CHAPTER 1 – CLIMATE
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is a blanket of gases surrounding the Earth. It is essential for life and makes Earth a
habitable planet.
Importance of Atmosphere
• Protects Earth from harmful solar radiation
• Maintains temperature (prevents extreme heat/cold)
• Provides air for breathing
• Helps in weather formation (rain, wind, clouds)
Other Components of the Atmosphere
• Water Vapour – helps in cloud formation and rainfall
• Dust Particles – act as nuclei for cloud formation
• Ozone Layer – protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays
Structure of the Atmosphere: The atmosphere is divided into five layers based on temperature.
Layer Key Features
• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere up to about 12 km above the
Earth.
Troposphere
• The temperature decreases with height in this layer.
• All weather conditions such as rain, wind, and storms occur in this layer.
• The stratosphere lies above the troposphere and extends up to about 50 km.
Stratosphere • The temperature increases with height in this layer.
• It contains the ozone layer which absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun.
• The mesosphere lies above the stratosphere and extends up to about 80 km.
Mesosphere • The temperature decreases with height and is the coldest layer.
• Meteors burn up in this layer before reaching Earth.
• The thermosphere lies above the mesosphere and extends up to about 700 km.
Thermosphere • The temperature increases sharply with height due to solar radiation.
• It reflects radio waves and helps in communication.
• The exosphere is the outermost layer of the atmosphere and merges into space.
Exosphere • The temperature is extremely high but the air is very thin.
• Satellites orbit the Earth in this layer.
Importance of Climate
Climate plays a major role in shaping life on Earth.
• Determines types of crops grown
• Influences clothing and housing
• Affects natural vegetation and wildlife
• Impacts industries and economic activities
Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns, mainly caused by human
activities.
Causes:
• Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
• Deforestation (cutting trees reduces oxygen)
• Industrial pollution
• Increase in greenhouse gases like CO₂
Effects:
• Global warming (rise in Earth’s temperature)
• Melting of glaciers and polar ice
• Rising sea levels
• Extreme weather events (storms, floods, droughts)
• Loss of biodiversity
• Health problems in humans
Future Impacts of Climate Change: If climate change continues:
• More heat waves and higher temperatures
• Water scarcity in some regions
• Flooding in coastal areas
• Food shortages due to crop failure
• Migration of people from affected areas
Weather and Climate
Weather:
Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point in time.
• Short-term (daily or hourly) condition of the atmosphere
• Example: today is hot, rainy, windy
Climate:
Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of
time (more than thirty years).
• Long-term average of weather over many years (about 30 years)
• Example: desert climate is hot and dry
Based on the monthly atmospheric conditions, the year is divided into seasons such as:
• Winter
• Summer
• The Rainy Season
Climatic Controls: The climate of a place depends on several natural factors.
Latitude
• The amount of sunlight received depends on latitude due to the curved shape of the Earth.
• Temperature generally decreases from the equator towards the poles.
Altitude
• Temperature decreases as height increases above sea level.
• Hills are cooler than plains during summer because of this reason.
Pressure and Wind System
• Pressure and wind patterns depend on latitude and altitude.
• They affect temperature and rainfall in a region.
Distance from the Sea
• The sea helps to moderate the climate of nearby areas.
• Areas far from the sea have extreme hot summers and cold winters, called continentality.
Ocean Currents
• Ocean currents and winds affect the climate of coastal areas.
• Warm or cold currents can make nearby coastal regions warmer or cooler.
Relief Features
• Mountains and landforms influence the climate of a place.
• High mountains block winds and can cause rainfall.
• Precipitation means any form of water falling from the sky like rain, snow, or hail.
Factors Affecting India’s Climate
Latitude
• The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of India.
• India has both tropical and subtropical climate features.
Altitude
• India has high mountains in the north and low coastal areas in the south.
• Mountains help India experience milder winters compared to Central Asia.
Pressure and winds: The following atmospheric conditions govern the climate and weather conditions in
India:
• Pressure and surface winds
• Upper air circulation
• Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones
Air moves from the high-pressure area over the southern Indian Ocean in a south-easterly direction, crosses
the equator and turns right towards the low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. These are known as
the Southwest Monsoon winds. These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring
widespread rainfall over the territories of India.
Jet streams are fast-flowing, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmosphere.
The Seasons and Monsoons in India: 4 main seasons can be identified in India:
• The cold weather season (Winter)
• The hot weather season (Summer)
• The advancing monsoon (Rainy Season)
• The retreating monsoon with some regional variations (Transition Season)
The Indian Monsoon
The climate of India is strongly influenced by monsoon winds.
The seasonal reversal of the wind system is known as “monsoon”.
The monsoons are experienced in the tropical area roughly between 20° N and 20° S.
Cold Weather Season (Winter)
• Winter starts in mid-November in northern India and continues till February.
• December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India.
• The temperature decreases as we move from south to north.
• Days are generally warm while nights are very cold.
• The sky remains mostly clear during this season.
• Humidity is low and winds are weak and variable.
• This season is very important for the growth of rabi crops.
Hot Weather Season (Summer)
• The summer season in India lasts from March to May.
• During this time, temperature rises and air pressure decreases in northern India.
• Hot and dry winds called “loo” blow during the daytime in north and northwest India.
• The weather becomes very dry and uncomfortable in many regions.
• Towards the end of summer, pre-monsoon showers occur in some areas.
• These showers are called “mango showers” as they help mangoes ripen early.
• Heat waves are common during peak summer months.
Advancing Monsoon (Rainy Season)
• Moist winds from the Indian Ocean move towards India and form the southwest monsoon.
• These winds bring heavy rainfall to most parts of the country.
• The monsoon usually lasts for about one to two months in active phases.
• Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall in the world.
• Rainfall is uneven and occurs in spells with dry breaks in between.
• The movement of low-pressure areas controls rainfall distribution.
• The monsoon season is uncertain in timing, duration, and intensity.
Retreating Monsoon (Transition Season)
• The retreating monsoon occurs during October and November.
• It marks the transition from rainy season to winter season.
• Skies become mostly clear during this period.
• Day temperatures remain high while nights become cooler.
• The weather becomes humid and uncomfortable during the day, known as “October heat”.
• By late October, temperatures start to fall in northern India.
• This season gradually leads to the beginning of winter.
Distribution of Rainfall
• Parts of the western coast and northeastern India receive more than about 400 cm of rainfall annually.
• Rainfall is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and nearby parts of Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.
• Rainfall is low in the interior parts of the Deccan plateau and east of the Sahyadris.
• Snowfall is found only in the Himalayan region.
• The total annual rainfall changes greatly from year to year
Monsoon as a Unifying Bond
• The monsoon connects the Indian subcontinent in an important way.
• The change of seasons and winds creates a regular cycle of seasons.
• Uneven and uncertain rainfall is a common feature of the monsoon.
• People across India eagerly wait for the arrival of the monsoon every year.
• Monsoon winds support agriculture by providing water for farming activities.