120 Magbook ~ Geography–India and World

Factors Influencing Seasons of India

Indian Climate Winter Season
— This season starts by late November representing
Location and Latitudinal Extent
clear skies, fine weather, light Northerly winds, low
— The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country. humidity and temperatures and large daytime
The Southern parts being closer to the Equator, experience variations of temperature. The cold air mass extending
high temperatures throughout the year. The Northern parts on from the Siberian region, has profound influence on
the other hand lie in the warm temperate zone. Hence, they the Indian sub continent (at least all of the North and
experience low temperature particularly, in winter. most of Central India) during these months.
Distance from the Sea — The mean air temperatures usually increase from
— Areas near the coast have moderating influence of sea. On the North to South. The mean temperatures vary from 14°C
contrary interior, location are deprived of the same and to 27°C during January. The rains during this season
experience extreme or continental climate. generally occur over the Western Himalayas, the
extreme North-Eastern parts of Tamil Nadu and
The Northern Mountain Ranges Kerala. Western disturbances and associated trough in
— These ranges protect India from the bitterly cold and dry winds Westerlies are main rain bearing system in Northern
of Central Asia during winter. Furthermore, they act as an and Eastern parts of the country.
effective physical barrier for the rain bearing South-West
monsoons winds to cross the Northern frontiers of India.
Summer Season
— The temperature start to increase all over the country
Physiography in March and by April, the interior parts of the
— The physical features influence the air temperature, atmospheric Peninsula record mean daily temperature of
pressure, direction of winds and the amount of rainfall in 30-35°C.
different parts of the country. — Central Indian land mass becomes hot with daytime
Monsoon Winds maximum temperature reaching about 40°C at many
— The complete reversal in the direction of winds in India brings locations.
about a sudden change in seasons. The harsh summer season — Many places in Gujarat, North Maharashtra,
suddenly giving way to the eagerly awaited monsoon or rainy Rajasthan and North Madhya Pradesh exhibit high
season. These winds have such a far reaching influence on day-time and low night-time temperatures during this
India’s climate that it is termed as monsoon type of climate. season.
Western Disturbances and — Maximum temperature rise sharply exceeding 45°C
Tropical Cyclones by the end of May and early June resulting in harsh
summers in the North and North-West regions of the
— The inflow of Western disturbances which move under the
country. However, weather remains mild in coastal
influence of Westerly jet streams from the Mediterranean sea
areas of the country owing to the influence of land
influence winter weather conditions over most of Northern
and sea breezes.
plains and Western Himalayan region.
— The season is characterised by cyclonic storms,
— The tropical cyclones also develop in the Bay of Bengal. The
which are intense low pressure systems over
frequency and direction of these cyclones influence weather
hundreds to thousands of km associated with
conditions during South-West monsoons over most parts of
surface winds more than 33 knots over the Indian
India and along the Eastern coast during retreating monsoon
sea viz Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea.
season.
— These systems generally, move towards a
El-Nino Effect North-Westerly direction and some of them recurve to
— Weather conditions in India are also influenced by El-Nino Northerly or North-Easterly path. Storms forming over
which causes widespread floods and droughts in tropical the Bay of Bengal are more frequent than the ones
regions of the world. This warming of tropical pacific waters originating over the Arabian sea.
affects the global pattern of pressure and wind systems — On an average, frequency of these storms is about
including the monsoon winds in the Indian ocean. It is believed — 7.4 per year. Weather over land areas is influenced
that the severest drought of 1987 in India was caused by by thunderstorms associated with rain and
El-Nino. sometimes with hail in this season.
Magbook ~ India : Physical Aspects 121

