Ch 4 Climate

Question / Answers
Q-1 What are the controls affecting the climate of India?
Ans - The six major controls of the climate are latitude, altitude, pressure and wind system,
distance from the sea, ocean currents and relief features.
1. Due to the shape of the earth, the amount of solar energy received varies according
to latitude. As a result, air temperature generally decreases from the equator
towards the poles, as one goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes.
2. On going from the earth’s surface to higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less
dense and temperature decreases. The hills are, therefore, cooler during summers.
3. The pressure and wind system of any area depends on the latitude and altitude of
the place. Thus, it influences the temperature and rainfall pattern. The sea exerts a
moderating influence on climate.
4. As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence decreases and the
people experience extreme weather conditions. This condition is known as
continentality (i.e., very hot during summers and very cold during winters).
5. Ocean currents along with onshore winds affect the climate of the coastal areas. For
example, any coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing past it, will be warmed
or cooled if the winds are onshore.
6. Relief too plays a major role in determining the climate of the place. High mountains
act as barriers for cold or hot winds; they may also cause precipitation it they are
high enough and lie in the path of rain-bearing winds. The leeward side of mountains
remains relatively dry.

Q-2 Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?

Ans - The monsoon type of climate is characterised by a distinct seasonal pattern.

1. The weather conditions greatly change from one season to the other. These changes
are particularly noticeable in the interior parts of the country.
2. The coastal areas do not experience much variation in temperature though there is
variation in rainfall patterns.
3. Four main seasons can be identified in India – the cold-weather season, the hot
weather season, the advancing monsoon, and the retreating monsoon with some
regional variations.

Q-3 Which winds account for rainfall along the Malabar Coast?
Ans - Surface winds account for rainfall along the Malabar coast.
Q-4 What are Jet streams and how do they affect the climate of India?
Ans - Jet streams are a narrow belt of high altitude (above 12,000 m) westerly winds in the
troposphere. Their speed varies from about 110 km/h in summer to about 184 km/h in
winter. A number of separate jet streams have been identified. The most constant is the
mid-latitude and the subtropical jet stream.

Over India, these jet streams blow south of the Himalayas, all through the year except in
summer. The western cyclonic disturbances experienced in the north and northwestern
parts of the country are brought in by this westerly flow. In summer, the subtropical
westerly jet stream moves north of the Himalayas with the apparent movement of the sun.
An easterly jet stream, called the tropical easterly jet stream blows over peninsular India,
approximately over 14°N during the summer months.

Q-5 Define monsoons. What do you understand by “breaks” in monsoon?

Ans - The seasonal reversal in wind direction during a year is called the monsoon. Monsoon
tends to have ‘breaks’ in rainfall; which means that there are wet and dry spells in between
The monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time and then come to the rainless
intervals.

Q-6 Why is the monsoon considered a unifying bond?

Ans - Despite great moderating influences on the climate of India, there are great variations
in the temperature conditions. Nevertheless, the unifying influence of the monsoon on the
Indian subcontinent is quite perceptible. The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and
the associated weather conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons.

Q-7 Why does the rainfall decrease from the east to the west in Northern India?
Ans - The western coast and northeastern India receive over about 400 cm of rainfall
annually. However, it is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat,
Haryana, and Punjab. Rainfall is equally low in the interior of the Deccan plateau, and east
of the Sahyadris. The third area of low precipitation is around Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
The rest of the country receives moderate rainfall.

Snowfall is restricted to the Himalayan region. Owing to the nature of monsoons, the
annual rainfall is highly variable from year to year. Variability is high in the regions of low
rainfall such as parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats. As
such, while areas of high rainfall are liable to be affected by floods, areas of low rainfall are
drought-prone.

Q-8 Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help of
suitable examples.
Ans - Despite an overall unity in the general pattern, there are perceptible regional
variations in climatic conditions within the country. The two important elements, which
cause these variations, are – temperature and precipitation.
For example, in summer, the mercury occasionally touches 50°C in some parts of the
Rajasthan desert, whereas it may be around 20°C in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. On a
winter night, the temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low as minus 45°C.
Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand, may have a temperature of 20°C.

Q-9 Discuss the mechanism of monsoons.

Ans - To understand the mechanism of the monsoons, the following facts are important.

1. The differential heating and cooling of land and water create a low pressure on the
landmass of India while the seas around experience comparatively high pressure.
2. The shift of the position of Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in summer, over
the Ganga plain (this is the equatorial trough normally positioned about 5°N of the
equator – also known as the monsoon trough during the monsoon season).
3. The presence of the high-pressure area, east of Madagascar, approximately 20°S over
the Indian Ocean. The intensity and position of this high-pressure area affect the
Indian Monsoon.
4. The Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated during summer, which results in strong
vertical air currents and the formation of high pressure over the plateau at about 9
km above sea level.
5. The movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas and the
presence of the tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during summer.

Q-10 Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.
Ans - The weather conditions greatly change from one season to the other. These changes
are particularly noticeable in the interior parts of the country. The coastal areas do not
experience much variation in temperature though there is variation in rainfall patterns. The
cold weather season begins from mid- November in northern India and stays till February.
December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India. The
temperature decreases from the south to the north. The average temperature of Chennai,
on the eastern coast, is between 24° – 25° Celsius, while in the northern plains, it ranges
between 10° – 15° Celsius. Days are warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in the north
and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.

Q-11 Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.
Ans - The characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.

