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Climate - Class 9 Geography - Extra Questions

What are the important elements of climate?

Climate is the average weather condition of 31 years. The important elements of climate are
  • temperature
  • pressure
  • humidity
  • cloud cover
  • precipitation.
These elements in general and temperature, as well as precipitation in particular, are marked by the occurrences of wind variation in the amount, intensity, and areal distribution.
The variation of climatic elements is largely influenced by the climatic controls which are latitude or sun, altitude, distribution of land and water, the semi-permanent high and low-pressure cells, mountain barrier etc.


Give reasons as to why the delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.

  • The Bay of Bengal is the centre of various pressure changes and hence there is always a chance of development of cyclone.
  • Due to this, the delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.


Name the regions in India which get rainfall during winter.

Kerela and Tamil Nadu are the parts of India which recieve winter rainfall because these are the coastal regions found in the South which is affected by Western disturbances.


Explain western disturbances.

We can define Western Disturbance as “a low pressure area or a trough over surface or the upper-air in the westerly winds regime, north of 20°N, causing changes in pressure, wind pattern and temperature fields. It is accompanied by cloudiness, with or without precipitation.” The term Western Disturbance (WD) was coined by Indian meteorologists for describing the systems moving from the west to east direction. WDs originate in the Caspian Sea or the Mediterranean Sea as extra-tropical cyclones. They gradually travel across the middle-east from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enter the Indian sub-continent.
Though WDs move across the Indian region throughout the year, they are in their peak during winter months of January and February. Their effect is minimal during the monsoon months in India.Western Disturbances along with their induced systems are the principle rain producing systems during non-monsoonal months over Northwest India including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Their effect sometime extends up to Gangetic plains and Northeast India. They are also responsible for bringing snowfall in the higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.


In which months does the Tamil Nadu coast get maximum rainfall?

The Tamil Nadu coast gets maximum rainfall in October and November.


What do you know about India's climate? 

The climate of India is described as Monsoon type. Despite a general unity, there is regional variation within the country. For example, the southern regions don't experience winters like that in the northern half of the country. On a winter night, temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low as minus 45 o C. Thiruvanathapuram, on the other hand, may have a temperature of 22 o c.
The annual precipitation also varies. Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September. But some part of the Tamil Nadu Coast receive it largely during October and November.
The country has characteristics of both Tropical and sub tropical climate as the Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country. So the regions south of the Tropic of Cancer are the Tropical areas.


Name the four distinct seasons broadly experienced in India.

Seasons
The four types of seasons are

Cold weather Season – It begins from mid-November to February. Northeast trade winds blow from land to sea during this period, making it a dry season where days are warm and nights are cold.

Hot weather Season – During this season which begins from March to May the temperature increases from south to north with the temperature remaining lower in peninsular India. It experiences hot dry winds, ‘Loo’ in May and June along with rising temperature with falling air pressure (in the northern part). While Kerela & Karnataka receives pre-monsoon showers, West Bengal and Assam are affected by northwesterly winds.

Advancing monsoon Season- It begins from June to September and during this season north-western region of the country receives the maximum rainfall.

Retreating monsoon Season is also known as the withdrawing monsoon – please refer to the above section of onset and withdrawal of monsoon.


Name a part on the east coast which is often hit by cyclones during the months of October and November.

 Vishakhapatnam port is often hit by cyclones during October and November.


What is the name given to the climate of India? Mention any two factors responsible for such a type of climate.

India has a tropical monsoon type of climate. It is because India lies in the tropical belt, and its climate is deeply influenced by the monsoon winds.



Differentiate between agricultural season and seasons of India.

Agricultural Season       Seasons of India
Kharif and RabiSummer, Winter, South-West Monsoon (Rainy), Retreating monsoon


Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
The climate of India has been describe as ______ type.

The climate of India has broadly been described as Monsoon type. Monsoon is taken from the Arabic word ‘mausim’, which means seasons. 


The sub-shivalik region of Punjab receives more than ________ mm of rainfall from December to March.

The sub-shivalik region of Punjab receives more than 100 mm of rainfall from December 10 March.The sub-shivalik region of Punjab receives more than 100 mm of rainfall from December 10 March.



Very Short Answer Type Questions:
What do you mean by moderate climate?

Moderate climate refers to the climate which is neither very hot nor very cold.


Very Short Answer Type Questions:
Name the two region of Jammu and Kashmir which are very cold or freezing cold.

Drass and Kargil.


What are the controls affecting the climate of India?

The elements affecting the climate are latitude, altitude, pressure, winds, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents and relief features.



Which part of India does experience the highest diurnal range of temperature and why?

Part of India that experiences the highest diurnal range of temperature is Thar Desert. This is present towards western side of India in the state of Rajasthan. This is because it is filled with sand which gets heated up quickly during day and cooled up very quickly during nights. There is no sea closer to this area and hence there is no moderating effect.



Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?

The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word ‘Mausim’ which means season. It describes seasonal wind movement which is accompanied by rain or precipitation. The seasonal reversal in the wind direction during a year is called monsoon. Indian climate is a monsoon type of climate which is characterized by weather conditions that change from season to season.

These monsoon winds are confined to tropical areas between 20 degree N and S latitudes. Due to Himalayas, entire India is brought under the sway of moist laden winds for a few months. Without monsoons India would have been a desert. In India monsoon usually lasts from July to September. 90% of rainfall in India is due to monsoon.



Give reasons as to why the Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent?

Seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent takes place due to pressure differential. El Nino has major role to play in the seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent.



Which winds account for rainfall along the Malabar coast?

Malabar Coast gets rains from South-West Monsoon Winds.



Give reasons as to why the bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.

The inflow of the south-west monsoon into India brings about a total change in the weather. Early in the season, the windward side of the Western Ghats receives very heavy rainfall. The Deccan Plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh also receive some amount of rain in spite of lying in the rain shadow are. The maximum rainfall of this season is received in the north-eastern part of the country. Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi hills receives the highest average rainfall in the world. Rainfall in the Ganga valley decreases from the east to the west. Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat gets scanty rainfall.



Give reasons as to why the Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.

Tamil Nadu is located on the eastern coast of India. South India usually receives rainfall from south west monsoons. But these south west monsoon arising from Arabian Sea gets obstructed by Western Ghats.

Hence, Tamil Nadu receives most of its rain from north east and retreating monsoons during winter season. Moreover, many low pressure systems develop in the Bay of Bengal during this period and move towards the east coast of Tamil Nadu causing heavy rainfall. 



Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help of suitable examples.

  • Though there is an overall unity in general pattern of monsoon, there are still some regional variations in climatic conditions. The two important elements that cause these variations are temperature and rainfall.
  • For example in summer the temperature is about 50 degrees in Rajasthan and on the same day it is about 20 degrees in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • In the same way on a winter night temperature at Drass it may be as low as minus 45 degrees and in Thiruvananthapuram it is 20 degrees.



