CHAPTER – 3

CLIMATE OF INDIA
Answer the following questions
Question 1
Name the factors affecting the climate of a place.
Answer
The factors affecting the climate of a place are:
1. Location — Climate of a place depends on its location. Places
located in tropical region are hotter than the places located in
temperate region.
2. Altitude — The temperature decreases with increase in the
height at the rate 1°C for every 166 m. Therefore, places
situated on height have temperate climate.
3. Distance from sea — Places situated near sea have moderate
climate while places situated away from sea have extreme type
of climate.
4. Physical features — Presence of mountain ranges often
decide the climate of a place. For example, the Himalayas act
as a barrier to the incoming cold Siberian winds. They also
intercept the monsoon winds resulting in heavy rainfall in Indo-
Gangetic plain.
Question 2
Name the type of climate of India.
Answer
The climate of India is Tropical Monsoon Type.
Question 3
What is the chief characteristic feature of the tropical monsoon type
of climate?
Answer
The chief characteristic feature of the tropical monsoon type of
climate is alteration of seasons.
Question 4
What are onshore winds and offshore winds?
Answer
Onshore winds — Wind that blows from the sea towards the land is
called onshore winds.
Offshore winds — Winds that blows from the land towards the Sea
is called offshore winds.
Question 5
State the importance of Monsoon season in India.
Answer
The monsoon season is important for a number of reasons in India:
1. Agriculture — The monsoon season is crucial for agriculture in
India, as it provides the necessary moisture for crops to grow.
Many of the crops in India, such as rice, wheat, and sugarcane,
rely on the monsoon rains to provide the necessary water for
their growth.
2. Water resources — The monsoon season replenishes the
water resources in India, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
This is especially important in regions that rely on these sources
of water for irrigation, drinking, and other purposes.
3. Economy — The monsoon season is also important for the
economy of India, as it supports many sectors of the economy,
including agriculture, forestry, and tourism.
Question 6
Name a few local winds that pass through India.
Answer
Local winds that pass through India are:
1. Kali Baisakhi
2. Loo
3. Mango Showers
Question 7
Which is the more important branch — the Arabian Sea Branch or
the Bay of Bengal Branch? Why?
Answer
The Arabian Sea Branch is more important branch because of the
following reasons:
1. Arabian Sea Branch is almost thrice the volume of the Bay of
Bengal Branch.
2. Arabian Sea Branch provides rain in the entire country while the
Bay of Bengal branch provides rain in north-eastern part only.
Question 8
Which is the first state to receive the monsoon winds and the last to
see its retreat in India?
Answer
Kerala is the first state to receive the monsoon winds and the last to
see its retreat in India.
Question 9
State two important characteristic features of the Indian monsoons.
Answer
Two important characteristic features of the Indian monsoons are:
1. Indian monsoons are erratic, unpredictable, irregular and
unevenly distributed.
2. Indian monsoons are orographic in nature. The effects caused
due to the Himalayas and the Western Ghats bring most of the
monsoon rainfall.
Question 10
Name the different seasons of India, stating the months when they
are experienced.
Answer
The different seasons of India are:
1. The Hot Dry Season — March to May
2. The Rainy Season or the season of South-West Monsoon — June
to September.
 3. The season of retreating South-West Monsoon — October to
November
4. The Cold season or the season of North-East Monsoon —
December to February
Question 11
What is the meaning of the word 'monsoon'?
Answer
The word Monsoon has been derived from the Arabic word 'Mausim'
which means season.
Question 12
How are monsoon winds different from the land and sea breezes?
Answer
Monsoon winds are different from the land and sea breezes in the
following ways:

S.
No Monsoon Winds Land & Sea Breezes
.

Monsoon winds are Land and Sea Breezes

seasonal winds that are daily local winds
1.
occur at specific times that occur throughout
of the year. the year.

Monsoon winds are

generally stronger and
Land and Sea Breezes
more persistent than
are generally weaker
2. land and sea breezes,
and more local in
and can bring heavy
nature.
rainfall and strong
winds.

3. Monsoon winds are Land and Sea Breezes

formed by the difference are formed by the
in temperature between difference in
the land and the sea or temperature between
ocean on a large scale. the land and the sea or
 S.
No Monsoon Winds Land & Sea Breezes
.

ocean at a local scale

Land and Sea Breezes

Monsoon winds can are generally more local
have a significant in nature and have a
4.
impact on the weather smaller impact on the
and climate of a region. overall weather and
climate of an area.

