INDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL KUWAIT
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
CLIMATE
CLASS – IX
Q.1. Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with
the help of suitable examples.
Ans.
1. Despite an overall unity in the general pattern, there are perceptible regional
variations in climatic conditions within the country.
2. The two important elements, which cause these variations, are – temperature and
precipitation. For example, in summer, the mercury occasionally touches 50°C in
some parts of the Rajasthan desert, whereas it may be around 20°C in Pahalgam in
Jammu and Kashmir.
3. On a winter night, the temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as
low as minus 45°C. Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand, may have a
temperature of 22°C.
Q2. What would have been the climate of India if the Himalayas were not in
existence along the Northern Borders of India?
ANS. (i) India has Himalayas located at its north which have an average height of
6,000 mts.
(ii) The Himalayas prevent the cold winds from Central Asia from entering India.
(iii) Himalayas are also able to stop the Southwest monsoon winds, which cause
rainfall in the northern plains of India.
Q3. How does the latitude affect India’s climate?
(i) The Tropic of Cancer passes almost from the middle of the country.
(ii) Almost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the
tropical area.
(iii) All the remaining area in the north of the Tropic lies in the sub-tropical area.
Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical type
of climate.
Q.4 What is the Coriolis force? Describe its effect briefly on the world
climate.
(i) Coriolis force is an apparent force caused by the Earth’s rotation.
(ii) It is responsible for deflecting winds towards the right in the northern
hemisphere and towards the left in the southern hemisphere.
(iii) Under the effect of Coriolis force, the trade winds moving from sub-tropical
high-pressure belts to equatorial low-pressure belts become north-east trade winds
in the northern hemisphere and south-east trade winds in the southern hemisphere.
(iv) As a result, they bring heavy rainfall to the east coast and the west coast
remains dry.
Q5. What do you understand by ‘October Heat’?
(i) In the month of October, day temperatures are high, nights are cool and
pleasant. The land is moist and monsoon winds retreat.
(ii) Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather
becomes oppressive during the day. Sky is clear.
(iii) This condition is commonly known as October Heat.
Q.6. What are the variations in precipitation in India?
(i) There are variations not only in the form and types of precipitation but also in
its amount and the seasonal distribution.
(ii) Precipitation is mostly in the form of snowfall in the upper parts of the
Himalayas but it rains over the rest of the country.
(iii) The annual precipitation varies from 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm
in Ladakh and western Rajasthan.
(iv) Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September but some
parts like the Tamil Nadu coast gets most of its rains during October and
November.
Q.7 What are the major controls of the climate of the world?
(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 fast,
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.
Q8. State how the pressure and wind conditions over India are unique.
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.
Q9. State the chief characteristics of the hot weather season in India.
(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 45°C and in
the Deccan plateau, between 35 to 38°C.
(iii) Towards the end of May, an elongated low-pressure area develops in the
region extending from the Thar Desert to Patna and Chota Nagpur 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 localized thunderstorms associated with violent
winds and torrential rains known as Kael Baisakhi in West Bengal.
Q10. Differentiate between South West (S.W.) monsoons and North East
(N.E.) monsoons.
S.W. Monsoons (Advancing monsoon) N.E. Monsoons (Retreating Monsoon)
They blow in summer from south-west They blow in winter from north-east to
to north-east from June to September. south-west from the month of Dec., Jan.
and Feb.
These are onshore humid winds These are offshore dry winds because they
because they blow from sea to land. blow from land to sea.
These are warm winds as they come They are rather cool winds
from lower latitudes near equator
These warm and humid winds cause These cold and dry offshore winds give no
widespread rainfall rains to India except Coromandel coast
These winds are known for their They do not suffer from the vagaries
vagaries or uncertainties
Q11. Explain how monsoon acts as a unifying bond?
Ans. i) The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather
conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons. Even the uncertainties of rain and
uneven distribution are very much typical of the monsoons.
ii) The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar
arid the life of the people, including their festivities, revolve around this
phenomenon.
iii) Year after year, people of India from north to south and from east to west,
eagerly await the arrival of the monsoon.
iv) These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the
agricultural activities in motion.
v) The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.
Q12. Is it correct to say that India would have been an arid land without
monsoon? Support your answer with arguments.
Ans. India’s climate depends entirely on Monsoons. Five reasons are:
(i) Since Western Rajasthan do not receive rainfall, it is an arid and sandy region.
(ii) North Eastern winds which are prevailing in India are moving from land to
sea, therefore they are dry. But due to deflection in the winds coming from South
West direction, India does receive rains.
(iii) Without Monsoons we might not be having thick forests level.
(iv) Without Monsoon, Indian farmers might not be able to irrigate their lands in
Peninsular India, as Peninsular rivers are seasonal and totally dependent on rains.
(v) The North Eastern Hills and Western Ghats are covered with lush green
forests only because of Heavy rain in both these areas, or these areas might have
been arid.