When and where does Kal Baisakhi occur?

Nor ’westers: The rising temperature in the summer results in low pressure troughs and attracts cyclonic and North West winds which result in rainfall along with thunderstorms in the months of April and May. These are known as Kal Baisakhi or nor-westers.

During this time Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bangladesh and North-Eastern states of India are affected by violent thunderstorms. 



Which part of India gets orographic rainfall and why?

Orographic rainfall occurs when warm, humid air strikes an orographic barrier (a mountain range). Because of the initial momentum, the air is forced to rise. As the moisture laden air gains height, condensation sets in, and soon saturation is reached. The surplus moisture falls down as precipitation along the windward slopes.
The chief characteristic of this sort of rain is that the windward slopes receive greater rainfall. After giving rain on the windward side, when these winds reach the other slope, they descend, and their temperature rises. Then their capacity to take in moisture increases and hence, these leeward slopes remain rainless and dry. The area situated on the leeward side, which gets less rainfall is known as the rain-shadow area.
Western slopes of Anaimalai, Palni and Nilgiri ranges Mahabaleshwar, situated on the Western Ghats, receives more than 600 cm of rainfall, whereas Pune, lying in the rain shadow area, has only about 70 cm.


Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.

Characteristics of monsoon: Indian climate is a monsoon type of climate. Monsoon climate is characterised by weather conditions that change from season to season. This type is mostly experienced in interior parts of the country rather than coastal areas. Duration varies from 100 to 120 days. The spectacular arrival of monsoon winds at the end of the summer season is called 'burst of monsoon'.

Effects: Without monsoons India would have been a desert. In India monsoon usually lasts from July to September. Ninety percent of rainfall in India is due to monsoon. It provides water for agriculture and domestic purposes. 



Climmate of India.

The Climate of India
The Climate of India is described as monsoon type. This type of climate is found in south and southeast Asia. However, there are variations in climatic conditions in the country itself. The coastal regions of India show the least amount of difference between the temperatures of night and day. In the interior regions, the difference in temperatures of day and night is huge.

Climatic Controls
Climatic controls are the factors that control the variations in temperature in the climate of India. There are six major climatic controls. They are:

Latitude: As the earth is round, sunlight does not reach everywhere equally. The temperature decreases as we move from the equator to the poles.
Altitude: As we move from the surface of the earth to the higher altitudes, the temperature decreases.
Pressure and wind system: The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the latitude and altitude of that place. Thus, it influences the temperature accordingly.
Distance from the sea: Coastal regions are cooler as compared to interior regions. As the distance from the sea increases, its influence decreases and the people experience extreme weather conditions.
Ocean currents: Cold ocean currents flowing over a region will decrease the temperature of that area whereas warm currents will increase the temperature.
Relief features: Relief features are the barriers that block currents from entering the country. High mountains act as barriers for cold or hot winds.


Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.

  • Cold weather season is also called as winter. It starts in the month of November and ends in February. December and January are the coldest months.
  • This season is characterized by cold days and cold nights.
  • Temperature decreases from south to north. In southern India, the average winter temperatures range from 24-25 degree centigrade and in northern parts of the country temperature remains about 10-15 degree centigrade.



Discuss the mechanism of monsoon.

During summer season as land gets heated up, the air rises and the low-pressure area is created on the land and on the other hand high-pressure area is created in the Indian Ocean. Air moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. The low-pressure land system attracts south-east trade winds but after crossing equator due to Coriolis force, winds turn right towards the low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. These winds start blowing in a south-westerly direction and enter the Indian peninsula as the southwest monsoon. As it reaches India monsoons are divided into two branches namely - Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch.



Write short note on 'Loo'.

  • The wind flowing in the northern plains in summers is known as 'loo'.
  • Loo is a strong hot and dry winds that blows over the western Indo-Gangetic plain of north India and Pakistan.
  • It is especially strong in the months of May and June.



Write a short note on the rainy season and the retreating southwest monsoon season.

  • Rainy season: The season that is marked by onset of monsoon is known as south-west monsoon. It is also called as rainy season. It sets in when winds blowing from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal carry moisture and hits mountains. It lasts from June to September.
  • Retreating monsoon: The Southwest monsoons start retreating in the first week of September from Pakistan border in Northwest India. October and November are the months of post (or retreating) monsoon season.


Why do the south-east trade winds become the south-west monsoon?

  • During summer season as land gets heated up, the air rises and low pressure area is created on the land and on the other hand high pressure area is created in Indian Ocean. Air moves from high pressure areas to lower pressure areas. 
  • The low pressure land system attracts south-east trade winds but after crossing equator due to Coriolis force (Ferrel’s law is followed by Coriolis force according to which any moving mass in the rotating system like earth experiences a force that deflects it towards right in northern hemisphere and to the left in southern hemisphere) wind turn right towards the low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. These winds start blowing in a southwesterly direction, and enter the Indian peninsula as the south-west monsoon.



What is the climate of India between the months of March to May ?

The climatic season of India between the months of March and May is the summer season. In India may is the hottest month. Average temperature in India during this season ranges from 32–40 °C.



Which part of India does not experience very cold winters?

Southern part of India do not experience very cold winters. This is because south India is surrounded by water on three sides. This enables moderating effect which maintains normal temperatures during winter. The temperature in winter of north India is 10 °-15° centigrade where as that of south India is 24°-25°centigrade.



 Where does the south-west monsoon occur in India?

  • Winds that give maximum rainfall to India are south-west monsoon. These winds bring rains towards the end of the summer due to high pressure built in the Indian Ocean. As they enter India they divide into branches.
  • The Arabian Sea Branch of the Southwest Monsoon first hits the Western Ghats of the coastal state of Kerala, India, thus making this area first to receive rain from the south-west monsoon. This branch of the monsoon moves northwards towards western side.
  • Bay of Bengal branch of south-west monsoon reaches north-east of India.



The western slopes of the Western Ghats receive more rain than the eastern slopes. Why?

Eastern region of Western Ghats lie in the rain shadow region. Western Ghats are very tall that it blocks moisture-laden south-west winds to reach eastern slopes and hence receives scanty rainfall. Thus western slopes of Western Ghats receive more rainfall than eastern slopes.



Describe temperature conditions during the winter season.

  • Cold weather season is also called as winter. It starts in the month of November and ends in February. December and January months are the coldest months.
  • This season is characterized by cold days and cold nights.
  • In cold weather season temperature of Chennai on the eastern coast is 25 degree whereas in northern India it is between 10 and 15 degree centigrade.



What are the chief characteristics of the cold weather season in India?

Important characteristics of the cold-weather season in India are:
  • The cold weather season in India begins during mid-November in Northern India and stays till February. December and January are the coldest months.
  • During the cold season, the days are warm and nights are cold. When the temperature decreases, frost is commonly experienced in Northern India
  • The cold season in most parts of the country is the dry season as northeast trade winds blow from land to sea.
  • Many cyclonic disturbances occur over northern India during this time.  These results in rainfall during winters and snowfall in the Himalayan regions. This winter rainfall helps in the cultivation of the rabi crops.


