Chapter 4: Climate - Class 9 Geography

Notes (Detailed)
Introduction to Climate
• Definition and Distinction:
o Climate: Refers to the long-term average of weather conditions and patterns
over a large area, typically calculated over 30 years or more. It includes
elements like temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, and atmospheric
pressure.
o India's climate is classified as a tropical monsoon climate, characterized by
seasonal reversals in wind direction and heavy rainfall during specific months.
o Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific place and time,
which can change rapidly (e.g., hourly or daily). For example, a sudden
thunderstorm is weather, while consistent rainy seasons define climate.
• Elements of Weather and Climate: Temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind,
precipitation (rain, snow, hail), and humidity. These are measured using instruments
like thermometers, barometers, anemometers, rain gauges, and hygrometers.
• Importance of Studying Climate: Influences agriculture (e.g., crop choices),
clothing, housing, health, and economic activities. In India, the monsoon climate
dictates farming cycles, with 58% of the population dependent on agriculture.
• India's Climate Description: "Monsoon" derives from the Arabic "mausim" meaning
season. India's climate is unique due to its vast size, diverse relief, and location
between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator.

Factors Controlling the Climate of India (Climatic

Controls)
The climate of any place is influenced by six major factors. These explain variations in
temperature and rainfall across India.

1. Latitude:
o India lies between 8°N (southern tip) and 37°N (northern tip), with the Tropic
of Cancer (23½°N) passing through the middle.
o Impact: Southern India (tropical zone) experiences high temperatures year-
round with minimal seasonal variation (e.g., Kerala averages 25–30°C).
Northern India (subtropical) has extreme variations (e.g., Delhi: 45°C in
summer, 5°C in winter).
o Reason: Closer to the Equator means more direct sunlight and higher
temperatures.
2. Altitude (Height Above Sea Level):
o Temperature decreases by about 6.5°C for every 1,000 m increase in altitude
(lapse rate).
o Impact: Mountains like the Himalayas remain cool even in summer (e.g.,
Shimla at 2,200 m is cooler than Delhi at 200 m). The Himalayas act as a
barrier, preventing cold Siberian winds from entering India, making northern
plains warmer than expected for their latitude.
 o Examples: Hill stations like Ooty (2,240 m) have mild climates; high peaks
like Kanchenjunga are snow-capped year-round.
3. Pressure and Wind Systems:
o Pressure Belts: Influenced by land-sea temperature differences. In summer,
intense heating creates low pressure over northern India; high pressure over
the cooler Indian Ocean attracts winds.
o Wind Systems:
§ Monsoon Winds: Seasonal reversal (detailed below).
§ Jet Streams: High-altitude winds (10–15 km). Subtropical westerly jet
(winter) brings western disturbances; tropical easterly jet (summer)
influences monsoon.
§ Upper Air Circulation: Affects surface weather; e.g., El Niño (warm
Pacific currents) can weaken monsoons, causing droughts.
o Impact: Determines rainfall distribution; e.g., low pressure trough in summer
pulls in moist winds.
4. Distance from the Sea:
o Moderating Influence: Oceans have a high specific heat, warming/cooling
slowly, moderating coastal climates.
o Impact: Coastal areas have equable (moderate) climates with low temperature
ranges (e.g., Mumbai: 20–30°C year-round). Interior regions have continental
(extreme) climates (e.g., Delhi: 5–45°C).
o Examples: Chennai (coastal) vs. Hyderabad (interior) – Chennai has milder
summers.
5. Ocean Currents:
o Warm currents raise temperatures; cold currents lower them.
o Impact on India: Warm currents along the west coast (e.g., from equatorial
regions) slightly warm coastal areas. No major cold currents affect India
directly, but global phenomena like El Niño/La Niña influence monsoons.
o Global Examples: Gulf Stream warms Western Europe; but in India, the
effect is subtle.
6. Relief Features (Physiography):
o Mountains and plateaus influence wind direction and rainfall.
o Impact:
§ Himalayas trap monsoon winds, causing heavy rain in the north-east
(orographic rainfall).
§ Western Ghats block south-west monsoons, leading to heavy rain on
windward side (e.g., Mumbai: 200 cm) and rain shadow on leeward
side (e.g., Pune: 50 cm).
o Examples: Aravalli Hills fail to block monsoons effectively, making
Rajasthan arid.

The Indian Monsoon

• Monsoon Definition: Derived from "mausim" (Arabic for season), it refers to the
seasonal reversal of wind direction, bringing heavy rainfall.
• Mechanism and Origin:
o Traditional View: Land-sea temperature difference. Summer heating creates
low pressure over land (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone shifts north),
drawing moist south-west winds from the Indian Ocean.
 o Modern View: Involves jet streams and Southern Oscillation (pressure
changes between Pacific and Indian Oceans). El Niño weakens monsoons; La
Niña strengthens them.
• Branches of South-West Monsoon:
o Arabian Sea Branch: Hits Western Ghats first (heavy rain: 300–400 cm on
windward slopes). Moves inland but weakens over Rajasthan (arid due to
parallel Aravallis).
o Bay of Bengal Branch: Strikes north-east hills (e.g., Mawsynram: 1,140 cm
annual rain due to funnel effect). Moves west along Ganga plains, decreasing
rainfall westward (Kolkata: 160 cm; Delhi: 65 cm).
• Onset and Advance:
o Onset: Begins in Kerala around June 1 (burst of monsoon with
thunderstorms). Advances north-west, covering India by mid-July.
o Duration: June to September; provides 75–90% of India's annual rainfall.
o Breaks: Periods of weak monsoon (dry spells) due to shifts in low-pressure
trough.
• Withdrawal (Retreating Monsoon):
o Starts from north-west in early September, complete by early December.
Winds reverse to north-east, dry except for south-east coast (rain from
retreating winds).
o Features: Clear skies, rising temperatures, high humidity leading to "October
heat."

