CLIMATE –NOTES

Define the following:

1. Climate - The atmospheric condition which prevails over an area for a longer
period of time usually over a span of 30 years.

2. Continental climate - It is experienced in the interior part of the country away

from the influence of the sea with very hot summers and cold winters. It is also
called extreme climate with high range of temperature.

3. Equable Climate- It is experienced near and along the coasts due to the
influence of the sea with summers and winters not very hot or cold respectively.
There is not much difference in the temperature throughout the year.

4. Relief Rainfall- Due to the presence of mountains (relief feature), the moisture
laden winds blowing from the sea strikes the mountain and cause heavy rainfall.

5. Windward Side- The side of the mountain facing the moisture laden winds which
causes heavy rainfall after striking the mountain. E.g. western side of the
Western Ghats.

6. Leeward Side or Rain Shadow Area- The other side of the mountain which
receives scanty or less rainfall. It is also the Rain shadow area. E.g. Deccan
Plateau.

7. Loo- It is a local wind that blows in the northern part of the country and causes
heat strokes. It is a gusty, hot and dry wind.

8. Kalbaisakhi- It is a local wind that blows in West Bengal and Assam in the
month of April, which is accompanied with thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. This
rain is beneficial for the growth of rice and jute in West Bengal
9. Bardolicheerah- It is a local wind that blows in [Link] rain is beneficial for
the growth of tea in Assam.

10. Mango Showers or Cherry Blossoms- These are the local winds which blow in
Kerala and Karnataka during summers. This wind helps in the growth of mango,
coffee and tea.

11. Western disturbances - The temperate cyclonic winds originate over the
Mediterranean Sea which bring winter rainfall over the north western parts of
India.
 12. Burst of Monsoon

The sudden violent onset of rainfall in the first week of June is termed as the
burst of monsoon.

13. Break of Monsoon

When the South-west monsoon fails to bring rainfall for two or more weeks and there
is a dry period in the rainy season, it is called break of monsoon.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the direction of the summer monsoon? Why?

Ans. The direction is South West.

The intense heat during summers in India develops low pressure over the Northern
Plains and high pressure over the sea. This low pressure attracts the moisture bearing
winds from the southern hemisphere. After crossing the equator, they are deflected to
the right and blow over India as the south west monsoon winds.

2. Give two reasons as to why the entire Indian Sub Continent has the tropical
monsoon climate.

Ans. (i) India lies in the tropical belt.

(ii) The climate is influenced by the monsoon winds which are largely confined to the
Tropics, i.e. between 23 ½ °N and 23 ½ °S.

3. Mention two main features of the Indian monsoon.

Ans. Two main features of the Indian monsoon

(i) Monsoon is erratic and sporadic.

(ii) Monsoon is unevenly distributed.

4. Why are there great variations in the climate of the Indian Sub-Continent?

Ans. Due to location, vast extent of the country, presence of the lofty Himalayan
Mountain, large coastline along the eastern and western sides and the Western
Disturbances, there is a great variation in the climate of the Indian Sub-Continent.
 5. Name any two states that receive rain in January-February and what causes this
rain?
Ans. Punjab and [Link] the states that receive rain in January-February
The Western disturbances or cyclonic depressions originating over the Mediterranean
Sea cause this rain.

6. Which winds are responsible for the rainfall experienced over the greater part of
the Indian Sub-Continent?

Ans. South West Monsoon winds are responsible for the rainfall experienced over the
greater part of the Indian Sub-Continent.

7. During which months of the year is the SW monsoon rainfall experienced?

Ans. From June to September.

8.
(i) Name the season during which the North East Trade Wind dominate the
Indian Sub Continent.

(ii) In which season do the above mentioned winds get completely reversed? Name the
four months covered by North East monsoon season.

Ans. (i) During the Cold weather or winter season the North East Trade Winds
dominates the Indian Sub-Continent.

(ii) The North East Trade Winds get completely reversed in the Summer Season. The
four months covered by this season are November, December, January and February.

Give a geographic reason for each of the following:

1. Kerala has the longest rainy season.

Ans. Kerala lies to the SW and hence it is the first state to receive rain from SW
Monsoon of the Arabian Sea branch as these winds move from SW to NE. These winds
withdraw from North and move towards south and hence Kerala is the last state from
which these winds withdraw. Thus, Kerala is the first state to receive the South-West
Monsoon and the last to see it withdraw.
 2. The Konkan coast experiences orographic rainfall.

Ans. The Konkan coast lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats and hence
receives heavy rain from the SW Monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea branch. The
windward side of an area is the slope of a range that receives heavy rainfall.

3. The city of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh has a higher range of temperature than that
of Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

Ans. Kanpur lies to the interior, far away from the influence of the sea, whereas
Chennai lies along the coast and is influenced by the sea. Thus, Kanpur is deprived of
the moderating influence of land and sea breeze.