What is the extent of the hot weather season in India?

  • Hot weather season is also referred to as summer season that lasts from March to May.
  • Warm weather season in India is characterized by warm days and warm nights.
  • In India May is the hottest month. Average temperature in India during this season ranges from 32–40 °C.



What is the significance of the north-east trade winds in the winter season?

  • North-east trade winds prevail during the winter season in India. These are the winds that blow from land to the sea. This is the reason why winters in India are dry.
  • A part of north-east winds blows over the Bay of Bengal which bring showers to Coromandel Coast. T



What is the impact of depressions or temperate cyclones on the general climate of the North India?

  • Temperate cyclones are also called as westerly depressions. These originate in Mediterranean Sea or Atlantic Ocean which lies in temperate zone.
  • These cyclones move towards east towards India under the influence of westerly jet stream. These cyclones result in rains in the northern states like Punjab, Haryana and Kashmir in the winter.



Describe the average distribution of rainfall during the winter months.

  • Usually in winter months there is no rain as the winter monsoon move from land to sea and do not carry any moisture.
  • Some weak temperate cyclones from Mediterranean Sea causes rainfall in parts of India like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh. The average winter rainfall in Delhi is around 53 mm. In Punjab and Bihar, rainfall remains between 25 mm and 18 mm respectively.
  • Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the north-eastern parts of India also have rains between 25 mm and 50 mm during these winter months.
  • Some parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh receive about 35% of their total rainfall during this season.



Describe the general temperature conditions during the summer season in India.

  • Hot weather season is also referred to as summer season that lasts from March to May.
  • Warm weather season in India is characterized by warm days and warm nights.
  • In India may is the hottest month. Average temperature in India during this season ranges from 32–40 °C.



What are the main characteristics of the hot weather season in India?

India experiences the hot weather season from the month of March to May.

During this season, there is apparent Northward movement of the sun.

The hot weather season has the following characteristics:

(i) There is overall increase in temperature e.g. the temperature of Northern plains is between 42 to 45°C and in the Deccan plateau between 35 to 38°C.

(ii) An elongated low-pressure area develops from Thar Desert (in North-West) to Patna and Chotanagpur plateau (in East and South-East) towards the end of May. From this low-pressure belt, the circulation of air begins.

(iii) In the Northern and^North-Westem plain, there is occurrence of‘Loo’- strong, hot, dry wind.

(iv) In the Northern India, there is common occurrence of dust storm in May.

(v) There is also occurrence of localised thunderstorms associated with violent winds, torrential downpours, often accompanied by hailstorm at some places (e.g. West Bengal).


Name the regions getting less than 50 cm of average annual rainfall in India.

Regions with scanty rainfall, receiving rainfall below 50 cm, include northern part of Kashmir, western Rajasthan, Punjab and Deccan Plateau.



Which parts of India are influenced by the Arabian Sea branch of the south-west monsoons?

  • As India is surrounded by Bay of Bengal on the east and Arabian Sea on the west, monsoons in India arrive as Bay of Bengal branch and Arabian Sea branch.
  • The Arabian Sea Branch of the south-west monsoon first hits the Western Ghats of the coastal state of Kerala, thus making this area first to receive rain from the south-west monsoon. This branch of the monsoon moves northwards towards western side.



Name the two branches of the south-west monsoon winds.

  • As India is surrounded by Bay of Bengal on the east and Arabian Sea on the west, monsoon in India arrive as Bay of Bengal branch and Arabian Sea branch.
  • The direction of Bay of Bengal branch of south west monsoon is north-east.
  • The Arabian Sea Branch of the south-west monsoon first hits the Western Ghats of the coastal state of Kerala, India, thus making this area first to receive rain from the south-west monsoon. This branch of the monsoon moves northwards towards western side.



Which parts of India get more than 200 cm of average annual rainfall?

Regions of high rainfall: The following areas receive rainfall above 200 cm. Highest rainfall occurs in west coast and sub Himalayan ranges, Meghalaya Hills, Assam, West Bengal, West Coast and Southern slopes of eastern Himalayas.



What are the main characteristics of the Retreating Monsoon season?

Main Characteristics of Retreating Monsoon

(i) October and November are the months of retreating monsoon.

(ii) During this season low monsoon trough becomes weak and is replaced by high pressure. Thus, monsoon begins to retreat. By the beginning of October it retreats completely from Northern Plains.

(iii) This period is the period of transition from hot rainy season to cold winter season. It is marked by clear sky, moist ground and high temperatures giving birth to October Heat.

(iv) Low pressure trough shifts to Bay of Bengal. They give rise to cyclonic depressions which cause havoc on the eastern coasts-especially the coasts of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu with very strong storms and rains. The super cyclone of 1999 will remain in the memories of millions of people for over, who lost their near and dear ones along with their properties.


Describe the general temperature conditions during the Retreating Monsoon season.

General conditions of temperature during retreating monsoon season:

  • This season is characterized by disappearance of clouds and clear skies.
  • Due to high temperature and moisture, weather becomes hot and humid.
  • The days becomes quite oppressive which is commonly known as October Heat.



When does the cold-weather season begin in northern India?

The cold weather season begins in mid-November in northern India.


Which are the two branches of the monsoon?

The two branches of the monsoon are:
(i) The Arabian Sea Branch
(ii) The Bay of Bengal Branch


In which part of the country do we see more seasonal contrasts?

The interior part of the country is characterised by more seasonal contrasts.


Name all the six major controls of the climate of any place.

The six major controls of the climate of any place are:
(i) Latitude
(ii) Altitude
(iii) Pressure and wind system
(iv) Distance from the sea
(v) Ocean currents
(vi) Relief features


Which part of our country experiences the highest range of temperature in a day?

The Thar Desert experiences the highest range of temperature in a day.


Why does temperature remain lower in peninsular India?

In peninsular India, temperature remain lower due to the moderating influence of the oceans.


'India's climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.' Explain.

(i) The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of India from the Rann of Kuchh in the west to Mizoram in the east.
(ii) Almost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. All the remaining area, north of the Tropic, lies in the sub-topics. 
(iii) Therefore, India's climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.



The weather of which parts of India is influenced by Western Cyclonic disturbances?

The weather of the north and north-western regions of India is influenced by Western Cyclonic disturbances.


Where is equable type of climate found?

Equable type of climate is found close to the sea.


Give any two characteristics of the cold weather season or winter.

The two characteristics of the cold weather season or winter are:
(i) Clear sky
(ii) Low temperature and low humidity


How do pressure and surface winds affect the climatic conditions of a particular place? What other factors contribute to it?

