Climate lesson notes
1. India experiences which type of climate?.
(b) Tropical Monsoon climate
2. The Deccan Plateau gets less rainfall than the Western Ghats because
(c) it lies in the rain-shadow area of the Western Ghats.
3. What causes the winter rain along the Coromandel Coast?
(b) Retreating monsoon
4. Which of the following is NOT a source of rainfall for Punjab and Haryana?
(b) Bay of Bengal branch of South-west monsoon
5. Which of the following factors does not affect the climate of a place?
(d) Urbanisation
6. Western disturbances become active in northern India during which season?
(b) Winter
7. The summer monsoon winds blow in which direction?
(b) South-West
8. Which of the following is good for the cultivation of tea and jute?
(a) Mango showers
9. Where does the Arabian Sea Branch join the Bay of Bengal branch?
(b) In Western Ghats
10. What causes the ‘October Heat’?
(c) High temperature and humidity.
11. Which state in India is the first to experience the onset of the monsoon and
the last to see its withdrawal?
(d) Andaman and Nicobar
12. Why do the interior parts of the Deccan remain dry during the Retreating
monsoon?
Answer: (c) Because they lie in the rain-shadow of the Western Ghats.
13. Climate of India is strongly influenced by
Answer: (c) Monsoon winds
14. Which of the following factors cause the rise in the temperature of mainland
of India in the month of March?
Answer: (d) Northward migration of the sun from the equator.
15. Which of the following areas get rainfall from the Retreating monsoon?
Answer: (b) East Coast of India
16. What causes the land breeze towards the sea?
Answer: (a) The land breeze blows towards the se
Q.1 (a)
Name the type of climate prevailing over India. Mention any two factors
responsible for it.
Answer:
India has a Tropical Monsoon Climate.
Two factors responsible for it are:
1. Latitude – Most of India lies in the tropical and subtropical zone.
2. Monsoon winds – Seasonal reversal of winds greatly influences rainfall and
temperature.
(b)
State two important characteristic features of the Monsoon rainfall in India.
Answer:
1. Uneven distribution – Some areas like the Western Ghats receive heavy
rainfall, while regions like Rajasthan get very little.
2. Seasonal rainfall – Most of the rainfall is confined to the monsoon season (June
to September).
(c)
Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Mumbai is warmer than Kanpur in December.
Answer: Mumbai has a moderating influence of the sea, making winters milder
compared to inland cities like Kanpur.
(ii) Punjab gets rain in winter.
Answer: Due to Western Disturbances, Punjab receives winter rainfall.
(iii) The Indo-Gangetic Plain gets some rainfall in the months of December and
January.
Answer: This region also receives Western Disturbances causing light rainfall in
winter.
(d)
(i) What is Monsoon?
Answer: The term monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal of winds. In India, it
brings heavy rainfall during summer and dry conditions during winter.
(ii) Name the place in India which receives the heaviest rainfall.
Answer: Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the highest average annual rainfall in
India.
Q.2 (a)
Mention the different sources of rain in Punjab and Tamil Nadu during the winter
season.
Answer:
Punjab receives winter rain from Western Disturbances.
Tamil Nadu gets rain from the Retreating Monsoon (North-East Monsoon).
(b)
What is meant by rain-shadow area? Give an example and state the mountains
which are responsible for the rain-shadow area.
Answer:
A rain-shadow area is a dry region on the leeward side of a mountain which receives
very little rainfall.
Example: Deccan Plateau.
Responsible mountain: Western Ghats.
(c)
Study the climatic data and answer the questions that follow:
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Temp (°C) 23.1 24.8 26.5 29.3 32.2 32.8 31.3 32.1 30.5 29.2 28.7 26.1
Rainfall (cm) 15.3 10.1 0.3 0.1 1.3 4.5 6.1 10.2 10.5 20.1 16.8 19.0
(i) Calculate the annual rainfall experienced by the station.
Answer: Add all monthly rainfall values:
15.3 + 10.1 + 0.3 + 0.1 + 1.3 + 4.5 + 6.1 + 10.2 + 10.5 + 20.1 + 16.8 + 19.0 = 114.3 cm
(ii) Suggest a name of this station, giving a reason for your answer.
