Lesson -4
Climate
VQ1. Distinguish between Weather and Climate.
Weather Climate
1. Weather refers to day to day Climate refers to the sum total of
atmosphericconditions of a place. weather conditions.
2 It studies conditions over a small area, It isthe conditions of atmosphere over a
for aveny short periodof time. large area for a long period of tirme.
3. Weather is always changing. It may be Climatic conditions remain constant fora
dny or hot at one time, wet or cold. long period.
4 Weather affects our clothing and Climate affects agriculture, housing along
food. with food and clothing.
Q2 Explain the six major controls of the climate of any place.
Ans.
1) Latitude :- Due to the curvature of the earth, the amount of solar energy received varies
according to the latitude, as aresult, air temperature generally decreases from the equator
towards the poles.
2) Altitude The atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature decreases. The hills are
therefore cooler during summers. For every 165 mup, the temperature decreases by 1°C.
3) Pressure and wind system:- The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the latitude
and altitude of the place. Thus ,it influences the temperature & rainfall pattern. Winds
generally blow from high pressure to low pressure.
4) Distance from the sea_; As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence
decreases and the people experience extreme weather conditions. This condition is known as
continentally. (i.e. very hot summers and very cold winters). Places near the sea experience
rmoderate type of climae.
5) Opean Currents:- Along with shore winds, ocean currents influence the climate of the
coastal
area. Warrner currents make the coastal areas warmer and rainier and cold currents make a
place cooler and drier.
6) Relief:- Relief tooplays a major role in determining the climate of a place. High
as a barrier for very cold / hot winds. They may cause precipitation if the
mountain act
mountains are high
enough. The leeward side is dry.
Q3. Discuss the mechanism of monsoons in India? Or 'seasonal reversal of the wind
system takes
place over the Indian subcontinent'.
1
Ans. The monsoon winds are Periodic winds. They are pulsating in nature. The duration of the
monsoons in between 100-120 days from early June to mid -September. Indiagets 90% of its
rainfall due to the monsOons.
) In summers, air moves from high pressure area: over the southern Indian Ocean, in a south
easterly direction. They cross the equator and turn right towards the extreme low -pressure
areas over north India due to the Coriolis force. These are known as south west monsoon
winds.
2) The monsoon arrives at the Southern tip of the Indian peninsula by the first week of June and
divides into two branches the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
3) Arabian Sea branch reaches Kerala by 1st June and Mumbai around 10th June. strikes the
Western Ghats shedding most of its moisture there, Rainfall reduces from west to east. One
branch of the Arabian Sea moves to Saurashtra, but does not give much
rainfall as
parallel to the path of the winds. This branch moves on to meet the other Bay of Aravalis lie
over Punjab &Haryana. Bengal branch
4) The Bay of Bengal Branch moves towards N.E. India
shedding
etc. by 1 June. They strike the Himalayas and give rainfall moisture over Assam, Meghalaya
to northern and western India.
Another branch of Bengal strikes the Arakan Mountains, deflects and gives
of India. rainfallto the N.E.
5) During wintersahigh pressure area develops over
Himalayas and alow prssure develops over
the oceans. So winds start withdrawing. It is a more
gradual process. It starts from mid
September and is completed by 1* week of December.
Q4. Give an account of weather conditions of the cold
Ans.
season?
1) The cold weather season begins form mid-
the coldest months in northern India.
November till February. December and January are
2) The average temperature are of 10-15°C in northern plains and
about 25°C in
warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in the north and higher slopes of south. Days are
the Himalayas which
experience snowfall also.
3) During this season, the north-east trade winds blow from land to
sea and thus cause no
rainfall, except in Tamil Nadu.
4) The North West part of India experiences rainfall and snowfall from
western cyclonic
disturbances which originate over the Mediterranean Sea. It is localy known as 'Mahawat'
which is very important for the Rabi crop in north.
5) Other parts of India experience pleasant weather with clear skies and bright sunshine.
y05. Give an account of weather conditions of the summers or hot seasons.
Ans.
1) The hot weather season lasts from mid-march to June. June is the hottest month in the
northern part of India.
2
2) Ihis summer months are due to rising temperatures and falling air - pressure in the north
which attracts the south- west monsoon winds later.
3) The highest temperature_ recorded are about 38° Cin the Deccan in March; 42° Cin Gujarat
and Madhya Pradesh in April and about 45° Cin May in North West India. Coastal regions have
lower temperatures.
4) Loo'- they are the hot- dry and strong winds which blow over north and North Western part of
India during summers.
S) Kaal Baisakhiare cyclonic storms exXperienced in west Bengal in April which bring destruction.
Q6. There are regionalvariations in the climatic conditions of India. Explain with two important
elements -temperature and precipitations.
Ans.
I) Temperature
about 20°C in
1) In summers, temperatures may go up to 50°C in Rajasthan while it may be
Pahalgam,in Jammu and Kashmir
2) On a winter night, temperature at' Drass in J&K may be- 45°C while Tiruvananthapuram may
have a temperature of 22°C.
3) Temperature of Day and night of the same day may vary between 50°C during day and 15°C at
night in the Thar Desert. On the other hand there may be hardly any difference in day and
night temperature in Kerala.
4) Coastal areas alsó experience less contrasts in temperature during day or seasons.
II) Precipitation
1) There are variations in precipitation in form, amount and season.
2) Himalayas receive most of the precipitation in form of snowfall while, rest of the country gets
.
rainfall.
3) Precipitation may vary from 400 cm per annum in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in Ladakh and
western Rajasthan.
4) Most part of the country receives rainfall from June to September while some areas like Tamil
Nadu get winter rainfall.
Q7. Why is the monsoons considered a unifying bond in India?