Winds move from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area. During winter, there is a high-pressure area north of the Himalayas. Cold dry winds blow from this region to the low-pressure areas over the oceans to the south. In summer, a low-pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over northwestern India. As a result, the low-pressure system attracts the southeast trade winds of the southern hemisphere. On crossing the equator, these trade winds-due to the Coriolis force-turn right towards the low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. After crossing the equator, these winds start blowing in a south-westerly direction, and enter the Indian peninsula as the southwest monsoon. These are known as the South-west Monsoon winds. These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall over the mainland of India. The upper air circulation in this region is dominated by a westerly flow. The rainfall received by India is largely due to the south-west monsoon winds. The duration of the monsoon is between 100 to 120 days. Hence, the bulk of rainfall received by the country is concentrated over a few months.
Other factors affecting the climatic conditions are:
(i) Coriolis force. The seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent is the result of the Coriolis force. India lies in the region of north easterly winds. These winds originate from the subtropical high-pressure belt of the northern hemisphere. They blow south, get deflected to the right due to the Coriolis force, and move on towards the equatorial low-pressure area. Coriolis force also known as 'Ferrel's Law' is a force caused by the earth's rotation. It deflects the north-east trade winds towards right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere.
(ii) Jet Streams. They are a narrow belt of high altitude winds in the troposphere. Their speed varies from about 110 km/h in summer to about 184 km/h in winter. The movements of the westerly Jet Streams to the north of the Himalayas and the presence of the tropical easterly Jet Streams over the Indian Peninsula during the summer affects monsoon. Usually while the tropical eastern South Pacific Ocean experiences high pressure, the tropical Eastern Indian Ocean experiences low pressure. But in certain years, there is a reversal in the pressure conditions and the eastern Pacific has lower pressure in comparison to the eastern Indian Ocean. This periodic change in pressure conditions is known as the Southern Oscillation (SO).
(iii) Western cyclonic disturbances. The sub-tropical westerly Jet Stream blowing south of the Himalayas are responsible for the western cyclonic disturbances experienced in the north and north-western parts of the country during the winter months. Western disturbance is the term used in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal to describe an extra tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by the Westerlies. The moisture in these storms usually originates over the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.


Which type of natural vegetation is found in regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall?

In regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall, the natural vegetation consists of thorny trees and bushes.


Give any account of weather conditions and characteristics of the Retreating Monsoon.

The weathers conditions, and characteristics, of the retreating monsoon are given below:
(i) It falls between October and November
(ii)) It is a period, of transition from hot rainy season: to, dry, winter- conditions.
(iii) The withdrawal of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and,rise in temperature.
(iv) Day temperatures are high and humid but nights are cool and pleasant. This is, commonly known as. 'October heat'.
(v) In the second half of October, the mercury begins to fall rapidly in northern India. The low-pressure conditions over northwestern India, get transferred to the Bay of Bengal by early November due to occurrence of cyclonic depressions, which originate over the Andaman Sea.
(vi) The delta region of the eastern coast of India is frequently struck by cyclones. The deltas of Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are also frequently struck by cyclones which cause great damage to life and property.
(vii) Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Orissa, West Bengal and Bangladesh. The heavy rainfall of the Coromandel coast is due to these and cyclones.


Write short notes on 'Loo' and 'dust storms'.

Loo: It is a striking feature of the hot weather season. It is strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the day over the north and north-western India. Sometimes they even continue until late in the evening. Direct exposure to these winds may even prove fatal.
Dust storms: They are very common during the month of May in northern India. These storms bring temporary relief as they lower the temperature and may bring bright light rain and cool breeze.


What values are associated with the Indian monsoon?

There is great diversity of the climatic conditions in India due to different location and land relief patterns. But these diversities are subdued by the monsoon, which blow over the whole country. The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar and the life of the people, including their festivities, revolve around monsoon phenomenon. The arrival of the monsoon is most welcome all over the country. The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons that binds the entire country. 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.


Monsoons are known for their uncertainties and vagaries. Explain.

(i) The monsoon is known for its uncertainties. While it causes heavy floods in one part, it may be responsible for droughts in the other.

(ii) The rainfall is unevenly distributed across the Indian landscape. Early in the season, the windward side of the Western Ghats receives heavy rainfall i.e., more than 250 cm.

(iii) The rain shadow areas of Deccan plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Leh receive scanty rainfall The maximum rainfall is recorded in the north-eastern part of the country.


Why do the interior of the Deccan plateau and east of the Sahyadris receive low rainfall?

  • Deccan plateau is a large plateau in India covering southern part of India.
  • It is located between Eastern and Western Ghats. It is like a downward pointing triangle.
  • Eastern region of Western Ghats and east of Sahyadris lie in the rain shadow region. Western Ghats are very tall that it blocks moisture laden south-west winds to reach them and hence receives scanty rainfall.



What is known as 'October heat'?

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. While day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant. The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes oppressive during the day. This is commonly known as 'October heat'.


Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
The regions receiving the very less rainfall in the country are ______________.

Jaisalmer and Ladakh in India are dry regions with minimum rainfall in India.



Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
The months of _________ form Summer season.

April, May and June


Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
The place receiving the highest rainfall in the country is ______________.

Mawsynram of Khasi Hills in Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall in the country of India.



Study the climatic data of station x given below and answer the questions that follow :
MonthJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC
Temp.
oC		24.525.727.728.430.032.531.030.229.828.025.924.7
Rainfall
cm		4.31.61.72.42.84.68.611.411.830.635.013.9
i. Calculate the total annual rainfall experienced by the station.
ii. What is the annual range of temperature?
iii. On which coast of India does the station lie? Give a reason for your answer.

(i) Annual rainfall = Sum of rainfall in all twelve months Therefore, annual rainfall is 129.2 cm. The total annual rainfall = Sum of rainfall in all twelve months. Therefore, annual rainfall is 128.7 cm. 
(ii) The annual range of temperature = Maximum temperature − minimum temperature 32.5°C − 24.5°C = 8°C 
(iii) The station lies on the south-eastern coast of India (Tamil Nadu) as the station receives maximum rainfall from the retreating monsoon. 



State the benefits that are derived from the local wind that blow in summer in the following states: (i) Kerala (ii) West Bengal.

Kerala: Mango showers helps in ripening mangoes. 
West Bengal: Kal Baisakhi helps in the growth of rice and jute.


Mention a geographical reason for the following. Patna receives heavier rain than Delhi.

Patna receives heavier rain than Delhi because Patna lies to the east of Delhi and the amount of rain decreases as the winds(Bay of Bengal current) advances towards the north west.


Give a geographic reason for each of the following :
i. Kerala has the longest rainy season.
ii. The Konkan coast experiences orographic rainfall.
iii. The city of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh has a higher range of temperature than that of Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

i) Kerala has the longest rainy season because it lies in the extreme south of India and it is the first and last to see the monsoon.
ii) The Konkan Coast experiences orographic rainfall because the monsoon winds which blow over the Arabian Sea strike the western side of the Western Ghats resulting in heavy rainfall. By the time these winds reach the Eastern Ghats, they are already dry as they have already shed their moisture. 
iii) The city of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh lies in the interiors of the plain region. The plain regions experience continental type of climate with a wider range of temperature. Chennai, on the other hand is a coastal region and experiences moderate type of climate in which the range of temperature is low.