Answer: The station is likely Chennai (or any part of Tamil Nadu).
Reason: It receives most of its rainfall during the Retreating Monsoon (Oct–Dec), not
during the summer monsoon.
(iii) Name the season during which rainfall is the heaviest.
Answer: Retreating Monsoon Season (October to December)
(d) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Western Rajasthan receives no rain from the Arabian Sea branch of the South-
West Monsoon winds.
Answer: The Aravalli Hills run parallel to the monsoon winds, so they do not obstruct
them, leading to very little rainfall.
(ii) Mangalore is not cold even in the month of December.
Answer: Mangalore is on the coast; it experiences moderating influence of the sea,
keeping winters mild.
(iii) Even in summer Shimla is cooler than Delhi.
Answer: Shimla is located at a higher altitude than Delhi, and temperature decreases
with elevation.
Q.3 (a)
State two points of difference in climate between the northern and the southern
zone of India due to latitude.
Answer:
| Feature | Northern India | Southern India | |--------|----------------|----------------| |
Temperature | More extreme (hot summers, cold winters) | More moderate climate | |
Rainfall pattern | Gets rain mainly from Southwest Monsoon | Also gets significant
rain from Retreating Monsoon |
Q.4 (a)
State briefly the impact of water bodies on the climate in coastal areas.
Answer:
Water bodies have a moderating influence on the climate of coastal areas. They
absorb heat slowly and release it slowly, reducing extremes of temperature. As a
result, coastal areas experience moderate and equable climate.
(b) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Variations in the type of climate in different regions of India.
Answer: Due to factors like latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, and relief
features, different regions of India experience varying climatic conditions.
(ii) Most parts of India receive rainfall between June and September.
Answer: Due to the South-West Monsoon winds, which blow from the sea to land,
carrying moisture and causing rainfall in most parts of India during this period.
(iii) South-West Monsoon withdraw from northern India in October.
Answer: By October, the low-pressure area weakens and the sun shifts southward,
causing the reversal of winds, leading to the withdrawal of monsoon.
(c) What are Jet Streams?
Answer:
Jet Streams are high-speed, narrow bands of winds found in the upper atmosphere
(troposphere) that blow from west to east. They influence the onset and retreat of
monsoons.
(d) How do they influence the climate of India?
Answer:
Jet Streams affect the movement of the monsoon winds and are responsible for
Western Disturbances in northern India, influencing winter rainfall and temperature
patterns.
Q.5 (a)
How does El-Nino affect the climate of India?
Answer:
El-Nino leads to warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, disrupting normal
monsoon patterns. It often causes deficient rainfall and droughts in India.
(b) Mention two characteristic features of North-East Monsoon.
Answer:
1. It blows from land to sea (north-east direction).
2. It brings rainfall mainly to Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and parts of
Kerala during October to December.
(c) State three important features of rainfall in India.
Answer:
1. Seasonal Rainfall – Mostly occurs during June to September.
2. Unequal Distribution – Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall while Rajasthan
gets scanty rain.
3. Orographic Influence – Rainfall is influenced by the physical features like
mountains.
(d) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Pune receives less rainfall than Mumbai.
Answer: Pune lies in the rain-shadow region of the Western Ghats, while Mumbai is
on the windward side, receiving more rainfall.
(ii) Tropical cyclones bring heavy rainfall but temperate cyclones bring light
rainfall.
Answer: Tropical cyclones form over warm seas and carry large moisture, causing
intense rainfall, while temperate cyclones form over land or cold seas, leading to
light rain.
(iii) Kerala has a tropical climate while Punjab has a continental climate.
Answer: Kerala lies close to the equator and the sea, experiencing hot and humid
conditions, while Punjab is inland, away from the moderating influence of the sea,
causing extreme temperatures.
(e) Distinguish between ‘Burst of Monsoon’ and ‘Break of Monsoon’.
Feature Burst of Monsoon Break of Monsoon
Sudden onset of heavy rainfall in Temporary halt in rainfall during
Definition
June monsoon
Time Early June Any time during June–September
Nature Intense and widespread rainfall Dry conditions for several days
(f) Define the following:
(i) Western Disturbances
Answer:
Western Disturbances are cyclonic storms originating over the Mediterranean Sea
that bring winter rainfall to north-western India.