Local Winds of Hot Weather Season — The nature of the monsoon winds can be described with
reference to the surface distribution of pressure in
— Mango Showers Towards the end of summer, there are
different regions of India during winter and summer
pre-monsoon showers, which are common phenomena in
seasons.
Kerala and coastal areas of Karnataka. Locally, they are
known as mango showers, since, they help in the early Winter Monsoon
ripening of mangoes. — During winter, the weather conditions are generally
— Cherry Blossom With this shower, coffee flowers blossom in influenced by the high pressure area developed over
Kerala and nearby areas. North-Western part of the sub-continent. This results in
— Kalbaisakhi These are dreaded evening thunderstorms in the blowing of cold dry winds from these regions towards
West Bengal and Assam. Their notorious nature can be Southern low pressure areas lying over water bodies
understood from the local nomenclature of Kalbaisakhi, a surrounding peninsular India.
calamity of the month of Baisakh. These showers are useful — Since, these winds are cold and dry, they do not cause
for tea, jute and rice cultivation. In Assam, these storms are rainfall and weather conditions under their influence
known as Bardoli Chheerha. remain cold and dry. However, these North-East
— Loo Hot and dry winds accompanied with dust winds blow monsoon winds while passing over the Bay of Bengal,
frequently over the plains of North-West India. These are collect moisture and bring rain along Coromandel coast.
oppressive in nature and blow in the Northern plains from Summer Monsoon
Punjab to Bihar with higher intensity between Delhi and — During summer, the North-Western parts of India
Patna.
become very hot due to very high temperature. This is
South-West Monsoon Season ascribed to the apparent shift of the Sun in Northern
— The onset of the South-West monsoon normally starts over hemisphere. This results in the reversal of pressure
the Kerala coast, the Southern tip of the country by 1st conditions not only in North-Western India, but also on
June, advances along the Konkan coast in early June and water bodies surrounding the peninsula.
covers the whole country by middle of July. However, onset — As a result, North-East trade winds are replaced by
occurs about a week earlier over islands in the Bay of South-West monsoon winds. Since, these winds are sea
Bengal. bearing and blow over warm water bodies before
reaching land they are moisture laden, causing wide
Retreating/North-East Monsoon Season spread rain over the most parts of India.
— North-East (NE) monsoon or post-monsoon season is — This period of South-West monsoon from June to
transition season associated with the establishment of September is known as the rainy season for most parts
the North-Easterly wind regime over the Indian of the country.
sub-continent.
— Meteorological sub-divisions namely coastal Andhra Jet Streams
Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and South — The jet streams are strong flowing masses of air that
interior of Karnataka, receive good amount of rainfall flows around high up in the Earth’s atmosphere, at
accounting for about 35% of their annual total in these around the level of the tropopause (situated between the
months. troposphere and the stratosphere).
— Monsoon retreat from North to South in India following — The changes in the upper air circulation over Indian
Southward shifting of low pressure led by Southward landmass are yet another cause for sudden outbreak of
movement of Sun. This wind crosses through Bay of monsoons in India. Jet streams in the upper air system
Bengal and collect moisture to pour over Tamil Nadu and influence the climate of India in the following ways:
adjoining areas.
Westerly Jet Stream and its Impact
Monsoon — During winter, at about 8 km above sea level, a westerly
— Monsoon, derived from mausim is nothing, but the jet stream blows at a very high speed over the
seasonal reversal of winds. In the winter, for six months sub-tropical zone. This jet stream is bifurcated by the
wind blows from land to sea and in summer, for six months Himalayan ranges. The Northern branch of this jet
it blows from sea to lands. stream blows along the Northern edge of this barrier. The
— The Indian agriculture is considered a gamble against Southern branch blows Eastwards South of the
monsoon because agricultural activities over almost all the Himalayan ranges along 25° N latitude.
parts of India are very much dependent upon the monsoon — It is believed by meteorologists that this branch of jet
rainfall. In fact, monsoon is the axis around which the stream exercises a significant influence on the winter
Indian economy revolves. weather conditions in India.
122 Magbook ~ Geography–India and World

