PRESIDIUM SCHOOL

SESSION 2023-24
REFERENCE NOTES
GRADE : lX
SUBJECT : GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTER/TOPIC : CHAPTER - 4 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 of time.
- The elements of weather and climate are the same, i.e. temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind,
humidity and precipitation.
- The climate of India is described as the ‘monsoon’ type. In Asia, this type of climate is found mainly in
the south and south-east.
- The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausim’, which literally means season.
- Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal in wind direction during a year.
- Variations in climatic conditions are found in our country especially relating to two important
elements-temperature and precipitation. They vary from place to place, and season to season.
Precipitation is mostly in the form of snowfall in the upper parts of Himalayas and rains over the rest of
the country. Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September. However, some parts like
the Tamil Nadu coast get most of its rain during October and November.
Climatic Controls
There are six major controls of the climate of any place. They are latitude, altitude, pressure and wind
system, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents and relief features.
Latitude
(i) Due to the curvature of the Earth, the amount of solar energy received varies according to latitude.
(ii) Air temperature generally decreases from the equator towards the poles.
(iii) Almost half of the country lying south of the Tropic of Cancer belongs to the tropical areas. All the
remaining area north of this lies in the sub-tropics.
Altitude
(i) As one goes from the surface of the Earth to higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less dense
and temperature decreases. The hills are therefore cooler during the summers.
(ii) The Himalayas prevent the entry of the cold winds from Central Asia. It is because of these
mountains that this sub-continent experiences comparatively milder winters as compared to Central
Asia.
Pressure and Winds
(i) The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the latitude and altitude of the place.
(ii) These influence the temperature and rainfall pattern.
(iii) The climate and associated weather conditions in India are governed by the following atmospheric
conditions.
- Pressure and surface winds.
- Upper air circulation.
- Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones
(iv) The pressure and wind conditions over India are [Link] winter, there is a high pressure area
north of the Himalayas.
(v) Cold dry winds blow from this region to the low pressure areas over the oceans to the south. In
summer, a low pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over north-western India. This
causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds during summer.
(vi) Air moves from a high pressure area over the southern Indian ocean, in a south easterly direction,
crosses the equator and turns right toward the low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. These
are known as the Southwest Monsoon winds.
(vii) These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall over the
mainland of India lasting for 100-120 days.
Distance from the sea
The sea exerts a moderating influence on the climate. As the distance from the sea increases, its
moderating influence decreases and the people experience extreme weather conditions. This condition
is known as continentality which means very hot during summers and very cold during winters.
Relief
It plays a major role in determining the climate of a place. High mountains act as barriers for cold or hot
winds; they may also cause precipitation if they are high enough and lie in the path of rain-bearing
winds. The leeward side of the mountains remains relatively dry.
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions. The
ocean currents may be warm or cold. They along with onshore winds affect the climate of the coastal
areas, For example, any coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing past it, will be warmed or
cooled if the winds are onshore.
THE WESTERN CYCLONIC DISTURBANCE
i) The western cyclonic disturbances are weather phenomena of the winter brought in by the westerly
flow from the Mediterranean region.
(ii) They usually influence the weather of the north and north-western regions of India.
(iii) Tropical cyclones occur during the monsoon as well as in October-November and are part of the
easterly flow. They affect the coastal regions of the country.

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 from 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 south to 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)
➔ From March to May, hot weather is observed in India.
➔ The summer months experience rising temperature and falling air pressure in the northern part of
the
country.
➔ A striking feature of the hot weather season is the ‘loo’. Loo is the strong, gusty, hot, dry winds
blowing during the day over the north and northwestern India.
➔ Pre-monsoon showers come which help in the early ripening of mangoes, and are often referred to
as ‘mango showers’.
Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)
➔ South-east trade winds originate over the warm subtropical areas of the southern oceans.
➔ They cross the equator and blow in a southwesterly direction entering the Indian peninsula as the
south-west monsoon.
➔ Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills receives the highest average rainfall in the
world.
➔ A phenomenon associated with the monsoon is its tendency to have ‘breaks’ in rainfall. These
breaks
in monsoon are related to the movement of the monsoon trough. The trough and its axis keep on
moving northward or southward and determining the spatial distribution of rainfall.
➔ The frequency and intensity of tropical depressions also determine the amount and duration of
monsoon rains.
Retreating/Post Monsoons (The Transition Season)
➔ The months of October-November form a period of transition from hot rainy season to dry
winter conditions.
➔ The retreat of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature. While day
temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant.
➔ Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes rather
oppressive during the day. This is commonly known as ‘October heat’.
➔ In the second half of October, the mercury begins to fall rapidly in northern India.
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
- The unifying influence of the monsoon on the Indian subcontinent is quite noticeable.
- The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a
rhythmic cycle of seasons.
- The uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much typical of the monsoons.
- People of India from north to south and from east to west, eagerly await the arrival of the monsoon.
- These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural activities in
motion.