CLIMATE
Part I: Choose the correct answers
1. What is the primary reason the climate of India is characterised as the
tropical monsoon type?
👉 (b) The significant influence of monsoon winds.
2. Which characteristic best defines monsoon winds?
👉 (c) They completely reverse direction over the year.
3. Which regions in India experience warm temperatures for most parts of
the year?
👉 (c) Regions south of the Tropic of Cancer.
4. How do the temperature conditions vary in regions north of the Tropic of
Cancer in India?
👉 (c) They have distinct summer and winter seasons.
5. What role does the Himalayas play in the climate of the Northern Plains of
India?
👉 (b) It blocks the advancing monsoon winds and causes rainfall.
6. What is the main advantage of the Himalayas intercepting the monsoon
winds?
👉 (b) Bringing rainfall to most parts of the country from June to
September.
7. Which characteristic feature is NOT typical of the cold season in India?
👉 (b) High humidity.
8. What is the primary reason coastal regions of India have more equable
temperatures compared to other regions?
👉 (c) The moderating influence of the sea.
9. Which local wind is known for causing heatwaves that may prove fatal in
the Northern Plains of India?
👉 (b) Loo.
10. Why does the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan receive very little rainfall
from the Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon?
👉 (c) The Aravalli Range runs almost parallel to the direction of this
branch and does not intercept the wet winds.
Part II: Answer the following questions briefly
1. Name the term that best typifies the type of climate experienced in India.
Explain the appropriateness of the term.
👉 The term is tropical monsoon climate.
It is appropriate because India experiences seasonal reversal of winds, heavy
concentration of rainfall in a few months, and marked wet and dry seasons—
all characteristic features of a monsoon climate.
2. How does the Tropic of Cancer influence the climate of India?
👉 The Tropic of Cancer passes almost through the middle of India.
Areas north of it experience continental climate with marked
seasonal differences.
Areas south of it experience tropical climate with warm conditions
almost throughout the year.
3. State two ways in which the Himalayas impact the climate of India.
👉 (i) They prevent the cold winds from Central Asia entering India.
(ii) They intercept the southwest monsoon winds and cause heavy rainfall in
the Northern Plains.
4. Explain with suitable examples how altitude influences the climate of a
place.
👉 Temperature decreases with increase in altitude.
For example:
Shimla (in the Himalayas) is cooler than Ludhiana, though both lie on
the same latitude.
5. ‘Jet streams play an important role in India’s climate’. Explain.
👉 Jet streams are fast-flowing winds in the upper atmosphere.
In summer, the subtropical westerly jet stream moves north,
helping the onset of monsoon.
In winter, the westerly jet stream brings western disturbances,
causing winter rainfall in northwestern India.
6. Explain El Niño. What is its impact on India’s climate?
👉 El Niño is an abnormal warming of surface ocean water around the
equatorial Pacific.
Impact: It weakens the monsoon winds, often leading to drought conditions
in India.
7. Mumbai experiences four months of rainfall yet receives 200 cm of rain,
while Visakhapatnam receives only 100 cm over eight months. Explain.
👉 Mumbai lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats, so it receives
heavy but concentrated rainfall during June–September.
Visakhapatnam receives rainfall from both the southwest and northeast
monsoons, but spread over a longer period with less intensity.
8. Explain why Cherrapunji receives heavier rainfall than Shillong.
👉 Both lie in Meghalaya, but Cherrapunji is located on the windward side of
the Khasi Hills. The monsoon winds directly strike it, causing torrential rain.
Shillong lies in the rain shadow area.
9. Name a hot desert and a cold desert in India and explain the respective
cause of their aridity.
👉 Hot desert: Thar Desert (due to parallel Aravalli that fail to block monsoon
winds).
Cold desert: Ladakh (due to high altitude and being enclosed by mountains,
preventing monsoon entry).
10. Tamil Nadu receives rainfall from three sources. Name them and mention
the months.
👉 (i) Southwest monsoon (June–Sept) – small amount.
(ii) Northeast monsoon (Oct–Dec) – major rainfall.
(iii) Retreating monsoon with cyclones (Oct–Nov).
Part III: Long Answer Type
11. Explain the origin of the southwest monsoon in India.
👉 The intense heating of the Indian landmass in summer creates low
pressure. Winds from the high-pressure area over the Indian Ocean blow
towards the land. Deflected by the Coriolis force, they bring moisture as the
Southwest Monsoon.