— This jet stream is responsible for bringing Western — The cooling in turn promotes subsidence and formation
disturbances from the Mediterranean region into Indian of an inversion layer which prevents vertical ascent and
sub-continent. Winter rain and hail storms in consequently, rain formation inspite of the presence of a
North-Western plains and occasional heavy snowfall in hilly moisture laden air.
regions are caused by these Western disturbances. These
are generally followed by cold waves in whole of Northern Climatic Regions of India
plains. — India’s climate is of tropical monsoon type but large size of
the country, topographical contrasts, impact of sea, shifting
Easterly Jet Stream and its Influence pressure and wind belts have cumulative impact on climatic
— During summer, due to the apparent shift of the Sun in elements to exhibit variations and thereby create climatic
Northern hemisphere, the reversal in upper air circulation variety at sub-regional level.
takes place. — Variations may also be observed in respect of other
— The Westerly stream is replaced by Easterly jet stream climatic elements like temperature, pressure, wind
which owes its origin to the heating of the Tibetan plateau. direction and movements, cloudiness, humidity etc.
This leads to the development of an Easterly cold jet stream — W Koeppen, CW Thornthwaite and Trewartha’s
centered around 15°N latitude and blowing over peninsular classification of climate are important, but Koeppen’s
India. This helps in the sudden onset of South-West classification is widely used in India for its simplicity.
monsoons.
— A systematic study of the Indian climate was made by
Koeppen in 1918, who divided the country into three
Rainfall Distribution in India broad climatic zones: arid, semi-arid and humid.
— The distribution of rainfall in India is quite uneven and the
— These are further sub-divided into sub-types on the basis
regional variations are apparent. The average annual
of seasonal variations in the distribution pattern of rainfall
rainfall is about 125 cm, but has great spatial variations.
and temperature. India can be divided into following
The highest rainfall occurs along the West coast, on the
climatic regions on the basis of Koeppen’s scheme.
Western Ghats, as well as in the sub-Himalayan areas in
the North-East and the hills of Meghalaya (Khasi, Jaintia Climatic Regions of India on the Basis of
and Garo). Koeppen’s Scheme
— Though, the Southern part of Meghalayan plateau gets Tropical Savanna Type (Aw)
more than 1000 cm, but its Northern frontier along with — This is a climate associated with tropical Savanna
Brahmaputra valley gets less than 200 cm rainfall. grasslands and monsoon deciduous vegetation. May is the
— The Western part of Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) is one of the hottest month and the temperature of the coldest month is
driest part of the world having only about 9 cm rainfall. more than 18°C. Rainfall is seasonal with winter, dry
Total rainfall increases generally Eastwards and with height. and the range of temperature is high. Such type of climate
— The larger part of the Gangetic plain and the central is found over major parts of the peninsular India including
uplands receive a moderate amount of rainfall. The rainfall Southern West Bengal and Bihar.
over parts of Punjab-Haryana, Kachchh and Kathiawar Tropical Monsoon Type (Amw)
region of Gujarat is below 60 cm. A narrow strip of land in
— It has a short winter dry season. The rainfall is heavy
the lee side of sahyadris is lying in the rain shadow area
leading to the growth of evergreen rain forests. It
and has below 60 cm of rainfall.
occupies parts of Southern Konkan, Malabar coast,
adjoining Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu plateau and
Reason Behind Formation of Southern areas of Tripura and Mizoram.
Thar Desert
Tropical Moist Type (As)
— This desert is under the spell of the Arabian sea branch of
the monsoon from the month of July to September, a — It is characterised by dry summer season, about 75% of
humid air stream, but marked by the absence of Rain rainfall obtained during September to December. It
Generating Weather System. The monsoon circulation is occupies a narrow zone along the Coromandel coast.
marked by a region of ascent over North-East India and a Semi-Arid (Steppe) Climate
zone of subsidence over North-West India. This pattern of — Here, the mean annual temperature is above 18°C and the
subsidence is responsible for formation of desert condition
rainfall is seasonal (in summer). The rainfall of the rainiest
in Rajasthan. There is a deep and dense layer of dust over
month is roughly ten times higher than of the driest month.
the arid region of Rajasthan, transported from the desert of
It covers rain shadow zone of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,
Arabian that makes net cooling over the region.
Eastern Rajasthan and some parts of Punjab and Haryana.
Magbook ~ India : Physical Aspects 123

Hot Desert Type (BWhw) Cold Humid Winter Type (Dfc)

— This is an arid climate characterised by high — This is a climate characterised by short summer and cold, humid
temperature (maximum in June), scanty rainfall winter. Average temperature of the coldest month is less than 3°C,
and higher range of temperature. This type of but the average temperature of the warmest month is above 10°C.
climate prevails over the Western parts of It includes Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Rajasthan (Thar desert) including the districts of Polar or Mountain Type (E)
Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner. Here, the
— This climate type extends over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal
monsoonal winds flow parallel to Aravalli hills and
Pradesh. Here, the temperature of summer is less than 10°C.
thus, no orographic rainfall occurs.
Monsoon Type (Cwg) Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
— This climate is characterised by winter dry. The
rainfall received in the rainiest month is 10 times
— India is a land of great variety of natural vegetation. Himalayan
of the driest month. The average temperature of heights are marked with temperate vegetation; the Western Ghats
the coldest month is less than 18°C, but the and the Andaman and Nicobar islands have tropical rain forests;
average temperature of the warmest month is the deltaic regions have tropical forests and mangroves; the desert
above 10°C. It depicts Gangetic temperature and semi-desert areas of Rajasthan are known for Cacti, a wide
regime wherein maximum temperature is variety of bushes and thorny vegetation.
recorded before summer solstice. It spreads over — The total geographical area of India is 3287263 sq km of which
the entire stretch of the Great Plains of India. about 675500 sq km equal to 22.50% is under forests.

Classification of Vegetation
— On the basis of certain common features such as predominant vegetation type and climatic regions, Indian forests can be
divided into the following groups:
Vegetation Regions and their Areas
Vegetation Rainfall Areas Growth of Vegetation Trees
Region
Tropical Wet Annual rainfall above Found in areas below 900 m from Trees do not shed their leaves Chiefly of hardwood
Evergreen 250 cm. Region is mean sea level in Western Ghats and and are in form of three to four type, Rosewood,
forests warm and wet in patches in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, storeys. Ebony, Mahogany,
throughout the year. Kerala, Submontane West Bengal, Abnoos, Bamboo,
coastal Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Rubber, Cincona
Islands and North-Eastern region. Sandal Red Sauders
etc.
Tropical Annual rainfall Western coast, Assam, on the lower Evergreen trees mixed with Aini, Laurel,
Semi- ranges between slopes of Himalayas and Andaman. deciduous. Rosewood, Bamboo,
Evergreen 200—250 cm. White Cedar, Indian
forests Chestnut, Champa
and Mango.
Tropical Dry Annual rainfall Confined to Tamil Nadu coast. Closed canopy of shrubs and Khirni, Jamun,
Evergreen between 100-125 Precipitation from North-East grasses. Ritha, Tamarind and
forests cm. monsoon. Neem.