1. The Monsoon, unlike the trades, are not steady winds but are pulsating in nature,
affected by different atmospheric conditions encountered by it, on its way over the
warm tropical seas. The duration of the monsoon is between 100- 120 days from
early June to mid-September. Around the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall
increases suddenly and continues constantly for several days. This is known as the
‘burst’ of the monsoon and can be distinguished from the pre-monsoon showers.
2. The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula generally by the first
week of June. Subsequently, it divides into two – the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay
of Bengal branch. The Arabian Sea branch reaches Mumbai about ten days later on
approximately the 10th of June. This is a fairly rapid advance.
 3. The Bay of Bengal branch also advances rapidly and arrives in Assam in the first week
of June. The lofty mountains cause the monsoon winds to deflect towards the west
over the Ganga plains. By mid-June, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon arrives
over Saurashtra-Kachchh and the central part of the country.
4. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal branches of the monsoon merge over the
northwestern part of the Ganga plains. Delhi generally receives the monsoon
showers from the Bay of Bengal branch by the end of June (tentative date is 29th of
June). By the first week of July, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and eastern
Rajasthan experience the monsoon.
5. By mid-July, the monsoon reaches Himachal Pradesh and the rest of the country.
Withdrawal or the retreat of the monsoon is a more gradual process. The withdrawal
of the monsoon begins in the northwestern states of India by early September. By
mid-October, it withdraws completely from the northern half of the peninsula. The
withdrawal from the southern half of the peninsula is fairly rapid. By early December,
the monsoon has withdrawn from the rest of the country.
6. The islands receive the very first monsoon showers, progressively from south to
north, from the first week of April to the first week of May. The withdrawal takes
place progressively from north to south from the first week of December to the first
week of January. By this time the rest of the country is already under the influence of
the winter monsoon.

Q-12 Distinguish between southwest monsoon and northeast monsoon.

Ans - Distinguish between southwest monsoon and northeast monsoon as follows :-

Southwest Monsoon Northeast Monsoon

(i) The summer period is marked by the (i) The winter period is marked by
southwest monsoons. northeast monsoon.

(ii) The southwest monsoon blow in a (ii) The northwest monsoon blow in a north
southwest direction to the mainland of easterly direction across India from mid-
India from June to September. November to February

(iii) It blows in India into two branches

namely the Arabian Sea branch and Bay of (iii) It does not possess any branches.
Bengal branch.

(iv) The southwest monsoon are warm

(iv) These are cold winds.
winds.
Q- 13. The western part of Rajasthan remains almost dry during southwest monsoon
season. Give three reasons in support of this statement.
Ans - The western part of Rajasthan remains almost dry during south-west monsoon Season
because:

These monsoon winds flow from east, dropping much of its moisture along the path. When
they reach Rajasthan, they are almost dry.

1. There is no mountain high enough to check the flow of the Arabian Sea branch of
monsoon winds. The Aravalli Mountains are not very high.
2. The direction of the Aravalli Mountains is parallel to the direction of Arabian Sea
winds. Hence, these winds cross over Rajasthan without giving rainfall.
3. The heat of the west Rajasthan desert does not allow the condensation of moisture
to take place and hence, no rain is occurs.

Q-14 Write a short note on the trade winds.

Ans - The winds blowing from the subtropical high-pressure belt to the equatorial low-
pressure belt are termed as Trade Winds’.
They blow southwards, get deflected to the right due to the Coriolis force, and move
towards the equatorial low-pressure area. Generally, these winds carry little moisture as
they originate and blow over land.
Therefore, they bring little or no rain. The trade winds are the most permanent and regular
of all planetary winds. They blow with great force in a constant direction.
 Give Reasons
1. The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.
Ans - The inflow of the south-west monsoon into India brings about a total change in the
weather. Early in the season, the windward side of the Western Ghats receives very heavy
rainfall, more than 250 cm. The Deccan Plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh also receive
some amount of rain in spite of lying in the rain shadow area. The maximum rainfall of this
season is received in the north-eastern part of the country. Mawsynram in the southern
ranges of the Khasi Hills receives the highest average rainfall in the world. Rainfall in the
Ganga valley decreases from the east to the west. Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat get scanty
rainfall.
2. The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.
Ans - A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over the northern plains is the
inflow of cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest. These low-pressure
systems, originate over the Mediterranean Sea and western Asia and move into India, along
with the westerly flow. They cause the much-needed winter rains over the plains and
snowfall in the mountains. Although the total amount of winter rainfall locally known as
‘mahawat’ is small, they are of immense importance for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops. The
peninsular region does not have a well-defined cold season. There is hardly any noticeable
seasonal change in temperature patterns during winters due to the moderating influence of
the sea.
3. The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
Ans - The low-pressure conditions, over northwestern India, get transferred to the Bay of
Bengal by early November. This shift is associated with the occurrence of cyclonic
depressions, which originate over the Andaman Sea. These cyclones generally cross the
eastern coasts of India cause heavy and widespread rain. These tropical cyclones are often
very destructive. The thickly populated deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri
are frequently struck by cyclones, which cause great damage to life and property.
Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Orissa, West Bengal and Bangladesh.
4. Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought-
prone.
Ans - Owing to the nature of monsoons, the annual rainfall is highly variable from year to
year. Variability is high in the regions of low rainfall such as parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and
the leeward side of the Western Ghats. As such, while areas of high rainfall are liable to be
affected by floods, areas of low rainfall are drought-prone.
 Map work
Question 1. Locate and label the following items on the given map.
1. A line where the time period of withdrawal of monsoon is 15 November.
2. A line where the time period of withdrawal of monsoon is 1 October.
3. A line where the time period of withdrawal of monsoon is 15 September.
Question 2. Locate and label the following items on the given map
1. A region which has high pressure during summer.
2. A region which has low pressure during summer.