SMT.

SULOCHANADEVI SINGHANIA SCHOOL, THANE

INDIA CLIMATE

Give reason:
1] India has a tropical monsoon or type of climate
India has a tropical monsoonal type of climate because it lies in the tropical belt and
experiences high temperatures almost throughout the year .During the months June, July
,August ,September India experiences monsoon winds which gives its rainfall

2] Although India has tropical monsoonal type of climate, but there exist variations in the
climate. With the help of two examples explain the variations in climate in relation to
temperature and rainfall
Temperature
1. Barmer in Rajasthan records a temperature of 48 to 50 degree celsius in the month of
June while Pahalgam or Gulmarg experience is 22 degree Celsius
2. The annual range of temperature of Kerala is lesser as compared to that of Punjab
3. Drass in Kargil records a temperature of minus 40 degree celsius in December while
Kerala experience is 20 to 22 degree Celsius
Rainfall
1. Cherrapunji, Mausynram, in Meghalaya gets about 1100 CM of rainfall while Jaisalmer in
Rajasthan receives around 9 cm of rainfall
2. The Coromandel coast remains dry in the monsoon season while the Ganga plains
receives rainfall during the same time

3] Himalayas act as a climatic divide

It prevents the cold Siberian winds from entering into Northern India and thus keeping our winter
mild
It also stops the Southwest monsoon winds and forces it to give rainfall to the Northern Plains

4] Western slope of Western ghats receives more rainfall than the eastern slope of the
Western ghats
Western slope of the Western ghats receives heavy rainfall as it lies on the windward side of the
Western ghats for the Southwest monsoon Arabian sea branch while the eastern slope of the
Western ghats lies on the leeward side

5] Deccan Plateau has very low rainfall

Deccan plateau receive less rainfall as it lies in the rain shadow area of the Western ghats for
the Southwest monsoon Arabian sea branch

6] Rajasthan is a dry area

Rajasthan is a dry area as the Aravali's lie parallel to the direction of the Southwest monsoon
winds and the ranges are unable to stop the moisture laden SW Monsoons Arabian Sea Branch
7] The southern slope of the Assam hills have heavier rainfall than the northern slopes
The southern slopes of Assam hills lie on the windward side for the Bay of Bengal branch of
Southwest monsoon while the northern slopes lie on the leeward side

8] What is El Nino and what is the effect of El Nino on the climate of India?
El Nino is a warm ocean current ,which is found in some years along the coast of Peru .It is a
current which moves opposite to the direction of the cold Peruvian current which is the usual
current found along the coast. Occurrence of El Nino brings drought-like situations in India.

From the climate graph given below , answer the following questions

Graph 1

Graph 2
i)Which of the graphs belongs to Jaisalmer and Cherrapunji? Give reason to your answer.
Ans: Graph 1 belongs to Jaisalmer because of the low rainfall
The Arabian sea branch of the South-West monsoon winds moves parallel to the Aravallis
hence giving very little or no rainfall to Jaisalmer.
Graph 2 belongs to Cherrapunji because of high rainfall
Cherrapunji Lies on the windward side of the khasi hills for the Bay of bengal Branch of SW
Monsoons
Q3)

i) Name a region other than Rajasthan ,which receives 0-20 cms of rainfall in North India
Ans; Ladakh

ii) Mention why the rainfall received by the western slope of western ghats is high .
Ans; The Western slopes of the Western Ghats lie on the windward side for the South- West
monsoon winds of the Arabian sea branch hence they experience heavy rainfall.
iii) What variation do you notice in the rainfall between the Upper Ganga plain and the
Lower Ganga plain?
Ans: The Upper Ganga region experiences lower rainfall whereas the as the Lower Ganga
region experiences heavier rainfall

Give reason
Barmer in Rajasthan recorded a temperature of 50 degrees celsius in June because of its
interior location, away from the moderating effect of the sea.

Pahalgam in Kashmir records mild temperatures during summers Because it is located at

an higher altitude so due to to normal lapse rate temperature decreases

Punjab has Continental climate because of its interior location away from the moderating
effect of the sea

The Coromandel coast remains dry during July, August because the South West Monsoon
Bay of Bengal branch moves parallel to the coast

Chennai experiences the vertical rays of the sun twice in a year because of its location
south of the Tropic of Cancer, it receives once the vertical rays of the Sun during the northward
migration of the Sun and the second time during the southward Migration of the Sun

What is the effect of the surrounding seas on the climate of India?

● The surrounding seas provide moisture to the Southwest monsoon which gives rainfall to
India
● Places located near the sea experiences moderate climate

Answer the following.

Q 1. Name the type of climate experienced in India.

Ans. Tropical Monsoon Climate

Q2. Name a place experiencing the highest summer temperatures in India.

Ans. Kheto Lai / Barmer in Rajasthan.

Q3. Himalayas act as a climatic divide. Explain.