Tropical Annual rainfall Eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, Gregarious species, with trees Sal in North, Teak in
Moist between 100-150 North Eastern part of Peninsula and attaining average height central and Western
Deciduous cm. along the foothills of the Himalayas in between 30-40m and shedding parts, Sandal in
forests the Shiwaliks, the Bhabar and Terai. their leaves during spring and Southern part. Sisso
early summer. (Shisham), Mahua,
Neem, Khair etc.
Tropical Dry Annual rainfall A wide and irregular area running Gregarious species, with trees Teak, Tendu, Sal,
Deciduous between 70-100 cm. North-South from foothills of attaining average height Palas, Rosewood etc.
forests Himalayas to Cape. between 30-40 m.
124 Magbook ~ Geography–India and World

Vegetation Rainfall Areas Growth of Vegetation Trees

Region

Tropical 50-75 cm rainfall. Eastern Rajasthan, East and North Deciduous with low thorny trees, Acacia, Babool,
Thorny forests Punjab, North Gujarat and parts of reaching hardly the height of 10 Euphorbia, Khair and
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. m, with a light canopy. Date palm etc.
Desert Annual rainfall Western parts of Rajasthan. Plant generally grow in the form Cactus, Thorny
vegetation between 10-50 cm. of bushes which are widely Bushes etc.
scattered.
Tidal Swamp Area under moderate Thickest at some places in Western The salt water due to tidal Mangroves include
forests rainfall between coast and continues along Ganga, waves is mixed with fresh water Sundari, Coconut,
40—200 cm. Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari and near low lying coastal areas Pines, Keora, Canes,
Kaveri delta. Best example is help to grow such vegetation. Crew etc.
Sunderbans. They have stilt like roots and
numerous climbers.
Montane Rainfall between Montane sub-tropical forests occur Mixed forests of broad leaved Pines and Oak, Chir
Sub-tropical 75-125 cm. above 1000 m in Eastern Himalayas and conifers. and Acacia.
forests and Western Himalayas.
Temperate Montane temperate forests occur Evergreen coniferous forests. Deodar, Indian
forests above 1830 m in Eastern Himalayas Chestnut, Magnolia,
and above 1500 m in Western Blue pine, Oaks and
Himalayas and also in parts of Nilgiri Hemlock.
and Palni hills. Higher parts of
Western Ghats.
Sub-tropical Annual rainfall Found in areas of Eastern Himalayas They form luxurious forests of Oaks, Chestnuts, Sals
Broad Leaved ranges between and Nilgiri and Palni hills. evergreen species. and Pines.
Hill forests 75-125 cm.
Sub-tropical Found in areas Found in Bhabar region, the Shiwaliks Olive, Acacia,
Dry Evergreen having rainfall and the Western Himalayas upto 1000 Modesta and Pistaca
forests between 50-100 cm. m altitude. are the important
species of trees.
Montane Wet Mean annual rainfall Higher hills of Tamil Nadu and Kerala Deodar, Chilauni
Temperate is 150-300 cm. and in Eastern Himalaya region. Indian chestnut,
forests Birch, Blue pine.
Himalayan Annual rainfall Found in temperate zone of the These forests are mainly Pines, Cedars, Silver
Moist 150-250 cm Himalayas between 1500-3300 m. composed of coniferous species Firs, Spruce etc.
Temperate of trees.
forests
Himalayan Dry Low annual rainfall. Found in inner dry regions of Xerophytic shrubs are mainly Chilgoza, Oak, Olive,
Temperate Himalayas. found in this vegetation. Deodar.
forests
Alpine Forests – Between 2900 - 3650 m in Eastern and The plants are close with or Spruce, Fir, Birch,
Western Himalayas. without conifers. Junipers and
Rhododendron.

India State of Forest Report 2019

— The Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 states that India’s forest and tree cover has increased by 5,188 sq km.
Compared to the previous assessment (2017), Mangrove cover in the country has increased by 54 sq km.
— The total forest cover of the country is 7,12,249 sq km which is 21.67% of the geographical area of the country. Whereas
tree and forest cover together made up 24.56% of India’s area.
— Under National Forest Policy, 1988 India’s vision is to keep one-third of the country’s total area under forest and tree
cover.
— Among all the States and Union Territories, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover followed by Arunachal Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area, the top five states
are Mizoram (85.41%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%), Meghalaya (76.33%), Manipur (75.46%) and Nagaland (75.31%).