Name the following:
i. The winds that bring heavy rain to Cherrapunji
ii. The local wind that brings a light rainfall to South India and is good for tea and coffee crops.

(i)  Southwest monsoon winds bring heavy rainfall to Cherrapunji.

(ii) The local winds which bring a light rainfall to South India and are beneficial for tea and coffee plants are known as mango showers.



Give a geographical reason for each of the following :
i. Kanpur has extreme temperature conditions.
ii. Kochi is warmer than Mumbai even though both lie on the western coast of India.
iii. The Ganga Plain gets the monsoon rain much later than the west coast of India.

1. Kanpur lies in the interior of the continent. It thus experiences a continental type of climate. While summers are too hot, winters are too cold. Thus, Kanpur experiences extreme temperature conditions.

2. Kochi is warmer than Mumbai even though both lie on the western coast of India because the former is located close to the Equator and receives direct rays of the Sun throughout the year.

3. The second branch of the Arabian Sea strikes the western coast of India by the second week of June. The Ganga Plains receive rainfall from the Bay of Bengal branch which first strikes the northeastern parts of India and then travels to the Northern Ganga Plains.



Mention a geographical reason for the following. Western Rajasthan receives no rain from the Arabian Sea branch of the South West Monsoon winds.

Western Rajasthan receives no rain from the Arabian Sea branch because winds run parallel to Aravalli hills as such they pass without any obstacles.


Mention a geographical reason for the following. Mangalore is not cold even in the month of December.

Mangalore is not cold even in the month of December because it lies on the western coast, therefore, have a moderating influence of the sea.


Describe high rainfall region and low rainfall region in India.

High Rainfall region :
Areas with rainfall between 200 to 300 cm are the Middle Ganga Valley, Western Ghats, Eastern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Low Rainfall region :
Areas with less than 50 cm are the northern part of Kashmir, Western Rajasthan, Southern Punjab and regions of the Deccan in the rain Shadow of the western ghats


Give geographical reasons for the following. 
Kochi has a lesser annual range of temperature than Agra.

Kochi has a lesser annual range of temperature than Agra because Kochi is located on the sea coast and its temperature is modified by the land and sea breezes. Agra is away from the sea.


Give reasons for the following. Central Maharashtra receives little rainfall.

 Central Maharashtra receives little rainfall as it lies on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.


Give reasons for the following. When the Malabar coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast is comparatively dry.

When the Malabar coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast is dry because it lies in the rain shadow region of Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal is parallel to the coast.


Name the type of climate prevailing over India.

Tropical monsoon climate.


Give reasons for the following. The Northern Plains of India have a Continental type of climate.

Northern plains have continental climate because it is away from the moderating influence of the sea. Thus, the summers are extremely hot and winters are extremely cold.


Study the climate data given below and answer the questions that follow.
MonthsJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Temperature oC23.825.027.728.330.230.330.430.330.030.325.524.2
Rainfall(cm)001.11.52.145.346.545.443.320.13.00.1
(i) Calculate the mean annual temperature.
(ii) What is the total rainfall during the monsoon season?
(iii) Does the station have a maritime or a continental climate? Give a reason for your answer.

(i) Mean annual temperature 28oC.
(ii) Total rainfall 180.5cm.
(iii) Station has maritime type of climate because it has low range of temperature i.e., 6.6oC.


Study the climatic data given below and answer the questions that follow.
MonthsJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Temperature oC23.124.826.529.33232.833.132.130.529.328.726.1
Rainfall(cm)15.310.10.30.11.34.56.110.210.520.116.819.0
(i) Calculate the annual rainfall experienced by the station.
(ii) Suggest a name of this station, giving a reason for your answer.
(iii) Name the season during which the rainfall is heaviest.

i. Annual rainfall experienced by all the stations= sum total of rainfall during all the twelve months= 114.3 cm.
ii. The name of the station is Tamil Nadu as the temperature remains moderate throughout the year and the rainfall is heaviest during the beginning of the winter season.
iii. The season during which the rainfall is heaviest is during the months of the retreating monsoon and in winter. It rains the heaviest in the month of October.


Give two important characteristics of the South West Monsoon rainfall.

Characteristics of South West Monsoon rainfall:
(i) Orographic in nature.
(ii) Uncertain in amount and time.


Define monsoon?

A monsoon is a seasonal wind which lasts for several months. The word was first used in English for the seasonal rains in the Indian subcontinent. These rains blow in from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in the southwest bringing heavy rainfall to the area.


Distinguish between South West and North East monsoon.

The south west monsoon winds blow towards the north from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during the months of June to September. These winds cause a nationwide rainfall. The north east monsoon winds blow from the north east side of the country to the sea side during the months of October and November


Give a reason for each of the following:
i. Kolkata receives heavier rain than Lucknow.
ii. The Summer Monsoon winds blows over the Arabian Sea from the Southwest.
iii. Thar is a desert.

i. Kolkata receives heavier rain than Lucknow because the Bay of the Bengal branch of the South-West Monsoon advances North-Eastward, after picking moisture from the Bay of Bengal. The Lower Ganga Valley receives the rainfall first and upper Ganga later on. Kolkata is in lower Ganga Valley. The rainfall goes on decreasing as it proceeds through the Ganga Valley. The Monsoons move Westward and get drier as the distance from the sea is increasing. Thus, Kolkata receives move rainfall than Lucknow, which is in Upper Ganga Valley.
ii. Over the Arabian Sea, monsoon winds alternately blow from the northeast and the southwest, reversing their dominant direction with the seasons. In the summer, the winds blow from the sea toward land from the southwest, bringing heavy rain to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and neighbouring countries. In the winter, the winds blow from Southwest Asia toward the sea. In the summer, the winds blow from the sea toward land, bringing heavy rain to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and neighbouring countries.
iii. Thar is a desert because the soil of this Desert remains dry for most of the year having a scanty rainfall. There are very few local tree species. The sand in the desert is highly mobile due to strong winds.
 



Mention the four seasons that prevail in India stating the months for each.

Taking into accounts the changes in air temperature, amount of rainfall, changes of the air current, etc. the climate of India can be classified into four seasons, such as:
1. Summer (from March to May)
2. Rainy season (June to September)
3. Autumn season (from October to November
4. Winter season (from December to February)


 Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 
 Temp °C 12.025.5 26.3 27.1 30.0 36.2 36.0 35.9 30.3 28.4 21.0 16.6 
Rainfall cm 1.5 0.1 0.0 1.4 1.1 21.0 25.3 27.2 24.0 9.4 1.5 0.4 
Study the climatic data given below and answer the questions that follow:
i. What is the annual range temperature of the station?
ii. What is the total annual rainfall experienced by the station?
iii. Why would it be correct to presume that the station lies in the interior and not on the coast?

i. The annual range is defined as the difference between the hottest and coldest months, taking monthly mean temperatures in each case. Here the annual range temperature is 36.2-12.0 = 24.2 C.
ii. It is the sum total of rainfalls received in each month of the year. Here it is 112.9 cm.
iii. The Western coast gets its heaviest rainfall during June by South-West monsoon, while Eastern coast gets its maximum rainfall in winter. But in the given table there is no heavy rainfall either in summer or in winter. Thus, it is correct to presume that the station lies in the interior and not on the coast.


