decade (Tmax) and 0.10C0.20C/decade (Tmin). In contrast, regions where the temperate climate is receding are showing a loss of climatic buffering capacity against drought. SPEI captures more widespread and severe drought events than SPI, underscoring the increasing role of thermal stress in water balance anomalies. This study highlights that changes in the spatial extent of climate zones are a key driver of evolving drought patterns in India. Recognising these shifts is essential for improving temperature-sensitive drought monitoring and formulating zone-specific adaptation strategies in the face of accelerating climate change. 2026 Royal Meteorological Society. Subject The topic of the resource climate change; climate zones; drought; hydroclimatic extremes; SPEI; SPI Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available John Wiley and Sons Ltd Relation A related resource ISSN: 8998418; CODEN: IJCLE Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online