PODAR PEARL SCHOOL
(Under the Supervision of Ministry of education and Higher Education, Qatar)
Academic Year 2025-26
QUESTION ANSWERS
CHAPTR 4. CLIMATE
1. What are the six major controls of the climate of the
world? (Not to Write. Can be marked in the TEXTBOOK)
Answer: (i) Latitude: Due to the round shape of the Earth, the
amount of solar energy received varies according to latitude. As a
result, air temperature decreases from the equator towards the
poles.
(ii) Altitude: As one moves up to the higher altitudes, the
atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature decreases.
Therefore, hills are the cooler during summers.
(iii) Pressure and winds: Pressure and wind system of an area
depend on the latitude and altitude of the place. Thus, it influences
the temperature and rainfall pattern.
(iv) Distance from the sea: If the region is close to the sea, it makes
the temperature moderate but if it is away from the sea, it
experiences extreme weather conditions.
(v) Ocean currents: Ocean currents along with the onshore winds
affect the climate of a coastal area. Any coastal area with warm or
cold currents flowing past it, will become warm or cold if the winds
are onshore.
(vi) Relief: High mountains act as barriers for cold and hot winds.
They may also cause precipitation if they lie in the path of rain-
bearing winds. The leeward side of mountains remains dry, whereas
the windward side is able to receive rain.
2. State how the pressure and wind conditions over India are
unique. (Not to Write. Can be marked in the TEXTBOOK)
Answer:(i) During winter, a high pressure area develops north of
the Himalayas.
(ii) Cold dry winds blow from this region to the low pressure areas
over the oceans to the south.
(iii) In summer, a low pressure area develops over interior Asia as
well as over northwestern India.
(iv) This causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds during
summer.
(v) Air moves from the high pressure area over the southern Indian
ocean in a south-westerly direction, crosses the equator and turns
right towards the low pressure area over the Indian sub-continent.
(vi) These winds are known as south-west monsoon winds.
(vii) These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and
bring widespread rainfall over the mainland of India.
3. State the chief characteristics of the cold weather season
in India. (Not to Write. Can be marked in the TEXTBOOK)
Answer: (i) Cold weather season takes place from Mid-November to
February.
(ii) The temperature decreases from south to north.
(iii) The average temperature of the Northern Plains ranges between
10o to 15oC whereas the average temperature of Chennai is between
24oC to 25oC.
(iv) Days are warm and nights are cold. (v) During this season,
northeast trade winds prevail over the country; they blow from the
land to the sea and are dry.
(vi) Tamil Nadu coast receives rainfall, as these winds blow from the
sea to the land.
(vii) The weather is marked by clear skies, low temperatures, low
humidity and feeble variable winds.
4. What is the role of western disturbances’ in the Indian
climate?
Answer: (i) A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over
the northern plains is the inflow of cyclonic disturbances from the
west and the northwest.
(ii) These low pressure systems originate over the Mediterranean
sea and Western Asia and move into India, along with easterly flow.
(iii) They cause the much needed winter rains over the plains and
snowfall in the mountains.
(iv) Although the total amount of winter rainfall, locally known as
‘Mahawat’ is small, it is very useful for rabi crops. These winds are
called western disturbances since they came from the western part
of India.
5. State the chief characteristics of the hot weather season
in India. (Not to Write. Can be marked in the TEXTBOOK)
Answer: (i) India experiences the hot weather season from the
month of March to May. (ii) The temperature in the northern plains
of India is between 42 to 45oC and in the Deccan plateau, between
35 to 38oC.
(iii) Towards the end of May, an elongated low pressure area
develops in the region extending from the Thar Desert to Patna and
Chotanagpur plateau.
(iv) During the hot weather season, strong, gusty, hot, dry winds
known as the ‘Loo’ blows. Direct exposure to these winds may even
prove to be fatal.
(v) Dust storms are very common during the month of May in
northern India. These storms bring temporary relief as they lower
the temperatures.
(vi) This is also the season of localised thunderstorms associated
with violent winds and torrential rains known as Kaal Baisakhi in
West Bengal.
6. Give a brief account of how monsoons advance into India.
(Not to Write. Can be marked in the TEXTBOOK)
Answer: (i) In early June, the low pressure conditions over the
northern plains intensify. (ii) These south-east trade winds cross the
equator and blow in south- westerly direction, entering the Indian
peninsula as the south-west monsoons.
