ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024
CLASS: IX
Subject: Geography CLIMATE
1. Explain the terms “weather” and “climate.”
Climate: It is a sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long
period of time. (More than 30 years)
Weather: It is the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point of time.
2. Explain any five factors that affect the climate of India.
(a ) Pressure: In winter the pressure is high over the land and low over the sea. Therefore
cold winds blow from land to the sea. In summer the winds blow from sea to land where the
pressure is low.
(b) Distance from the Sea: Places near the sea have a moderate climate due to the influence
of land and sea breezes. Places far away in the interior have a continental or extreme
climate.
(c) Ocean Currents: Ocean currents affect the coastal regions. Cold currents reduce the
temperature of the regions they blow along. Warm currents increase the temperature of
coastal regions.
(d) Relief: Mountains lying at right angles to the winds cause heavy rainfall whereas
mountains lying parallel to the winds do not cause rain. Windward slopes of mountains
cause heavier rain than the leeward slope or the rain shadow area.
(e) Latitude: Due to the spherical shape of the earth the amount of solar energy received by
the earth varies according to the latitude. Temperature decreases from the Equator to the
poles.
3. How differential heating and cooling of land and water help in understanding mechanism of
monsoon?
Differential heating and cooling of land and water creates low pressure on the land of
India while the seas around experience comparatively high pressure leading to the shifting
of winds from south to north.
4. What do you know about ‘South-Western Monsoon winds?
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 South- West Monsoon Winds.
5. What is ‘October Heat’?
The months of October and November are a period of change from hot rainy season
to dry winter conditions. The land is moist, the sky is clear and the temperature rises. Nights
are cool and pleasant. Owing to high temperature and humidity, the heat becomes
oppressive during daytime and it is called ‘October heat’.
6. What do you understand by the ‘Retreating of the Monsoon’? When does it occur?
(a) Withdrawal of the monsoon from the country is known as the retreating of the monsoon.
(b) The withdrawal is a gradual process. In September the monsoon withdraws from the
north western states and by October from the northern half of the peninsular.
(c) The monsoon finally withdraws from the country by early December.
7. Write short notes on the local winds of the Hot/Summer season.
(a) Loo: These are strong, gusty, hot dry winds blowing during the day over north and north
west India. Dust storms are common.
(b) Kaal Baisakhi: These are the localised thunderstorms, accompanied by violent winds,
torrential rain, sometimes accompanied by hail. These occur in West Bengal.
(c) Mango showers: These are the pre-monsoon showers taking place on the coast of Kerala
and Karnataka. Since they help in the early ripening of mangoes.
8. Describe the role of El Nino and Southern Oscillation to control the climate of India.
The periodic change in pressure conditions in eastern Pacific and eastern Indian
Ocean is known as the Southern Oscillation. The difference in pressure’in the Indian arid
Pacific Oceans is computed to predict the intensity of the monsoons. Negative pressure
differences predict below average and late Monsoons. This affects the El Nino, a warm
current which flows along the Peruvian current instead of the cold current. The changes in
pressure conditions are connected to the EL Nino.
9. What is the pattern of annual rainfall distribution in India?
The annual rainfall is highly variable from year to year. Parts of western coast and
north eastern India receive heavy rainfall. Rainfall is low in Deccan plateau, east Sahyadris,
Leh, Rajasthan, Gujarat. The rest of the country receives moderate rainfall. Thus the pattern
of annual rainfall distribution is uneven in India.
10. Differentiate between ‘Burst of the Monsoon’ and ‘Break of the Monsoon.
At the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and continues
constantly for several days. This is known as ‘burst of the monsoon’. The phenomenon can
be distinguished from the pre-monsoon showers. Another phenomenon associated with the
monsoon is its tendency to have breaks in rainfall. The monsoon rains take place only for a
few days at a time. They are interspersed with rainless intervals. These breaks in monsoon
are related to the movement of the monsoon trough.
11. Differentiate between the North-East Monsoons and South-West Monsoons by explaining
five distinctive features of each.
South-West Monsoons North-East Monsoons
They blow in summer from June to They blow in winter from December to
September. February.
They blow from (high pressure) sea to They blow from (high pressure) land to
(low pressure) land. (low pressure) sea.
These are dry as they originate over
They are moisture bearing winds.
land.
They blow in two branches Arabian Sea
While crossing the Bay of Bengal, they
Branch, Bay of Bengal branch and give
pick up moisture and give rainfall to the
bulk of rainfall to India from 75% to
Coromandel coast (Tamil Nadu.)
90%.
High temperature, low pressure and high Low temperature, high pressure, low
humidity humidity.
12. “Monsoon acts as a unifying bond”. Explain.
The unifying influence of the monsoon on the Indian subcontinent is felt through its
seasonal alternation of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions. It is also
perceptible through uncertainties and uneven distribution of monsoon rainfall. The Indian
landscape, its flora and fauna, agricultural seasons, livelihood of the people including
festivals etc. are governed by the monsoon. Year after year people anxiously wait for the
arrival of monsoon. The river valleys which carry monsoon water also unite the country as
a single river valley unit.
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