GEOGRAPHY NOTES
Chapter -4--CLIMATE
Q. 1. Explain the term Weather and Climate.
Weather refers to the condition of the atmosphere like temperature, atmospheric
pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation over an area at any point of time. Climate
refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long
period of time.
Q. 2. What are the elements of weather and climate?
The elements of weather and climate are the same, i.e. temperature, atmospheric
pressure, wind, humidity and Precipitation.
Q.3. Describe the climate of India.
i) The climate of India is described as the ‘monsoon’ type.
ii) The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of
Kuchchh in the west to Mizoram in the east. Almost half of the country, lying south of
the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. All the remaining area, north of the
Tropics lies in the sub-tropics. Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical
as well as subtropical climates.
Q. 4. Describe the regional variations in temperature and precipitations in [Link]
Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help
of suitable examples.
a. In summer, the temperature occasionally reaches 50°C in some parts of the Rajasthan
desert, whereas it may be around 20°C in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. ii) On a
winter night, temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low as minus 45°C.
Tiruvananthapuram, in Kerala, on the other hand, may have a temperature of 22°C.
b. While precipitation is mostly in the form of snowfall in the upper parts of Himalayas,
it rains over the rest of the country. The annual precipitation varies from over 400 cm in
Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in Ladakh and western Rajasthan.
c. Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September. But some parts like
the Tamil Nadu coast get most of its rain during October and November.
Q. 5. Explain the climatic control of a place.(Or the factors affecting the climate of a
place)
i) Latitude: Due to the curvature 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 goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes, the atmosphere
becomes less dense and temperature decreases. The hills are therefore cooler during
summers.
iii) The pressure and wind system: The pressure and wind system of any area depend on
the latitude and altitude of the place. Thus it influences the temperature and rainfall
pattern.
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iv) The distance from the sea: The sea exerts a moderating influence on 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 (i.e.
Very hot during summers and very cold during winters).
v) Ocean currents: Coastal areas with warm or cold currents get warmer or colder when
the winds blow from the sea.
vi) Relief: Relief 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.
Q.6. Describe the factors affecting India’s climate.
a. Latitude: The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the
Rann of Kuchchh in the west to Mizoram in the east. India’s climate has characteristics
of tropical as well as subtropical climates.
b. Altitude -The Himalayas prevents the cold winds from Central Asia from entering
the subcontinent. It is because of these mountains that the subcontinent experiences
comparatively milder winters as compared to central Asia.
c. Pressure and Winds:
During winter, there is a high-pressure area in the north of the Himalayas. Winds blow
from this region to the low-pressure areas over the oceans to the south. In summer, a
low-pressure area develops over northwestern India. This causes a complete reversal of
the direction of winds during summer. These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather
moisture and bring widespread rainfall over the mainland of India.
Q. 7. What are the features of the Cold Weather Season (Winter)?
i) The cold weather season begins from mid- November in northern India and stays till
February.
ii December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India. The
temperature decreases from south to north.
iii) Days are warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in the north and the higher
slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
iv) During this season some amount of rainfall occurs on the Tamil Nadu coast from the
northeast trade winds.
v) A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over the northern plains is the
inflow of cyclonic disturbances. They cause the much-needed winter rains over the
plains and snowfall in the mountains. Although the total amount of winter rainfall
locally known as‘mahawat’ is small, they are of immense importance for the cultivation
of ‘rabi’ crops.
Q. 8. What are the features of the Hot Weather Season (summer)?
i) From March to May, it is hot weather season in India.
ii) A striking feature of the hot weather season is the ‘loo’. These are strong, gusty, hot,
dry winds blowing during the day over the north and northwestern India. Sometimes
they even continue until late in the evening. Direct exposure to these winds may even
prove to be fatal.
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iii) Dust storms are very common during the month of May in northern India. These
storms bring temporary relief as they lower the temperature and may bring light rain and
cool breeze.
iv) This is also the season for localized thunderstorms, associated with violent winds,
torrential downpours, often accompanied by hail. In West Bengal, these storms are
known as the ‘Kaal Baisakhi’.
v) Towards the close of the summer season, pre-monsoon showers are common
especially, in Kerala and Karnataka. They help in the early ripening of mangoes, and are
often referred to as ‘mango showers’.
Q. 9. Explain the features of Advancing Monsoon or the Rainy Season.
The duration of rainy season is from June to September.
Mawsynram of the Khasi Hills receives the highest average rainfall in the world.
Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat get scanty rainfall.
The monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time. They are interspersed with
rainless intervals. Thus, it has wet and dry spells. This is known as breaks in monsoon.