Question 13
Why are there great variations in India's climate?
Answer
There are great variations in India's climate because of presence of
different physical features and the large extent of the country.
Following are the factors that cause variations in India's climate:
1. The places lying to the north of Tropic of Cancer experience
continental type of climate while places lying to the south of
Tropic of Cancer experience hot climate with average
temperature of 25°C to 27°C throughout the year.
2. The places situated on the vast east-west coastline of India
experience equable or maritime type of climate with annual
temperature range of about 3°C to 5°C whereas the places in
the interior north have the annual temperature range upto
20°C.
3. The Monsoon are erratic, unpredictable, irregular and unevenly
distributed. Due to this the annual rainfall varies from about
1187 cm at Mawsynram in Cherrapunji, the highest in the world
to less than 25 cm in Thar desert in Rajasthan.
4. Places situated at higher altitudes are cooler as compared to
places in the plains.
5. Presence of the Himalayan range also influences the climate of
India by obstructing Siberian winds and intercepting Monsoon
winds.
Question 14
Give reasons to justify that Himalayas act as a perfect climatic
divide.
Answer
The Himalayas act as a perfect climatic divide because:
1. The great Himalayan range obstructs the bitter cold winds from
Siberia from entering the Indian Subcontinent.
2. The Himalayan range intercepts the rain-bearing south-west
monsoon winds, forcing them to shed their moisture, resulting in
heavy rainfall in the North-East and Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Question 15
Which winds are responsible for the rain experienced over the
greater part of India?
Answer
The South-West Monsoon winds are responsible for the rain
experienced over the greater part of India.
Question 16
During which part of the year is the rain experienced in India?
Answer
India experiences rain in the months from June to September which
is the season of the South-West Monsoon.
Question 17
How are the sources of rainfall in the north-west part of India
different from the rain experienced on the eastern coastal areas in
winter?
Answer
The winter rainfall in the north-west part of India occurs due to
westerly depressions or temperate cyclones originating in the
Mediterranean sea. On the contrary the rainfall experienced on the
eastern coastal areas in winter is due to North-East monsoon winds.
Question 18
Why does Kanyakumari experience an equable climate?
Answer
Kanyakumari experience an equable climate because of land breeze
and sea breeze as it is situated on sea coast.
Question 19
Why does central Maharashtra receive scanty rainfall?
Answer
Maharashtra receives scanty rainfall because it lies in the rain
shadow of Western Ghats.
Question 20
Why is western part of India a desert region?
Answer
The western part of India gets very less rainfall due to following
reasons:
1. The Aravali's alignment is parallel to rain-bearing South-West
Monsoon winds and as such they do not offer any obstruction.
Furthermore, these hills are very low.
2. The moisture-laden winds passing over Rajasthan do not
saturate as the heat in the desert region increases their
capacity to hold moisture. Thus they reach Shivaliks without
shedding their moisture.
Question 21
What are western disturbances?
Answer
Western disturbances are Westerly depressions or Temperate
cyclones originating in the Mediterranean sea. They cause winter
rain in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh and snowfall in
Himalayan belts.
Question 22
Name one part of India that receives rainfall in winter and summer
as well.
Answer
Northern India (Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh) receives rainfall
in winter and summer as well.
Question 23
Explain how retreating monsoon winds are different from the north-
east trades.
Answer

Sl.
No Retreating Monsoon North-East Trades
.

The retreating south North east Monsoon

west monsoon winds winds are offshore
1. blow from N.E. to S.W. winds that blow from
during October and North East to South
November. West.

Retreating Monsoon North-East Trade winds

2. winds are prevalent in are prevalent from
October-November. December to March.

These winds cause These winds cause

2. heavy rain in Tamil rainfall to coromandel
Nadu. coast in the east.

