ClimClass and ClimClassMap: two r-packages for climatic and agro-bioclimatic indices: an application to Trentino

Information required for climate classifications is usually simple: monthly means of temperature and precipitation. R-library ClimClass allows the calculation of the most widely climate classification – Köppen - and of several indices of aridity and continentality. If a time series is available, the package can calculate Thornthwaite’s water balance, and classify or compare climate at different sites with the relevant statistics. The graphical section of ClimClass plots three classes of diagrams: Bagnouls – Gaussen’s, Péguy’s, and the percentiles of a family of water balance variables. ClimClass also includes two functions for the calculation of agro-bioclimatic indices developed by the Intern. Organiz. of Grapevine and Wine (OIV). ClimClassMap applies some functions of ClimClass to raster objects, allowing to trace index maps. An application of some functions is proposed for Trentino, northern Italy; the comparison of two climate periods (1961-’90 and 1981-’10) allows to assess the climatic and bioclimac shift in the last decades.