The monsoon is known for its uncertainties. These are untimely, irregular, unpredictable
and unevenly distributed. While it causes heavy floods in one part, it may be responsible
for droughts in the other. It is often irregular in its arrival and its retreat. Hence, it
sometimes disturbs the farming schedule of millions of farmers all over the country.
Q.10. What are the features of Retreating Monsoon?
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. Owing to
the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes rather oppressive
during the day during this [Link] is commonly known as ‘October heat’.
Q.11. How does Monsoon act as a Unifying Bond?
The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions
provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons. The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its
entire agricultural calendar and the life of the people, including their festivities, revolve
around this phenomenon. Year after year, 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. The river
valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.
Q.12. Why does seasonal reversal of wind direction take place over the Indian sub-
continent?
i) During winter, there is a high-pressure area in the north of the [Link] blow
from this region to the low-pressure areas over the oceans to the south.
ii) In summer, a low-pressure area develops in the north and north western India. Air
now starts moving from a high pressure area located over the Indian Ocean to the low
pressure area in the north. This causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds
during summer.
iii) These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rain
fall lover the mainland of India.
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Q.13. Which part of India does experience the highest diurnal range of temperature
and why?
ANS. Thar Desert
a) It is very hot during the daytime because sandy land absorbs heat very quickly in
sunshine.
b) Sandy soil radiates the heat very quickly during night when there is no sunshine.
Q.14. Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?
ANS. The word monsoon denotes a season in which the wind regime is completely
reversed. Climate of India is strongly governed by the monsoon winds. In the Indian
sub-continent, the Himalayas guide the flow of the monsoon winds bringing the whole
of sub-continent under the influence of these winds. The Indian climate is termed as
monsoon climate because it is influenced by the South-West monsoons, retreating
monsoons and North-East monsoons.
Q.15. . Define monsoons. What do you understand by “break” in monsoon?
ANS. Monsoon is the seasonal winds which reverse their direction with change in
season.
The break in monsoon means the tendency to have breaks in rainfall. The monsoon
rains take place only for a few days at a time. They are interspersed with rainless
intervals. Thus it has wet and dry spells.
Q.16. Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.
ANS. The characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India is as follows:
Characteristics:
i. Uncertainty – The monsoons are very often found irregular (uncertain) in their
arrival (onset) and as well as withdrawal.
ii. Variation in the amount- There is a great variation in the amount of rainfall
received at different places in India from year to year .
iii. Variation in amount from region to region- The monsoons do not give equal
amount of rainfall to all parts of India. It varies from less than 10 cms in the Thar
desert to over thousand cms in Cherrapunji.
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iv. Variation in duration- The duration of monsoon varies from less than 2 months
in the western Rajasthan to over 6 months in Kerala or the Andaman Nikhobar
Islands.
v. Long dry spells- Spell of continuous heavy rains is often followed by a long
period of no rains at all.
EFFECTS:
i. Farming-Monsoons early or late arrival/withdrawal affects the entire farming
schedule of the millions of farmers all over the country.
ii. Problem of recurring floods and droughts- Continuous heavy rains caused
floods. The failure of the monsoons results in draughts in some parts of the
country.
iii. Cycle of seasons – Despite climatic contrasts from region to region monsoon
provide rhythmic cycle of seasons, year after year in India.
iv. Cultural life- The monsoons influence the total life of people- their festivities,
music, literature, etc.
v. Monsoon affects the whole landscape, animal and plant life.
Q. 17. Why does Tamil Nadu receive winter rain fall?
During winter season, the northeast trade winds prevail over the country. They blow
from land to sea and hence, for most part of the country, it is a dry season. Some amount
of rainfall occurs on the Tamil Nadu coast from these winds as, here they blow from sea
to land.
18. The bulk of rainfall India is concentrated over a few months. Why?
Ans. This is because only during summer months India has low pressure over the land. It
is during these months the south west monsoon begins to blow to the Indian
subcontinent from southern oceans .It causes rainfall all over India .After a few months
the low pressure area begins to shift towards east and south east .Thus rain begins to
withdraw [Link] the bulk of rainfall is concentrated over a few months from June
to September.
19. Parts of Rajasthan, Gujrat and leeward side of Western Ghats are draught-
prone. Explain.
ANS. Parts of Rajasthan and Gujrat, which lie on the extreme west, are drought-prone
because by the time the monsoon winds reach this region, they become almost dry. The
leeward side of the western Ghats lies in the rain shadow area.
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20 .Which winds account for rainfall along the Malabar coast?
ANS. South west monsoon winds brings rainfall along the Malabar Coast. By early June,
the low pressure condition over the northern plains intensifies. It attracts the trade winds
of the Southern hemisphere. They cross the equator and blow in a south westerly
direction entering the Indian peninsula as the South-West monsoon.
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