Ans. The unifying influence of the monsoons in India is quite perceptible -
1) The seasonal alterations of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a
rhythmic cycle of seasons throughout the country.
2) Even the uncertainties of rain and its uneven distribution are typical of the Monsoon.
the
3) The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agriculture calendar and the life of
people, including their festivities revolve around the Monsoon.
4) The river valleys carrythis water uniting India as a single river valley unit.
5) Floods and droughts associated with Monsoons are experienced throughout the country.
6) People allover India await the Monsoons after the blistering summer heat.
Q8. Why does India have a Monsoon type of climate?
Ans. The word Mausam' (Arabic) means seasons. Monsoons are the rain-bearing winds which reverse
their direction with change in season. India has a monsoonal type of climate due to its location
and also being at the head of the Indian Ocean. The extreme temperature conditions in the
northern part of India during the summers bring the S.E. trade winds to India. The conditions
reverse during winters.
Q9. Why isthe distribution of the rainfallin India uneven?
Ans. The main causes responsible for uneven distribution of rainfall are -
1) Hilly and forest areas get heavy rainfall because of high altitude and abundance of forests
which cause precipitation. As aresult , Assam, the Ganga delta, the Western Ghats &the
western coastal regions etc. get heavy rainfall.
2) Those areas which. have no mountains to check the rain-bearing winds get less rainfall. E.g. -
Rajasthan, as Aravali lie parallel to the Monsoons.
3) Some areas come in the rain-shadow area like eastern side of Western Ghats or Ladakh.
4) Some areas that come in the way of rain-bearing winds get more rainfall as compared to areas
away from it.
5) Rainfall reducesfrom West to East in south India & East to West-in North India.
Q10. Why does Rainfal! decrease from west to east in south India and from East to west in north
India?
Ans. The peninsular India gets rainfall because of S.W. Monsoons which blow from the Arabian Sea.
These winds strike the Western Ghats and cause rain there. Then, they move towards the East
shedding less rainfal. The northern part of India receives rainfall from the Bay of Bengal branch of
the Monsoons. In the north, the Bay of Bengal strikes the north east part of India, shedding
moisture. The winds then move towards the north western part of India, parallel to the
Himalayas. Theamount of precipitation reduces as one moves towards the west in the northern
parts of India.
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Q11. What are western disturbances? Name two areas receiving rains from them?
Ans. The western disturbances are caused by the cyclones arising from the Mediterranean Sea. Iney
Dlow over Arab countries and strike the Himalavas causing rainfall & snowfall in north Western
India during winter. They are brought in Indiawith the sub-tropical westerly jet streams.
y Q12. Discuss five factors affecting the climate of India.
Ans. Many physical features and location affect its climate.
India. Almost half of the country
1) Latitude - The tropic of cancer passes through the middle of while the north India lies in sub
tropical area
lying south of the tropic of cancer belongs to the
tropic.
height of 6000 m above sea level. The
2) Altitude - Himalayas in the north have an average Siberian winds from coming
Himalayas moderate the climate of India by preventing the cold
into India and forcing the monsoon winds to shed moisture in India.
3) Distance from the sea -Sea has a moderating
influence in coastal regions in south India. The
in India.
indian Ocean helps the monsoonwinds to pick up moisture &shed it
over India. During winter, a high pressure
4) PresSure conditions- pressure conditions are unique
region to the low pressure area
area develops over Himalayas. Cold dry winds blow from this
develops over interior Asia &north
over the Indian Ocean. ln summers, a Low-pressure area
india causing rainfall.
which brings in the
5) Upper air circulations in this region are dominated by westerly flow
western disturbances. This westerly flow is brought by the jet streams to India.
Q13. What are Jet streams? How do they affect the climate?
an high altitude in
Ans. Jet streams are fast flowing (110 Km/hr to 184 Km/ hr) winds, that blow at
Mediterranean (known as
the upper atmosphere. During winters, Ajet stream originates over the
Western part of
sub- tropical westerly jet streams). They bring rain and snowfall to the North
around 14° N and
India. In summers the tropicaleasterly jet streams blows over peninsular India
bring rains and cyclones in southern India.
Q14. Why does Delhi receives more rain than Jodhpur?
Ans. Delhi ies in the Northern plains close to the Himalayas. Jodhpur lies very near to the Aravali hills.
Delhigets rain from both the branches of S.W. monsoons. Jodhpur remains dry as the Aravalis are
parallel to the movement of the S.W. Monsoon winds.
5
Q15. The Delta regions of the peninsular or the eastern coastal plains are frequently struck by
cyclones.
Ans. The months of October- November are aperiod of transition from hot rainy to dry winter season.
Temperatures start falling rapidly in North India &the low pressure belt shifts over the Bayof
Bengal by November. This shift causes cyclone depression in the Andaman Sea leading to
cyclones in the eastern coast. They cause heavy destruction often.
Q16. Why are Thiruvananthapuram &Shillong rainier in June
than in July?
Ans. They are the first ones to receive rainfall in the 1 week of
June. By July, winds have passed on to
other areas making them rainier (same answer for why Shillong is
rainier than Kolkata).
Mahawat :- Cyclonic disturbances which originate over the
towards India causing rainfallover the plains Mediterranean Sea &move
and the snowfall in the mountain. It is locally
known as Mahawat in Punjab &
Mango showers: - Pre monsoon Haryana.
showers which help in early ripening of mangoes in Kerala and
Karnataka.
Break in monsoon: The monsoon rains take place
only for a few days and there are breaks in
monsoon rain related to the movement of the
monsoon trough.
A October heat:- Due to conditions of high
oppressive during the day in north India, in thetemperature
&humidity, the weather becomes
4
month of October, commonly called October heat.
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