The Seasons in India

India experiences four distinct seasons due to the monsoon influence, unlike the typical
spring-summer-autumn-winter cycle.

Temperature
Season Months Rainfall and Weather Phenomena
Characteristics
North: 10–15°C (days), Light rain from western disturbances
Cold Weather below 10°C (nights); (cyclones from Mediterranean) in
December–
Season South: 20–25°C. Frost north-west (beneficial for rabi crops).
February
(Winter) in north, snow in North-east trade winds dominate, dry
Himalayas. overall.
Localized thunderstorms: Loo (hot
North: 30–48°C winds in north), Kaal Baisakhi
Hot Weather
(Rajasthan hottest); (violent storms in Bengal, good for
Season March–May
South: 30–40°C. Low tea/jute), Mango Showers (pre-
(Summer)
pressure develops. monsoon rains in Kerala/Karnataka,
aid mango ripening), Nor'westers.
Advancing
Moderate temps (25– Heavy rain (75–90% annual); floods
Monsoon June–
30°C) due to in lowlands, droughts in rain
(Rainy September
clouds/rain. shadows. Breaks cause crop issues.
Season)
Temps rise after rain
Retreating October– Rain in Tamil Nadu/Andhra from
(October heat: sultry
Monsoon November retreating winds/cyclones. Tropical
weather).
 Temperature
Season Months Rainfall and Weather Phenomena
Characteristics
(Transition cyclones in Bay of Bengal cause
Season) damage (e.g., floods in Odisha).

• Seasonal Variations: Extreme in north (continental influence), moderate in south

(maritime).

Distribution of Rainfall in India

• Annual Average: India receives ~118 cm, but distribution is highly uneven.
• Patterns (Refer to Figure 4.4 in textbook):
o High Rainfall (>200 cm): Western Ghats (windward), North-East (Assam,
Meghalaya), Andaman & Nicobar. Mawsynram (1,140 cm) and Cherrapunji
(1,080 cm) – world's wettest places due to orographic uplift.
o Moderate Rainfall (100–200 cm): Eastern Ghats, parts of Odisha, West
Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh.
o Low Rainfall (50–100 cm): Ganga plains (decreasing westward), Punjab,
Haryana, eastern Rajasthan.
o Scanty Rainfall (<50 cm): Western Rajasthan (Thar Desert: <10 cm),
Ladakh, interior Deccan plateau (rain shadow).
• Variability: Monsoon rainfall is erratic – early/late onset, uneven spread leads to
floods (e.g., Assam) or droughts (e.g., Rajasthan). Coefficient of variation high in arid
areas.
• Causes of Variability: Cyclonic disturbances, jet stream positions, El Niño effects.

Monsoon as a Unifying Bond

• Unifying Role: Despite regional diversity, the monsoon provides a rhythmic cycle of
seasons across India.
o Agricultural Dependence: Timely monsoons ensure good harvests; failure
causes famines.
o Cultural Impact: Festivals like Teej, Onam tied to monsoons; rivers swell,
landscapes green.
o Economic Link: Unites farmers from Himalayas to Deccan through shared
hopes for rain.
o Challenges: Floods/droughts highlight need for conservation (e.g., rainwater
harvesting).
• Global Context: Similar to other monsoon regions (e.g., South-East Asia), but India's
size makes it unique.

Key Phenomena and Terms

• Western Cyclonic Disturbances: Winter rains in north-west from Mediterranean
cyclones.
• Tropical Cyclones: October–November, destructive in eastern coast.
• Jet Streams: Influence monsoon intensity.
 • Southern Oscillation: Pressure seesaw between Pacific/Indian Oceans; linked to El
Niño.
• Burst of Monsoon: Sudden heavy rain at onset.
• Rain Shadow: Leeward side of mountains with low rain (e.g., Deccan plateau).

Revision Points (From Textbook Exercises)

• MCQs/Key Facts:
o Coriolis Force: Deflects winds (right in Northern Hemisphere).
o Wettest Place: Mawsynram.
o Monsoon Trough: Low-pressure area attracting winds.
o El Niño: Weakens monsoon.
• Short Answers: Explain factors like relief on rainfall; differentiate weather/climate.
• Long Answers: Describe monsoon mechanism; analyze rainfall distribution with
map.
• Map Skills: Mark areas with >200 cm rain, <20 cm rain; locate Mawsynram, jet
stream positions.
• Activities: Record local weather for a week; discuss climate change impacts (e.g.,
erratic monsoons due to global warming).