4. Patna receives heavier rain than Delhi/Varanasi.

Ans. Patna gets a much heavier rain than Delhi/Varanasi does because Patna lies in
the lower Ganga valley while Delhi/Varanasi lies in the upper Ganga valley. The South
West monsoon winds of the Bay of Bengal branch while advancing towards North West
sheds heavy rainfall on Patna as it falls first on its way and then the amount of rainfall
decreases by the time it reaches Delhi/Varanasi.

5. Western Rajasthan receives no rain from the Arabian Sea branch of the South
West Monsoon winds.

Ans. Western Rajasthan gets no rain from the Arabian Sea Branch of the South West
Monsoon winds because it blows parallel to the Aravalli mountains and therefore shed
no moisture.

6. Mangalore is not cold even in the month of December.

Ans. It never gets too cold in Mangalore, not even in December because of the
moderating influence of the land and sea breezes and it is quite close to the equator.

7. When the Malabar Coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast
is comparatively dry.
Ans. It is so because Tamil Nadu lies in the rain shadow region of Arabian Sea branch
and the Bay of Bengal is parallel to the coast
 8. The Northern Plains of India have a Continental type of climate.
Ans. It is so because the northern Plains are located far away from the influence of the
sea.

9. Central Maharashtra receives little rainfall.

Ans. Central Maharashtra receives little rainfall because it lies in the rain shadow
region of the Western Ghats.

10. Even in summer Shimla is cooler than Delhi.

Ans. Shimla is situated at a higher altitude than Delhi. Thus, due to lapse rate, as one
moves up the altitude, the temperature decreases.

11. The northern plains of India do not freeze in winter.

The cold winds from the north are prevented from entering into India due to the
presence of the lofty Himalayas and thus helps to keep the temperature of the northern
plains at a moderate level.

12. Kochi has a lesser annual range of temperature than Agra.

Kochi is a coastal city and is influenced by the sea while Agra is situated in the interior
part of the country experiencing continental type of climate. Thus, Kochi has a lesser
annual range of temperature than Agra.

13. The Arabian Sea branch of the South West Monsoon does not shed any
moisture in Western Rajasthan.
Ans. The Aravalli Hills lie parallel to the South West Monsoon winds coming from the
Arabian Sea and thus cannot shed any moisture in Western Rajasthan.

14. India has varied climatic conditions.

Ans. India has varied climatic conditions because of large latitudinal and longitudinal
extent, altitude and distance from sea.

15. It is cooler on the mountain slopes than in the plains during summer.
Ans. The mountain slopes are cooler than the plains during summer due to normal
lapse rate i.e. with every 165 metres of ascent there is a fall of 1°C of temperature.

16. Rajasthan receives very little rainfall.

Ans. Rajasthan receives very little rainfall because Aravalli Hills lie parallel to the South
West Monsoon winds coming from the Arabian Sea branch.
17. Mumbai is warmer than Kanpur in December
Mumbai is warmer than Kanpur in December because Mumbai is located near
the sea and hence it experiences moderate climate throughout the year. Kanpur
experiences continental type of climate where summers are extremely hot and
winters are extremely cold.
18. Punjab gets rain in winter.
Punjab gets rain in winter season due to some weak temperate cyclones from
the Mediterranean Sea.
19. The Indo-Gangetic Plain gets some rainfall in the months of December and
January.
The Indo-Gangetic plain gets some rainfall in the month of December and
January because of the western disturbances, which originate in West Asia and
in the regions near the Mediterranean sea. These westerly depressions bring
winter rainfall over the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
20. The Northern Plains of India have a Continental type of climate.
The Northern Plains of India have a continental type of climate because it is
away from the moderating influence of the sea. Thus, the summers are
extremely hot and winters are extremely cold.
21. The monsoon rain is unevenly distributed over India.
The monsoon rain is unevenly distributed over India because most parts of
India receive relief rainfall, therefore windward sides always receive more
rainfall than the leeward side. Some places like Aravali and Coromandel coast
lie parallel to south west monsoon winds, hence, are not able to obstruct these
wind and receive very little rainfall.
22. Excessive cold in north India during winter season.
Excessive cold in north India during winter season because north India is far
from the sea and the equator. Hence, it experiences continental type of climate
— cold winters and hot summers.
23. In spite of Aravalli Range Rajasthan receives very less rain.
The Aravalli Hills lie parallel to the South West Monsoon winds coming from the
Arabian Sea and thus cannot shed any moisture in Western Rajasthan.
24. Most of the India remains dry during the North-East Monsoon season.
Most of the India remains dry during the North-East Monsoon season because
north-east trade winds blow from land to sea and hence, do not carry moisture
necessary for rainfall.

25. "Shillong gets less than 200 cms of rainfall in the year while Cherrapunji receives
more than 1250 cms of rainfall". Give two reasons.
(i) Shillong lies on the rain shadow area or the leeward side of the Khasi
Hills while Cherrapunji lies on the windward side.
(ii) The moisture laden winds coming from the Bay of Bengal branch gets
entrapped in the Garo-Khasi Hills and causes heavy rainfall.