Short Answer Type Questions
What happens in the season of the retreating monsoons?

Winds move back from the mainland to the Indian Ocean from North-East to South-West direction.


Short Answer Type Questions:
Explain cold weather season and hot weather season.

During cold weather season (winter), the sun rays do not fall directly in the region. As a result the temperatures are quite low in northern India. In hot weather season (summer), the sun rays fall directly in the region. Hence, temperature becomes very high. Hot and dry winds called loo blow during the day time. 


Long Answer Type questions
Explain different types of seasons found in India.

Four major seasons are found in India: 
(i) Cold Weather Season (Winter). This season occurs in the month of December and lasts upto the month of February. During this season temperature remains cold in the northern India because the sunrays do not fall cfrectly in the region 
(ii) Hot weather season (Summer). This season starts in the month of March and ends in the month of  May. During this season temperature becomes very hot because the sunrays fall directly in the region. Hot 
and dry winds called loo blow during the day time. 
(iii) South West monsoon season (Rainy season). This season is marked by the advent and advance of monsoon. The winds blow from Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal towards the land. They carry moisture with 
them. When these winds strike the mountain barriers it begins raining. 
(iv) Season of retreating monsoon (Autumn). This is the season of retreating monsoons. During this season winds move back from the mainland to the Bay of Bengal. The southern parts of India receive 
rainfall in this season. 


Give geographical reasons for the following statement.
Andaman-Nicobar islands receive more rainfall.

Andaman-Nicobar islands receive rain from both the southwest and northeast monsoons. Here the monsoon starts almost from May and continues till December and the annual average rainfall is above 3000 mm.


Which elements affect the climate of India?

The climate around the world is affected by many different factors that lead to different parts of the Earth experiencing differing climates. The following factors influence India’s climate:

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. Almost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. All the remaining area, north of the Tropic, lies in the sub-tropics. Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.

Altitude

India has mountains to the north, which have an average height of about 6,000 meters. India also has a vast coastal area where the maximum elevation is about 30 meters. The Himalayas prevent the cold winds from Central Asia from entering the subcontinent. It is because of these mountains that this subcontinent experiences comparatively milder winters as compared to central Asia.

Pressure and Winds

The climate and associated weather conditions in India are governed by the following atmospheric conditions:

•    Pressure and surface winds;

•    Upper air circulation; and

•    Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones.

India lies in the region of northeasterly winds. These winds originate from the subtropical high-pressure belt of the northern hemisphere. They blow south, get deflected to the right due to the Coriolis force, and move on towards the equatorial low-pressure area. Generally, these winds carry very little moisture as they originate and blow over land. Therefore, they bring little or no rain. Hence, India should have been an arid land, but, it is not so.

The pressure and wind conditions over India are unique. During winter, there is a high-pressure area north of the Himalayas. Cold dry winds blow from this region to the low-pressure areas over the oceans to the south. In summer, a low-pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over north-western India. This causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds during summer. Air moves from the high-pressure area over the southern Indian Ocean, in a south-easterly direction, cross the equator and turns right towards the low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. These are known as the Southwest Monsoon winds. These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall over the mainland of India.


Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
Cold weather season remains from ______ to _______.

Cold Weather Season (Winter)  - December to February


Short Answer Type Questions:
Why do we experience regional differences in the climate of India? Explain with examples.

We experience regional differences in the climate of India due to these factors - location of a place, altitude, distance from the sea and relief. For examples, Jaisalmer and Bikaner in the desert of Rajasthan are very hot while Drass and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir are very cold. Coastal places like Mumbai and Kolkata experience moderate climate. It means these places are neither very hot nor very cold. Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the world's highest rainfall, while Jaisalmer receives least rainfall.


Very Short Answer Type Questions:
Name the factors that affect the climate of a place.

The climate of any particular place is influenced by a host of interacting factors. These include latitude, elevation, nearby water, ocean currents, topography, vegetation, and prevailing winds.


Inspite of being close the Arabian Sea, why does Rajasthan remains dry?

In spite of being close to the Arabian Sea, Rajasthan remains dry because of the following reasons:
(1) After moving from Gujarat and Sind delta moisture content of the Arabian sea branch of Monsoon is decreased when it comes towards the Rajasthan so Thar desert remains dry.
(2) Sandy soil of desert region creates a situation of temperature inversion so monsoon winds cannot enter in this area.
(3) Aravali mountains are parallel to these winds.


Answer the following question in about 125-130 words.
"Why is the Budget in India known as a gamble of Monsoon winds"? Discuss.

The climate of an area or region has a deep impact on its economy. In India life is primarily dependent on agriculture. Monsoon rainfall has an important contribution in providing a strong basis for its development. 

When monsoon rains are timely and in adequate amount, agricultural production in the country increases and greenery is seen all around. But their failure leads to the drying of crops. If these monsoons arrive early then floods are caused. Due to their late-onset however, the crops cannot be sown in time and as a result, production decreases. 

In this way, the economy of the country depends on agriculture and in turn agriculture is totally dependent on the monsoonal rains. That is why the Indian Budget is largely called the ‘Gamble of Monsoons’. 


Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
_____ in Rajasthan receives least rainfall.

We experience regional differences in the climate of India. Jaisalmer and Bikaner in the desert of Rajasthan are very hot, while Drass and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir are freezing cold. 


Short Answer
How is rainfall important for us? What happens when there is excess rain?

Rainfall is very important for the survival of plants and animals. It brings fresh water to the earth's surface. If rainfall is less, there is water scarcity which sometime causes drought like situation. If there is excess rain, floods take place which make the life of the affected people miserable.


Explain different types of seasons.

There are four types of seasons on earth: spring, autumn, winter and summer. These seasons are characterized by differences in temperature and the length of daylight. These seasons are found only in the temperate zones. The equatorial regions do not have any noticeable seasonal changes. They have only two types of seasons, Wet season and Dry season. Polar Regions also have two seasons, a light season and a dark season.

Spring:

The spring season is a time of renewal. During this time, trees begin to develop bud and flowers start to bloom. Rainy days make it easy for plants, flowers and grass to grow.

Autumn:

This season is also known as the fall season. It brings colder temperatures and frost. Some crops are harvested in this season. Corn is one of them. Animals prepare for hibernation in this season by eating a lot as they need to save the fat and energy for harsh winter months.