Ans. In winter the Himalayas prevent the cold Siberian winds to enter India.

In summer the Himalayas intercept the moisture laden southwest monsoons to

give rain in India.

Q4. What are Jet Streams?

Ans. Upper tropospheric air currents which determine the arrival and departure of monsoons are

known as Jet Streams.

Q5. What is October heat?

Ans. The retreat of the monsoons is marked by clear skies and drop in night temperatures. Day
temperature rises due to clear skies. The combination of high temperature and humidity gives rise to
oppressive weather commonly known as October heat.

Q6. What is Burst of Monsoons?

Ans. The sudden violent onset of monsoons in the first week of June.

Q 7. What is Break of Monsoons?

Ans. When south west monsoons fail to bring rainfall for two or more weeks and there is a dry period
in the rainy season it is called the Break of Monsoons.

Q 8. From where does the second current of the southwest monsoons enter India?

Ans. It enters from the trough of the Narmada and Tapi rivers.

Q9. Where do the tropical cyclones originate? State the effects of these cyclone.

Ans. The tropical cyclones originate over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in October and
November and bring heavy rains and cause floods, strong winds and cause the sea levels to rise.

Q10. Why do the southwest monsoons retreat?

Ans. During October and November the low pressure trough over the Northern plains starts to
weaken due to the southward apparent migration of the sun so the southwest monsoons start
to withdraw.
Q 11. Give Reason -

1. Mumbai is warmer than Kanpur in December.

Ans. Mumbai is located on the coast so experiences equable climate and Kanpur is located in the
interior so experiences continental climate.

2. Punjab gets rain in winter

Ans. This is because Of Western disturbances which originate over the Mediterranean Sea and bring
light rain in Punjab during winter.
3. Inspite of the Aravalli range Rajasthan gets very less rain.

Ans. The Aravalis lie parallel to the direction of southwest monsoons of the

Arabian Sea branch.

4. Patna receives heavier rain than Delhi.

Ans. The southwest monsoons of the Bay of Bengal branch approach Patna first and give more rain.
Delhi is located in the interior. So these winds by the time they reach Delhi the moisture goes on
decreasing.

5. Goa receives heavier rain than Puducherry in June - August.

Ans. Goa is on the windward side of Western Ghats and receives rain from the southwest monsoons
of the Arabian Sea branch while Puducherry is on the east coast. The Bay of Bengal branch blows
parallel to the coast. It does not get rain in June-August but gets rain from retreating and NE Monsoon
winds.

6. Kochi is warmer than Mumbai though both lie on the west coast in India.

Ans. Kochi is located on lower latitude and is closer to the equator than Mumbai.

7. The Summer monsoon winds blow over the Arabian Sea from the south west.

Ans. The south east trade winds are attracted towards India due to low pressure prevailing over
the landmass. After crossing the equator, they are deflected towards the right due to Coriolis
force and blow into India as Southwest Monsoons.

8. Northern plains have continental climate.

Ans. The Northern plains are far away from the moderating influence of the sea.

9. When the Malabar Coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast is comparatively
dry.

Ans. Malabar coast is on the windward side of Western Ghats and Tamil Nadu coast lies in the rain
shadow region of the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch is parallel to the coast.

10. The Coromandel Coast gets most of its rain during the winter season.

Ans. Because of Northeast Monsoons which pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal bring rain to the
East coast.
Q.12. Study the climatic data and answer the following questions.

1.

a. Identify the hottest month.

b. Calculate the annual rainfall
c. Name the winds that bring maximum rainfall to this city

2.

a. Calculate the annual range of temperature.

b. What is the total rainfall received during the summer monsoon season. c.
Presuming that the station is located in India, give a reason for its location being
on the east coast or west coast of India.
3.

a. Calculate the annual rainfall received.

b. Suggest a name of this station giving reason for your answer.
c. Name the season in which the rainfall is heaviest.

Q.13. Differentiate between –

a.
Northeast Monsoons Southwest Monsoons
Originates over land. Originates over water bodies.

Blows from north east to south Blows from south west to north
west direction. east direction.

Brings rainfall to Coromandel Coast. Brings rainfall to the entire sub- continent.

b.
Winter rainfall in northwestern India Winter rainfall in southeastern coast of
India
Rainfall is caused by western disturbances. Rainfall is caused by northeast Monsoon
 winds

Cyclonic rainfall. Relief rainfall

These cyclones originate over the Mediterranean Winds pick up moisture from the Bay of
Sea. Bengal.

c.
Retreating Monsoons Northeast Monsoons
These winds blow during October and These winds blow from December to
November. February.

There is high temperature and high humidity. There is low temperature and low humidity.

d.
Mango Shower Kalbaisakhi
Blows in Kerala and Karnataka. Blows in Assam and West Bengal.

Rainfall is beneficial for the Mango crop. Rainfall is beneficial to tea and rice crop.