(ii) Mango Showers
Answer:
Mango Showers are pre-monsoon showers occurring in southern India (especially
Karnataka and Kerala), which help in the ripening of mangoes.
Q.6 (a) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Rainfall is unevenly distributed over India.
Answer: Due to relief features, monsoon wind paths, and distance from the sea,
some areas receive heavy rainfall while others get very little.
(ii) Excessive rain in north India during winter season.
Answer: Caused by Western Disturbances that bring extra moisture and rain in
northern plains during winter.
(iii) Most of the regions which receive little rain from the North-East Monsoon
season.
Answer: Because the North-East Monsoon winds blow from land to sea, they are
dry and do not carry much moisture.
(iv) Two states in India get very little rain from the Summer Monsoon.
Answer: Rajasthan and Ladakh – due to location in rain-shadow area or high
altitude and arid climate.
(b) Name any two local winds.
Answer:
1. Loo – Hot, dry wind of northern India during summer.
2. Mango Showers – Pre-monsoon rainfall in southern India.
(c) Name the season of ‘Retreating Monsoon’?
Answer:
Autumn (October to November).
(d) Name the months in which Retreating Monsoon rain is experienced.
Answer:
October and November.
(e) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) The northern plains of India do not freeze in winter.
Answer: Due to the tropical location and moderating influence of the Himalayas,
which block cold Siberian winds.
(ii) In spite of Aravalli Range, Rajasthan receives scanty rainfall.
Answer: Because the Aravalli range runs parallel to the South-West Monsoon winds
and does not block them to cause rain.
(iii) Patna receives heavier rain than Delhi.
Answer: Patna is located closer to the Bay of Bengal, and hence receives more
moisture-laden monsoon winds than Delhi.
Q.7 (a)
Name the seasons during which the North-East Trade Winds dominate.
Answer:
Winter and Retreating Monsoon seasons (October to February).
(b) How do these winds affect the climate of India?
Answer:
They are generally dry winds that bring cool and dry weather, except in Tamil Nadu,
where they pick up moisture over the Bay of Bengal and cause rainfall.
(c) Give one difference between the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch
of South-West Monsoon Winds.
Arabian Sea Branch Bay of Bengal Branch
Hits the Western Coast (Kerala, Hits the Eastern Coast (West Bengal,
Karnataka) NE)
Causes rain in Western Ghats Causes rain in Assam, Bengal, Bihar
(d) Name any two states that receive rain in January-February from North-East
Monsoons.
Answer:
1. Tamil Nadu
2. Andhra Pradesh
(e) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Western part of Rajasthan is a desert region.
Answer: Lies in the rain-shadow of the Aravalli Range and receives very little rainfall.
(ii) Kochi has a lower annual range of temperature than Agra.
Answer: Kochi is a coastal city with equable climate; Agra is inland with continental
climate.
(iii) The Northern plains and Punjab receive winter cyclonic rain.
Answer: Due to the influence of Western Disturbances from the Mediterranean.
(iv) What causes the winter rain along Coromandel Coast?
Answer: The Retreating Monsoon or North-East Monsoon causes rainfall in this
region.
(v) Name the state which gets sufficient rainfall from the winter monsoon.
Answer: Tamil Nadu
Q.8 (a)
Give two points of difference between Tropical Cyclones and Temperate
Cyclones.
Feature Tropical Cyclones Temperate Cyclones
Region Tropical regions (near equator) Mid-latitudes or temperate zones
Formation Over warm oceans Over land and sea in temperate zones
(b)
An Inter-School Football Match at Visakhapatnam from November 1 to 3 had to be
cancelled because of bad weather. Give an explanation for this happening. Your
explanation should provide the technical name of this season in India, as well as
the pressure conditions over the Bay of Bengal.
Answer:
During November, the Retreating Monsoon season is active.
Due to the high pressure over land and low pressure over the Bay of Bengal,
Tropical Cyclones may form, bringing heavy rainfall and storms. Hence, the match
had to be cancelled.
(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Kanyakumari experiences an equable climate.
Answer:
Kanyakumari is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and thus has a moderate or
equable climate due to the influence of sea breezes.