Winter:

The winter season brings snow and ice at some particular locations in the world. Most of the animals go in hibernation during this season.

Summer:

Summer is common season for thunderstorms. When the earth tilts towards the Sun, the more heat causes summer.


Answer the following questions in two to four sentences each:
Why does the climate of India vary Irons one region to another?

There two main reasons that climate varies from plate to place are:
a. The amount of energy arriving from the sun. and
b The circulation or the atmosphere and oceans which carry heat and moisture horn one place to another.


Answer the following questions in two or four sentence each:
" Climatic condition of India has a great significance on its economy." Justify.

The monsoon is the lifeblood for India’s farm-dependent $2.5 trillion economy, as at least half the farmlands are rain-fed. The country gets about 70% of annual rainfall in the June-September monsoon season, making it crucial for an estimated 263 million farmers.
About 800 million people live in villages and depend on agriculture, which accounts for about 15% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) and a failed monsoon can have a rippling effect on the country’s growth and economy.



What is the most famous technique used in text mining is?

Text Mining is one of the most critical ways of analysing and processing unstructured data.
The five fundamental steps involved in text mining are:
1.  Gathering unstructured data from multiple data sources like plain text, web pages, pdf files, emails, and blogs,  to name a few.
2.  Detect and remove anomalies from data.
3.  Convert all the relevant information extracted from unstructured data into structured formats.
4.  Analyse the patterns within the data via Management Information System (MIS).
5.  Store all the valuable information into a secure database to drive trend analysis and enhance the decision-making process of the organisation.
Clustering is one of the most crucial techniques of text mining. It seeks to identify intrinsic structures in textual information and organise them into relevant subgroups or clusters  for further analysis. A significant challenge in the clustering process is to form meaningful clusters from the unlabeled textual data without having any prior information on them. Cluster analysis is a standard text mining tool that assists in data distribution or acts as a pre-processing step for other text mining algorithms running on detected clusters.


Write a note.

Monsoon model

Monsoon model: For the first time, a model predicting monsoon was developed in 1877 by H. F. Blanford, the then founder of IMD. This was the first prediction of its kind and the parameter which was chosen for this prediction was the snowfall in the Himalayas. In the 1930s, the then director of IMD, Sir Gilbert Walker established a relationship between the Indian monsoon and the various worldwide climatic factors. It was Dr. Vasantrao Govarikar who finally developed the monsoon model based upon 16 worldwide climatic parameters and this model was in use from 1990 to 2002. 


October heat known as _____ in Gujarat.

October heat known as Bhadarvi Taap in gujarat. 


___________ town often experiences temperature as low as -48 C in winter.

Kargil town often experiences temperature as low as -48 C in winter.


 _____________is the southwest region which gets more than 4000 mm rainfall.

Western Ghat is the southwest region which gets more than 4000 mm rainfall.


Tamil Nadu receives maximum rainfall during the _____________ monsoon season.

Tamil Nadu receives maximum rainfall during the retreating monsoon season.


Which form of rain is found in himalayan region?

 Orographic rain is found in himalayan region.


Give the distribution of rainfall with a map.

Distribution of rainfall across India:

  • Regions of high rainfall: These areas receive rainfall above 200 cm. Highest rainfall occurs in west coast and sub Himalayan ranges, Meghalaya Hills, Assam, West Bengal, West Coast and Southern slopes of eastern Himalayas.
  • Regions of moderate rainfall include areas with 100-200 cm of rainfall. Gujarat, East Tamil Nadu, North-eastern Peninsular, Western Ghats, eastern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, the middle Ganga valley are included in this range.
  • Regions of less rainfall: These areas receive rainfall between 50-100 cm. Upper Ganga valley, eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, Southern Plateau of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu falls under areas with less rainfall.
  • Regions with scanty rainfall: These areas receive rainfall below 50 cm. Northern part of Kashmir, Western Rajasthan, Punjab and Deccan Plateau falls under this category.


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List out the five main factors which affect the climate of a region.

  • The elements affecting the climate are latitude, altitude and pressure and winds, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents and relief features.
  • Latitude and altitude: The most important climatic control is latitude. Latitude affects the temperature of a place. The places situated at higher altitudes which are far from equator receive lesser sunlight and places which are located towards the equator receives more sunlight and are hotter than the places located at higher latitudes. Sunlight also affects precipitation or rainfall. Thus, latitudinal position of a region decides the climate of the place.
  • Continentality is defined as measure of difference between continental and marine climates. As the distance from sea increases this moderating effect decreases and people face extreme weather conditions
  • Winds and air masses originate over oceans move onshore to the mainland and affect climate.
  • Ocean currents affect climate of coastal areas.



Why the location of India affects its climate? Give reasons.

The most important climatic control is latitude. Latitude affects the temperature of a place. The places situated at higher altitudes which are far from equator receive less sunlight and places which are located towards the equator receives more sunlight and are hotter than the places located at higher latitudes. Sunlight also affects precipitation or rainfall. Thus, latitudinal position of a region decides the climate of the place.

India extends roughly from 8°N to 37°N and the Tropic of Cancer of passes through the middle of the country. Areas south of the Tropic of Cancer are closer to the equator and experience high temperature throughout the year. The northern parts on the other hand lie in the warm temperature zone. Hence they experience comparatively low temperatures. Some places record considerably low temperatures particularly in winter due to presence of the Himalayas.



What are the factors which affect the climate of India?

  • The elements affecting the climate are latitude, altitude and pressure and winds, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents and relief features.
  • Latitude and altitude: The most important climatic control is latitude. Latitude affects the temperature of a place. The places situated at higher altitudes which are far from equator receive less sunlight and places which are located towards the equator which is a 00 latitude receives more sunlight and are hotter than the places located at higher latitudes. Sunlight also affects precipitation or rainfall. Thus latitudinal position of a region decides the climate of the place.
  • Continentality is defined as measure of difference between continental and marine climates. As the distance from sea increases this moderating effect decreases and people face extreme weather conditions
  • Winds and air masses originate over oceans move onshore to the mainland and affect climate.



Mention three striking features of the hot weather season.

The hot weather season begins from March and stays till May. Some striking features of this season are:

(i) Loo: These are strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the day over north and north-western India. Sometimes they even continue until late in the evening. Direct exposure to these winds may even prove to be fatal.
(ii) Duststorms: These are very common during the month of May in Northern India. These storms bring temporary relief as they lower temperature and may bring light rain and cool breeze.
(iii) Thunderstroms: Hot weather season is also the season for localised thunderstorms, associated with violent winds, torrential rain, often accompanied by hail.


What are the main characteristics of the south-west monsoon season?

Advancing monsoon or south-west monsoon season gives maximum rainfall to India which lasts from June to September.