Question 24
Name a place in India which receives the heaviest rainfall. To which
state does this place belong?
Answer
Mawsynram receives the heaviest rainfall in the world. This place
belongs to Meghalaya State of India.
Question 25
Name the winds that are responsible for causing heaviest rainfall in
the region.
Answer
The Bay of Bengal branch of South-West monsoon winds is
responsible for causing heaviest rainfall in the region.
Question 26
What is meant by a 'rain shadow' area? Give an example and state
the mountains responsible for the rain shadow area.
Answer
The leeward side of the mountain that do not receive or receive very
less rainfall is called rain shadow area. For example, Maharashtra
gets very less rainfall as it is the rain shadow area of the Western
Ghats.
Question 27
Name the winds that bring rain to the Tamil Nadu coast.
Answer
North-East Monsoon winds bring rains to the Tamil Nadu coast.
Question 28
Give reasons :
1. In spite of the Aravalis many parts of Rajasthan do not receive
much rain.
2. The Malabar coast has less rainy months but receives more rain
than Coromandal Coast.
3. Punjab has three sources of rain.
4. Mawsynram receives more rain than Shillong.
Answer
1. In spite of the Aravalis many parts of Rajasthen do not receive
much rain because the Aravalis do not obstruct the Monsoon
winds due to their parallel alignment to the winds and low
heights of Aravalis.
2. The Malabar coast receive more rainfall because of the strong
Arabian sea branch of the South-west monsoon while
Coromandal Coast gets its share of rainfall from North-East
Monsoon which is weaker and has less capacity.
3. Punjab has three sources of rain as it gets its share from the
Arabian sea branch, the Bay of Bengal branch (deflected from
the eastern parts) and the western disturbances.
 4. Mawsynram lies in the windward side while Shillong lies in the
leeward side of Khasi hills. Therefore, Mawsynram receives more
rain than Shillong.
Question 29
Explain how is the winter rain caused. How is this rain beneficial?
Answer
The winter rain is caused by Western Disturbances in North and
North-East Monsoon winds in Tamil Nadu. In northern India, rain is
caused by Westerly depressions or Temperate cyclones originating in
Mediterranean Sea. These rains are beneficial for rabi crops like
wheat and Barley. The winter rains caused by North-East Monsoon
winds brings rainfall to Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh. This
rainfall is heavy, stormy and destructive for crops.
Question 33
Refer to the Data of Chennai, Pune, New Delhi and Kolkata to answer
this question.
Answer the following questions:
1. Calculate the annual range of temperature.
2. What is the total rainfall experienced by the station?
3. When does the station receive maximum rainfall? State a
reason for your answer.
Altitude
Statio
in J F M A M J J A S O N D
n
Metre

T 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 27 24 24
° 2. 6. 9. 9. 5. 5. 2. 0.
1 .5 .5 .8
C 6 3 2 7 1 5 5 5
5
Pune 5
9 R
0. 0. 0. 1
c 1. 2. 11 9. 13 9. 2. 0.
1 1 1 6.
m 5 7 .4 0 .4 0 7 3
5 5 5 7
s

2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2
28 27 27
T 4. 4. 6. 8. 0. 7. 8. 7. 5.
.9 .2 .2
4 4 7 3 0 2 3 2 0
Mumb
ai
0. 0. 1. 6 4. 1.
50 37 27
R 2 2 — — 7 1. 7 0 —
.2 .0 .0
5 5 5 0 5 0

Mang 2 T 2 2 2 2 2 26 2 26 26 2 2 2
6. 6. 8. 9. 9. 6. 6. 7. 6.
 5 8 1 2 2 .5 1 .1 .3 8 0 7

aluru 2
0. 0. 0. 2. 1 94 9 59 26 2 7. 1.
R 2 1 5 8 5. .1 8. .7 .6 0. 2 2
8 8 2 9 7 8 8 4 2 7 4 9

2 2 2 3 2 20 2 29 29 2 2 2
T 5. 6. 8. 0. 1. .0 0. .0 .0 8. 6. 5.
0 5 7 6 2 8 2 8 2 0 4 2
1
Madur
3
ai
3
1. 1. 1. 5. 6. 4. 1 1
2. 16 11 5.
R 9 2 7 4 9 9 8. 4.
98 .2 .9 1
7 4 7 8 5 4 8 5

2 3 2
2 2 3 3 32 29 2 2
T 4. 0. 30 4.
6 8 0 2 .5 .7 8 6
5 7 6
Chenn
ai
2 3 1
2. 0. 0. 1. 4. 5. 9. 11 12
R 8. 4. 3.
8 7 7 5 5 1 5 .3 .4
1 5 6

1 1 2 1
0. 2. 8. 21 23 20 8. 3.
T 3. 7. 4. 4.
3 6 3 .9 .8 .2 1 3
1 1 7 4 0
Srinag 5
ar 8
6 7. 9. 9. 1. 5. 2. 1. 3.
7. 3. 6. 3.
R 3 1 2 6 9 9 1 3
1 56 15 89
9 7 7 5 2 7 2 5

