The district
has a humid climate with an oppressive hot season from March to the end
of May. This is followed by the South-West monsoon which continues till
the end of September. October and Novermber from the post-monsoon or
retreating monsoon season. The North East monsoon which follows, extends
up to the end of February, although the rain generally ceases after
December.
During
the months of April and May,
the mean daily maximum temperature is about 35o Celsius.
Temperature is low in December and January- about 20o Celsius. On
certain days the night temperature may go down to 16o Celsius.
The
annual average rainfall is 3438 mm and more than 80 percent of it occurs
during the period of South- West monsoon. The rainfall during July is
very heavy and the district receives 68 percent of the annual rainfall
during this season.
Mineral
Resources
Minerals
China
clay is found in abundance in Thaliparamba and Kannur taluks of Kannur
district. Theses resources are not fully utilized in the district.
The
district is endowed with rich deposits of clay of which various types
are mined at many places for potteries, tiles and ceramic industries.
The most important areas where clay has been found are Pattuvam, Korom,
Perumba and Karivellore. Good quality kaolin occurs below the laterite
capping around Pilathara and Thaliparamba.
There are
a number of tile manufacturing centers along the coastal areas. Because
of the abundant availability of clay, there is great scope for
development of clay based industrial in the district.
Latterite
is quarried for bricks throughout the district on a small scale to meet
the local demand. Extensive quarrying is done in Kambil, kalyassery and
Cheruthazham areas.
Thin
horizons of lingnite are noted in the cliff sections at Kannur coast,
Pazhayangadi and Meenkunnu.
Beach
sands containing ilmenities, monazite, zircon, thorianite occur along
the coast, especially to the south of Valapattanam river mouth and near
Azhikode. Other minerals discovered recently are sillimanite near
Chandirukunnu, graphite near Payyavur, Manakadavu and minor bands of
iron ore near Cherukunnu Railway Station.
Many
occurances of bauxite deposits have been brought to light in the
district at Madayi, Korom, Payyavur and Pattuam near Thaliparamaba. They
may find use in the manufacture of refractories and cement as they are
not of high grade.
Limeshells
used for the manufacture of white cement and for industrial purposes are
found in the backwaters of Eranholi river, Dharmadam puzha, Anjarakandi
river around Thalassery and
Dharmadam as well as Valapattanam river in the east of Azhikkal ferry.