  • Temperature: Temperature remains less uniform throughout the rainy season. Temperature rises whenever there is a break in monsoon. Highest temperature is experienced in Aravali ranges which is 38° to 40°C.
  • Other parts of north India experience a temperature above 30°C.
  • Temperature over Western Ghats is very low due to heavy rainfall. The coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and adjoining parts of Andhra Pradesh have temperatures above 30°C as they receive little rainfall during this season
  • Pressure: Low pressure prevails due to high temperature and increases towards south.
  • Rainfall: 90% of total rainfall is received in this season. Rainfall decreases with increase in distance from sea.
  • Monsoon break: The rainless interval during south west monsoon season is known as ‘breaks’. It is another characteristic feature of this season.



What is the impact of the tropical cyclones in the summer months?

  • Tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with low pressure centre and spiral arrangement of thunderstorms resulting in heavy rainfall.
  • Tropical cyclones in summer: The three-fourth of tropical cyclones originate in Bay of Bengal and rest in Arabian Sea.
  • Most of the storms of Bay of Bengal move towards north or north-west and take a curve towards north-east and strike Bangladesh and the Arakan Coast of Myanmar. These are quite severe and cause damage to life and property.
  • Arabian Sea born storms are formed in May and move away from Indian coast in north western direction and dissipate in sea.



What are the major controls of the climate of a place? Explain them.

There are six major controls; of 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' generally 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) 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 arid rainfall' pattern.
(iv) Distance from the sea: The sea exerts 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, continentality which means very hot during, summer and very cold during winters.
(v) Ocean Currents: Oceans along with onshore winds affect the climate of the coastal areas:. For-instance, any coastal area with warmish-cold'currents flowing past it, will' be warmed or cooled if the winds are onshore:
(vi) Relief features: High. mountains act as a barrier for cold: or hot winds.. They. may, also cause precipitation, if they are high enough and lie in the path of rain, bearing winds. The leeward side of' the mountains remains, relatively dry.


What is the general distribution of rainfall during the period from July to September in India?

Advancing monsoon or south-west monsoon season, also called as rainy season, gives maximum rainfall to India which lasts from June to September. Distribution of rainfall across India:

  • Regions of high rainfall: These areas receive rainfall above 200 cm. Highest rainfall occurs in west coast and sub Himalayan ranges, Meghalaya Hills, Assam, West Bengal, West Coast and Southern slopes of eastern Himalayas.
  • Regions of moderate rainfall include areas with 100-200 cm of rainfall. Gujarat, East Tamil Nadu, North-eastern Peninsular, Western Ghats, eastern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, the middle Ganga valley are included in this range.
  • Regions of less rainfall: These areas receive rainfall between 50-100cm. Upper Ganga valley, eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, Southern Plateau of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu fall under areas with less rainfall.
  • Regions with scanty rainfall: These areas receive rainfall below 50 cm. Northern part of Kashmir, Western Rajasthan, Punjab and Deccan Plateau falls under this category.



Describe the general temperature conditions during the southwest monsoon season.

  • Advancing monsoon or South west monsoon season also called as rainy season give maximum rainfall to India which lasts from June to September.
  • Temperature: Temperature remains less uniform throughout the rainy season. Temperature rises whenever there is a break in monsoon. Highest temperature is experienced in Aravali ranges which is 38° to 40°C.
  • Other parts of north India experience a temperature above 30°C.
  • Temperature over Western Ghats is very low due to heavy rainfall. The coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and adjoining parts of Andhra Pradesh have temperatures above 30°C as they receive little rainfall during this season.



What do you understand by the concept of 'the annual cycle of seasons'?

  • Annual cycle of season is nothing but the change in weather seasons in a year. This is mainly due to tilt of earth towards sun.
  • Indian climate is a monsoon type of climate. Monsoon type of climate is classified as hot weather season, cold weather, advancing monsoon and retreating monsoon.
  • Cold weather season is also called as winter. It starts in the month of November and ends in February. December and January months are the coldest months. This season is characterised by cold days and cold nights. Coldest month in India is January. Average temperatures in January range from 14 to 25 °C
  • Hot weather season is also referred to as summer season that lasts from March to May. Warm weather season in India is characterized by warm days and warm nights. In India may is the hottest month. Average temperature in India during this season ranges from 32–40 °C.
  • Advancing monsoon or South west monsoon season also called as rainy season give maximum rainfall to India which lasts from June to September. Average Annual rainfall of India is 300–650 millimetres
  • Retreating monsoon lasts from October to December. The northeast (or "retreating") monsoon, brings dry, cool, and dense Central Asian air masses to large parts of India.



What are the features of advancing monsoon?

The features of advancing monsoon are given below:
(i) It begins by early June.
(ii) The low-pressure condition over the northern plains attracts the: trade winds of the southern hemisphere. As these winds blow over warm oceans, they bring abundant moisture to the subcontinent.
(iii) As a result, the windward side of the Western Ghats receives very heavy rainfall, and the Deccan Plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh also receive some amount of rain in spite of lying in the rain shadow area.
(iv) The maximum rainfall of this season in the world is received by Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills.
(v) Another phenomenon associated, with, the monsoon, is its, tendency to, have `breaks' in, rainfall. The 'break' in monsoon means the monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time.
(vi) The monsoon is known for its uncertainties. While it causes heavy floods, in one part, it may be responsible for droughts in the other.


Which part of India gets bulk of its rainfall during the season of the Retreating Monsoons and why?

  • Tamil Nadu is located on the eastern coast of India. South India usually receives rainfall from the south-west monsoon. But in the case of Tamil Nadu, the south-west monsoon arising from the Arabian Sea gets obstructed by the Western Ghats.
  • Hence, Tamil Nadu receives most of its rain from the north-east and retreating monsoon during the winter season. Moreover, many low-pressure systems develop in the Bay of Bengal during this period and move towards the east coast of Tamil Nadu causing heavy rainfall. 



How is the winter rainfall of the northwest part of India different from the winter rainfall of the southeast part of India?

  • Winter rainfall in the northwestern part of India is caused due to western disturbances. It is good for wheat crop in Punjab and Haryana.
  • In southeast India, the winter rainfall occurs due to the retreating monsoon i.e. the Northeast monsoons. While moving over the Bay of Bengal, the winds carry moisture and give rainfall in the coastal regions of southeast India.


Write three differences between summer monsoon season and retreating monsoon season.

Summer Monsoon:
  1. Summer monsoon winds blow from June to September.
  2. The direction of these winds is from South-West.
  3. They blow from sea to land and are moisture-laden winds.
  4. South-West winds bring heavy rainfall. This is a high temperature and high humidity season. The pressure is low on the land area and high over surrounding water bodies.
  5. During these months there is rainfall in the whole subcontinent.

Retreating Monsoon:
  1. These winds blow during October and November.
  2. The direction of these winds is from North East.
  3. These winds blow from land to sea.
  4. The temperature changes and the humidity remains high but rainfall decreases. It is a transition from rainy season to the cold dry winter season.
  5. The coastal areas of Tamil Nadu receive maximum rainfall from these retreating winds.


Class 9 Geography Extra Questions