1 1 2 2 3 3 2 1 1
33 29 29
T 3. 6. 1. 7. 3. 0. 5. 9. 5.
.6 .8 .2
8 6 6 8 2 9 7 7 2
2
New
1
Delhi
6
1
2. 2. 1. 0. 1. 7. 18 12 1. 0. 1.
R 7.
5 1 3 8 3 7 .4 .3 0 2 0
9

1 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1
29 28 28
T 9. 1. 6. 9. 0. 8. 7. 2. 9.
.4 .3 .3
4 7 7 4 6 9 2 8 4
Kolkat
6
a
1 3 1
0. 2. 3. 4. 30 32 25 1. 0.
R 4. 1. 0.
7 8 6 8 .2 .3 .1 8 4
5 8 6

2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2
28
T 1. 3. 7. 1. 3. 33 9. 29 9. 6. 2.
.5
7 3 9 7 9 8 4 2 7
Ahme 5
dabad 0
0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0.
0. 9. 3 20 10 0.
R 1 1 1 9 8 3
2 3 1 .4 6 1
5 3 3 9 9 6

Answer
Chennai
(a) Annual Range of temperature = 32.5 - 24.5 = 8
(b) Total rainfall = 2.8 + 0.7 + 0.7 + 1.5 + 4.5 + 5.1 + 9.5 + 11.3 +
12.4 + 28.1 + 34.5 + 13.6 = 124.7
(c) Chennai received maximum rainfall in the month of November.
The North-East Monsoon winds after crossing the Bay of Bengal
gather enough moisture. As they, strike the Coromandal coast, they
bring heavy rainfall to Chennai and Tamil Nadu in the month of
November.
Pune
(a) Annual range of temperature = 29.7 - 20.5 = 9.2
(b) Total rainfall = 0.15 + 0.15 + 0.15 + 1.5 + 2.7 + 11.4 + 16.7 +
9.0 + 13.4 + 9.0 + 2.7 + 0.3 = 67.15
(c) Pune receives maximum rainfall in the month of July because it
gets its rainfall from south-west monsoon which strikes the western
coast in June but the total rainfall is less because Pune lies in the rain
shadow of western ghats.
New Delhi
(a) Annual range of temperature = 33.6 - 13.8 = 19.8
(b) Total rainfall = 2.5 + 2.1 + 1.3 + 0.8 + 1.3 + 7.7 + 17.9 + 18.4 +
12.3 + 1.0 + 0.2 + 1.0 = 66.5
(c) Delhi receives maximum rainfall in August as it gets its rainfall
from south-west monsoons which reaches Delhi by that time.
Kolkata
(a) Annual range of temperature = 30.6 - 19.4 = 11.2
(b) Total rainfall = 0.7 + 2.8 + 3.6 + 4.8 + 14.5 + 30.2 + 31.8 +
32.3 + 25.1 + 10.6 + 1.8 + 0.4 = 158.6
(c) Kolkata receives maximum rainfall in August as it gets rainfall
from the Bay of Bengal Branch of the monsoon which reaches the
eastern coast (Calcutta) by then.
Question 34
Give reasons for the following:
1. Mumbai gets more rainfall than Pune
2. The moisture laden winds passing over Rajasthan do not
saturate.
 3. S.W. monsoon withdraws from India in October/November.
Answer
1. Mumbai is located on the western coast of India, while Pune is
located further inland. The Western Ghats obstruct the South
West Monsoon winds. Mumbai lies on the windward side of
Western Ghats and receives heavy rainfall from South West
Monsoon. Pune lies on the leeward side of Western Ghats and
hence, receives very less rainfall.
2. The moisture laden winds passing over Rajasthan do not
saturate because the heat in the desert region increases their
capacity to hold moisture.
3. By 1st September, with the apparent movement of the sun
towards south, the low pressure in central India starts
weakening, and is no longer able to attract the monsoon winds
towards land. During Autumn equinox when the sun shines
directly over Equator, the high pressure begins to build over
mainland and subsequently with low pressure over the sea, S.W.
monsoon withdraws from India in October/November.
Question 35
Answer in one word :
1. Withdrawal of SW monsoon.
2. Low pressure depressions during winter in North West India.
3. Land and sea breeze on a large scale.
Answer
1. Retreating Monsoon
2. Western disturbance
3. Monsoon Winds