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).
Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point in time.
The elements of weather and climate are the same, i.e. temperature,
atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation. On the basis of the
monthly atmospheric conditions, the year is divided into seasons such as:
● Winter
● Summer
● Rainy Seasons
Climatic Controls
Climatic controls are the factors that affect the climate of a place. These factors
include:
Latitude: The distance from the equator. Because the Earth is a sphere, the
amount of solar energy received varies by latitude.
Altitude: The height above sea level. As altitude increases, the atmosphere
becomes less dense and temperature decreases.
Pressure and wind system: The pressure and wind system of an area
depends on its latitude and altitude. This influences temperature and
rainfall patterns.
Distance from the sea: Coastal regions are cooler than interior regions.
Ocean currents: Warm ocean currents heat up the air above them, while
cold ocean currents cool the air above them.
Relief features: Barriers that block currents from entering a country, such
as high mountains.
Factors Affecting India’s Climate
Latitude
● The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the
Rann of Kachchh in the west to Mizoram in the east.
● India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical
climates.
Altitude
● India is bordered by mountains in the north and has a vast coastal area
with a maximum elevation of about 30 meters.
● The northern mountains shield the subcontinent, resulting in milder
winters compared to central Asia.
Pressure and winds
India's climate and weather are influenced by:
● Pressure and surface winds
● Upper air circulation
● Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones
Jet Streams: High-speed, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmosphere
also play a role in weather patterns.
The Indian Monsoon
The Indian monsoon is a seasonal wind reversal that brings heavy The
monsoon is a seasonal wind reversal that occurs in tropical regions.
● It's a periodic wind that reverses direction with the seasons.
● The monsoon blows from the sea to the land in the summer and from the
land to the sea in the winter.
● The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) shifts north and south with
the seasons, bringing rain to India.
● The monsoon is vital for agriculture in India.
Without the monsoon, farmers would need to rely on irrigation and manually
moving water, which could be costly and time-consuming. rains to India
from June to September.
The Onset of the Monsoon and Withdrawal
● The monsoon lasts for 100-120 days, from early June to mid-September.
● Upon arrival, rainfall increases suddenly and continues steadily for
several days, referred to as the "burst" of the monsoon.
Arrival of the Monsoon in Different Parts of India
The monsoon reaches the southern tip of the Indian peninsula by the first
week of June.
It splits into two branches:
● Arabian Sea Branch: Reaches Mumbai by around June 10 and
Saurashtra-Kutch and central India by mid-June.
● Bay of Bengal Branch: Arrives in Assam in the first week of June and
brings monsoon showers to Delhi by the end of June.
The two branches merge over the northwestern Ganga plains.
Progression:
● By the first week of July, monsoon reaches western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,
Haryana, and eastern Rajasthan.
● By mid-July, it covers Himachal Pradesh and the rest of the country.
Withdrawal of the Monsoon
● The withdrawal of the monsoon begins in the northwestern states of
India in early September.
● By mid-October, it withdraws from the northern half of the peninsula.
● By early December, it withdraws from the rest of the country.
● From the first week of December to the first week of January, it withdraws
progressively from north to south.
The Seasons
4 main seasons can be identified in India:
1. The cold weather season (Winter)
2. The hot weather season (Summer)
3. The advancing monsoon (Rainy Season)
4. The retreating monsoon with some regional variations (Transition
Season)
The Cold Weather Season (Winter)
Winter begins in 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.
● Days are warm and nights are cold.
● The weather is marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity and feeble,
variable winds.
● This season is extremely important for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.
The Hot Weather Season (Summer)
● The hot weather season in India occurs from March to May.
● Rising temperatures and falling air pressure characterize the season in
northern India.
● The season is marked by the ‘loo,’ strong, gusty, hot, and dry winds
blowing over north and northwestern India during the day.
● Pre-monsoon showers, known as ‘mango showers,’ occur towards the end
of summer, aiding the early ripening of mangoes.
Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)
The advancing monsoon is a rainy season in India that occurs from June to
September. It brings heavy rainfall to most of India, especially to the northeast.
● Low pressure builds over the northern plains in early June.
● This attracts trade winds from the southern hemisphere.
● These winds cross the equator and blow into India from the southwest.
● They cover most of India in about a month, except for the far northwest.
Retreating/Post Monsoons (The Transition Season)
The retreating monsoon is the period when the southwest monsoon winds
start to weaken and retreat from the Indian subcontinent. It's also known as the
northeast monsoon or post-monsoon season.
● The retreating monsoon usually occurs between the months of October
and November.
● It starts in northwest India and gradually moves across the country.
Distribution of Rainfall
1. Parts of the western coast and northeastern India receive over about 400
cm of rainfall annually.
2. Rainfall is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of
Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab.
3. Rainfall is low in the interior of the Deccan plateau and east of the
Sahyadris.
4. Snowfall is restricted to the Himalayan region.
5. The annual rainfall is highly variable from year to year.
Monsoon as a Unifying Bond
● A "monsoon as a unifying bond" refers to how the monsoon season in
India acts as a connecting force across the country.
● It provides essential water for agriculture, impacting the lives of farmers
and people across different regions, essentially tying the nation together
through a shared dependence on the rain cycle.
● The monsoon is a unifying bond because it connects the entire country
through water, agriculture, and transportation.
● It also influences the lives of people, plants, and animals.