12. With two examples, explain how relief features impact climate.
👉 (i) The Western Ghats cause heavy rainfall on the western side but a rain
shadow effect in the Deccan Plateau.
(ii) The Himalayas prevent cold winds from Central Asia, keeping India
warmer in winter.
13. Prevailing atmospheric pressure in each season:
Hot season (March–May): Low pressure over north India, strong
heating, loo winds.
Cold season (Dec–Feb): High pressure over north, dry northeast
trade winds.
Advancing monsoon (Jun–Sep): Low pressure over north, strong
moisture-laden SW monsoon, heavy rains.
Retreating monsoon (Oct–Nov): High pressure starts building,
northeast monsoon winds blow, cyclones over Bay of Bengal.
14. Features:
Season of retreating monsoon: Clear skies, drop in temperature,
cyclones in Bay of Bengal.
Advancing monsoon season: Heavy rainfall, floods, humid climate.
15. Four seasons in India with months:
Winter: Dec–Feb
Summer: Mar–May
Advancing Monsoon: Jun–Sep
Retreating Monsoon: Oct–Nov
16. Region receiving >200 cm rainfall: Meghalaya (Cherrapunji,
Mawsynram).
Source: Bay of Bengal branch of SW monsoon.
17. Mangalore vs Chennai rainfall difference:
Mangalore lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats → heavy June–Sept
rain.
Chennai lies on the leeward side → gets major rain from northeast
monsoon in Nov–Dec.
18. Origin of the Thar Desert:
Due to parallel Aravalli Hills, failure to intercept SW monsoon, high aridity,
continental location.
19. Characteristics of Indian monsoon:
(i) Seasonal reversal of winds.
(ii) Unequal distribution of rainfall.
(iii) Great intensity of rainfall within a short period.
20. Cause for retreat of monsoons:
Shifting of sun towards the south → high pressure develops in north India →
winds blow from land to sea.
21. Climatic factors for granary of India:
(i) Fertile alluvial soil + monsoon rainfall.
(ii) Moderate winter rainfall from western disturbances supports rabi crops.
22. Reasons for land & sea breezes:
Day: land heats faster → air rises → sea breeze blows from sea to land.
Night: land cools faster → land breeze blows from land to sea.
Impact: moderates coastal climate.
23. Economic significance:
Mango showers → ripening of mangoes (Kerala, Karnataka).
Kalbaishakhi → pre-monsoon rainfall for rice, jute in West Bengal.
Cherry blossoms → coffee flowering in Karnataka.
Bardoli Chheerha → Assam tea gardens.
Western disturbances → rainfall for wheat in Punjab & Haryana.
24. Differences:
(a) SW vs NE monsoon – SW moist & heavy rainfall; NE dry & winter rain in
TN.
(b) Tropical vs temperate cyclones – tropical small & intense; temperate large
& widespread.
(c) Kal baishakhi vs Loo – Kal baishakhi pre-monsoon storms in Bengal; Loo
hot dry wind in north India.
(d) Maritime vs continental climate – maritime equable; continental extreme.
(e) Bay of Bengal vs Arabian Sea branch – Bay branch gives rainfall to NE &
Ganga plains; Arabian branch gives rain to west coast.
25. Western Disturbances:
👉 Temperate cyclones from Mediterranean region that bring winter rain to
north India.
Region affected: Punjab, Haryana, Western UP.
Economic benefit: Helps rabi crops (esp. wheat).
26. Explain terms:
(a) Burst of monsoon → sudden onset of heavy rain in June.
(b) October heat → sultry weather after monsoon withdrawal.
(c) Jet streams → high-altitude fast winds affecting climate.
(d) Orographic rain → rainfall caused when moist winds rise over mountains.
27. Effect if Himalayas didn’t exist:
👉 India would be much colder due to cold winds from Central Asia; SW
monsoon would pass without causing rain → desert-like climate.
Part IV: Data-based Questions
28. Udagamandalam vs Chandigarh:
Ooty has 16°C in May; Chandigarh has 32°C → altitude difference
explains cooler climate in Ooty.
29. Station data (left table):
(a) Annual rainfall = 355.5 cm.
(b) Annual range of temp = 30.2 – 25.5 = 4.7°C.
(c) Small temp range + heavy rain → equatorial climate.
(d) Location: Western coastal station (like Mangalore).
30. Station data (right table):
(a) Annual rainfall = 147.6 cm.
(b) Evidence of coastal location: Small temp range (29.6–24.6 = 5°C).
(c) Coast: Eastern coast.
(d) Climate type: Tropical monsoon.