ABU DHABI INDIAN SCHOOL – BRANCH 1, AL WATHBA

GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER4: CLIMATE NOTES (2022-23)

1. “Despite an overall unity in the general pattern of climate of India, there are perceptible regional
variations in climatic conditions within the country.” Justify.

 The mercury occasionally touches 50°C in the western deserts, and it drops down to as low as -
45°C in winter around Leh.
 The annual precipitation is less than 10 cm in the north-west Himalayas and the western desert.
It exceeds 400 cm in Meghalaya.
 Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September, but some parts like the
Tamil Nadu coast get most of its rain during October and November.
2. Explain the factors affecting India’s climate.
Answer:
 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-tropic. 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 metres.
It is because of these mountains that this subcontinent experiences comparatively milder winters
as compared to central Asia.
 Pressure and Winds: 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 northwestern India. This causes a complete reversal of the direction
of winds during summer.
3. Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?
Answer:
There are various reasons why India has a monsoon type of climate.
 The differential heating and cooling of land and water creates low pressure on the landmass of India
while the seas around experience comparatively high pressure.
 The shift of the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in summer, over the Ganga plain
(this is the equatorial trough normally positioned about 5°N of the equator – also known as the
monsoon trough during the monsoon season).
 The presence of the high-pressure area, east of Madagascar, approximately at 20°S over the Indian
Ocean. The intensity and position of this high-pressure area affects the Indian Monsoon.
 The Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated during summer, which results in strong vertical air currents
and the formation of high pressure over the plateau at about 9 km above sea level.
 The movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas and the presence of the
tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during summer.
4. Define monsoons. What do you understand by “break” in monsoon?
Answer:  Monsoon refers to the complete reversal of winds over a large area leading to a change of
seasons. “Break” in monsoon refers to the wet and dry spells of the monsoon. In other words, the
monsoon rains take place for a few days at a time. They are interspersed with rainless intervals.
5. Describe the role of El Nino and Southern Oscillation to control the climate of India.
Answer:
The periodic change in pressure conditions in eastern Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean is known as the
Southern Oscillation.
The difference in pressure in the Indian and Pacific Oceans is computed to predict the intensity of the
monsoons. Negative pressure differences predict below average and late Monsoons.
This affects the El Nino, a warm current which flows along the Peruvian current instead of the cold
current. The changes in pressure conditions are connected to the El Nino.
6. Differentiate between the North-East Monsoons and South-West Monsoons by explaining five
distinctive features of each.
Answer:

South West Monsoon North East Monsoon

Northeast monsoon enters India from northeast
The monsoon in summers enters our
direction and can also be called the winter
country, India from the south-west direction.
monsoon.
In this type of monsoon, the wind blows
In this type of monsoon, the wind blows from
from sea to land. These monsoon winds carry
land to sea.
moisture from the Indian Ocean.
The trade winds enter the peninsular part of Winters in India are dry. These monsoon winds
India as the south-west monsoon. carry moisture from the north-east.
Rainfall is experienced in the southern part of
This brings heavy rainfall between June
India, mainly in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh,
month to September month.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during this period.
The south-west monsoon which is called the
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and
summer monsoon has potential for
Uttarakhand experience precipitation in the form
destruction. But it is welcomed in India by
of rainfall of snowfall during the northeast
farmers because they depend on these rains
monsoon.
for irrigation.

7. Why the monsoon is considered a unifying bond?

Answer:
 The unifying influence of the monsoon on the Indian subcontinent is quite perceptible.
 The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a
rhythmic cycle of seasons. Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much
typical of the monsoons.
 The Indian landscape, its animal and plants life, and the entire agricultural calendar and the life
of the people (including their festivities) revolve around this phenomenon. Year after year,
people of India from north to south and from east to west, eagerly await the arrival of the
monsoon.
 These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural
activities in motion. The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley
unit.
8. Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.
 Answer:
Beginning from mid-November, the winter season lasts till February. The weather is usually marked by
clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity, and feeble and variable winds.
The temperature decreases from the south to the north, with the peninsular region not showing any
noticeable seasonal change in temperature pattern due to the moderating influence of the sea. The
coldest months are December and January.
The days are generally warm, and the nights are cold. Frost is common in the north and the higher
slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
9. Two features are marked on the outline map of India. Identify the features based on information
provided and mark them.
(a) Area receiving rainfall less than 20 cm
(b) Area receiving rainfall more than 400 cm.

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