(iii) As these winds blow over warm oceans, they bring abundant
moisture to the sub-continent. (iv) These winds are strong and blow
at an average velocity of 30 km per hour. (v) Early in the season,
the windward side of the Western Cxhats receh es very heavy
rainfall, more than 250 cm.
(vi) The maximum rainfall of this season is received in the
northeastern part of the country. Mawsynram in Khasi Hills receives
the highest average rainfall in the world.
(vii) Rainfall in the Gangs valley decreases from east to the west
Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat get scanty rainfall.
7. Give a brief account of the condition and characteristics of
the retreating monsoons. (Not to Write. Can be marked in
the TEXTBOOK)
Answer: (i) This is the transition period during the months of
October and November.
(ii) With the apparent movement of the Sun towards the south, the
low pressure trough over the northern plains becomes weaker. This
is gradually replaced by a high pressure system.
(iii) The south-west monsoon winds weaken and start withdrawing
gradually.
(iv) By the beginning of October, the monsoon withdraws from the
northern plains.
(v) The months of October and November form a period of transition
from hot rainy season to dry winter conditions.
(vi) When monsoons retreat, skies get clear and the temperature
rises.
(vii) While day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant.
The land is still moist.
(viii) Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the
weather becomes oppressive during the day. This is commonly
known as October Heat.
(ix) The low pressure conditions get transferred to the Bay of Bengal
by early November. (x) The cyclonic depressions originate from the
Andaman Sea and cause heavy and widespread rains on the eastern
coast.
(xi) These tropical cyclones are often very destructive and affect the
coast of Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh.
8. Why is monsoon considered a unifying bond? (Not to
Write. Can be marked in the TEXTBOOK)
Answer: (i) The Himalayas protect the subcontinent from extremely
cold winds from Central Asia. This enables northern India to have
uniformly higher temperature when compared to oilier areas on the
same latitude.
(ii) The Peninsular plateau under the influence of the sea from three
sides has moderate temperatures.
(iii) The seasonal alternation of wind systems and the associated
weather conditions provides a rhythmic cycle of seasons.
(iv) Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very
typical of the monsoon.
(v) The Indian landscape, its animals and plant life, its entire
agricultural calendar and the life of the people including their
festivities revolve around this phenomenon.
(vi) These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing
water to get the agricultural activities in motion. The river valleys
which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.
9. Why are the deltas of the Krishna, Kaveri and Godavari
frequently struck by cyclones? (Not to Write. Can be marked
in the TEXTBOOK)
Answer: (i) The low pressure conditions over north-western India,
get transferred to the Bay of Bengal by early November.
(ii) This shift is associated with the occurrence of cyclonic
depressions which originate over the Andaman Sea.
(iii) These cyclones generally cross the eastern coasts of India and
cause heavy and widespread rains.
(iv) These tropical cyclones are often very destructive.
(v) 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.
(vi) Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Odisha, W.
Bengal and Bangladesh. The bulk of rainfall of the Coromandel coast
is derived from depression and cyclones.
10. Which part of India experiences the highest diurnal
range of temperature and why?
Answer: (i) Diurnal range of temperature is the difference between
maximum and minimum temperature of a day.
(ii) Diurnal range of temperature is high in desert regions like
Rajasthan, Thar Desert and interior parts of Rann of Kutch.
(iii) In these sandy areas, the day temperature may rise to 50 o and
drop down to near freezing point the same night.
(iv) It is so because the sand absorbs heat very fast during day and
loses heat very fast at night.
11. Why does the rainfall decrease from east to the west in
northern India?
Answer: (i) The northern plains receive rains from the Bay of
Bengal branch of the S.W. monsoons.
(ii) It strikes the Myanmar’s Arkan mountains and gets deflected
westward along the Himalayas.
(iii) Maximum precipitation is recorded in the north-eastern part of
India and West Bengal.
(iv) As the monsoon moves westwards, they gradually lose moisture
and rainfall decreases from east to west over the northern plains.
(v) The clouds are almost exhausted by the time they reach western
Rajasthan.
12. Mention any three characteristics of the Indian Monsoon.
Answer: Some features of the monsoon are
(i) Burst Around the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall increases
suddenly and continues constantly for several days. This is known as
the ‘burst’ of monsoon.
