Q. ‘The monsoon is known for its uncertainties.’ Explain.
a) The alternation of dry and wet spells vary in intensity, frequency and duration.
b) While it causes heavy floods in one part, it causes droughts in the other.
c) It is often irregular in its arrival and its retreat.
d) Hence, it sometimes disturbs the farming schedule of millions of farmers.
Q. Explain the mechanism of Retreating Monsoon.
a) It last from October till November when the low-pressure trough over Northern
plain weakens.
b) It is gradually replaced by High pressure system and southwest monsoon
winds start withdrawing.
c) Monsoon withdraws: Northern plains- beginning of October.
Transition period from hot rainy to dry winter- between October and November
d) Weather- Clear skies and rise in temperature.
e) Temperature starts falling- second half of October; low pressure gets
transferred to Bay of Bengal (early November).
f) This shift is associated with the occurrence of cyclonic depressions, which
originate over the Andaman Sea.
Q. What is ’October Heat’?
a) While day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant. The land is still
moist.
b) Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather
becomes rather oppressive during the day. This is commonly known as ‘October
heat’.
Q. Explain the occurrence of cyclonic depressions, which originate over the
Andaman Sea.
a) These cyclones generally cross the eastern coasts of India cause heavy and
widespread rain.
b) These tropical cyclones are often very destructive.
c) The thickly populated deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are
frequently struck by cyclones, which cause great damage to life and property.
d) Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal and
Bangladesh.
e) The bulk of the rainfall of the Coromandel Coast is derived from depressions
and cyclones.
Q. Explain the distribution of Rainfall on the Indian subcontinent.
a) Parts of western coast and northeastern India receive over about 400 cm of
rainfall annually.
b) It is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat,
Haryana and Punjab.
c) Rainfall is equally low in the interior of the Deccan plateau, and east of the
Sahyadris.
d) Another area of low precipitation is around Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
e) The rest of the country receives moderate rainfall. Snowfall is restricted to the
Himalayan region.
f) Variability is high in the regions of low rainfall, such as parts of Rajasthan,
Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats.
g) As such, while areas of high rainfall are liable to be affected by floods, areas of
low rainfall are drought-prone.
Q. Explain how Monsoon acts as a unifying bond for India.
a) The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather
conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons.
b) Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much typical of
the monsoons.
c) The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, entire agricultural calendar and
the life of the people, including their festivities, revolve around it.
d) People of India from north to south and from east to west, eagerly await the
arrival of the monsoon.
e) These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the
agricultural activities in motion.
f) The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.