(ii) Break The monsoon has a tendency to have ‘breaks’ in rainfall.
Thus, the rain is interspersed with rainless intervals.
(iii) Retreating Monsoon This is the transition season of monsoons
during October-November, when the monsoon winds are retreating.
13. Why is the distribution of rainfall in India not uniform?
Explain any three reasons.
Answer: The reasons for the uneven distribution of rainfall in India
are
(i) Relief and Topography: The windward side of mountains and hills
receive more rainfall than leeward side.
(ii) Latitudinal and Longitudinal Extent: The tropical and coastal
regions and plains receive more rainfall than the plateau and desert
regions in the interior.
(iii) Moods of Monsoon :The unpredictability of the monsoon along
with phenomena like monsoon troughs and depressions lead to
uneven distribution of rainfall.
14. Why North-West India receives rainfall in winter? Give
any three reasons.
Answer: North-West India receives rainfall in winter because
(i) Cyclonic disturbances occur from the West and the North-West.
(ii) These low-pressure systems, originate over the Mediterranean
Sea and Western Asia and move into India, along with Westerly flow.
(iii) They cause winter rains over Punjab, Haryana and Northern
Plains.
15. Define ‘Kal Baisakhi’ and ‘Loo’. In which parts of India
are they experienced? Or Define Kaal Baishakhi, Mango
Showers and Loo. (Not to Write. Can be marked in the
TEXTBOOK)
Answer: Kal Baisakhi These are local thunderstorms associated
with violent winds, torrential downpours, often accompanied by
hail. Loo These are strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the
day over the North and North-Western India. Sometimes they even
continue until late in the evening. Direct exposure to these winds
may even prove to be fatal. Mango Showers Towards the close of
summer season, pre-monsoon showers are common, especially in
Kerala and Karnataka. They help in early ripening of mangoes.
These are called as mango showers.
16. Why do the Western Ghats receive more rainfall than the
Eastern Ghats? Explain briefly.
Answer: Western Ghats receive more rainfall than the Eastern
Ghats because
(i) Western Ghats receive rainfall from the Arabian Sea monsoon
winds. As these winds blow over warm oceans, they bring abundant
moisture.
(ii) The Ghats do not allow the winds to cross over without shedding
their moisture on the Western slopes.
(iii) When these winds reach the Eastern coast, they are almost dry.
(iv) Another branch of South-West monsoon i.e., the Bay of Bengal
branch moves parallel to the Eastern coast. In this way, this region
is located in an un favourable position with reference of the
monsoon winds.
17. “Indian monsoon is said to be a unifying bond for the
people of the country.” Suppose the monsoon is disturbed
for a prolonged period of time. What do you think, how will
it affect the country? (Not to Write. Can be marked in the
TEXTBOOK)
Answer: In the following ways it will affect the country
(i) There will be a change in landscape.
(ii) The fauna and flora will be disturbed.
(iii) Due to change in cycle of season, Indian agricultural cycle will
be disturbed.
(iv) Many of the festivals like Baisakhi, Pongal, Onam, Bihu, etc will
come to an end.
(v) Rivers will run short of water so religious rituals will be disturbed.
(vi) Drinking water will go short.
(vii) River navigation and many of the recreational activities will
come to halt.
18. Explain any four features of advancing monsoon with
reference to India.
Answer: These are any four features of advancing monsoon
(i) Monsoon has two branches. The Arabian Sea branch reaches
Mumbai in the second week of June. By mid-June, it reaches Gujarat
and Central India.
(ii) The Bay of Bengal branch reaches Assam in the first week of
June. Due to lofty mountains, it deflects towards the West over the
Ganga plains.
(iii) The two branches merge over the North-Western part of Ganga
plains.
(iv) By the first week of July, Western UP, Punjab, Haryana and
Eastern Rajasthan receive the monsoon.
19. Where is Mawsynram located? Why does Mawsynram
receive the highest amount of rainfall?
Answer: Mawsynram is located in the Southern ranges of the Khasi
hills at a height of 1500 m above the sea level. It receives the
highest (annual rainfall 1140 cm) rainfall of the world. Mawsynram
receives the highest amount of rainfall because
(i) This place is enclosed by hills on three sides.
(ii) The relief features give this place funnel shaped location.
(iii) The Bay of Bengal monsoon is trapped in these hills. These
winds try to get out of it, but are forced to pour down there.