Class-9th

Worksheet Chapter -4 Climate (Geography)

1. Choose the correct answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) Which one of the following places receives the highest rainfall in the world?

(a) Silchar

(b) Mawsynram
(c) Cherrapunji
(d) Guwahati

Answer: (b) Mawsynram

(ii) The wind blowing in the northern plains in summers is known as:
(a) Kaal Baisakhi
(b) Loo
(c) Trade Winds

(d) None of the above

Answer: (b) Loo

(iii) Which one of the following causes rainfall during winters in north-western part of
India.

(a) Cyclonic depression

(b) Retreating monsoon
(c) Western disturbances
(d) Southwest monsoon

Answer : (c) Western disturbances

(iv) Monsoon arrives in India approximately in:

(a) Early May
(b) Early July
(c) Early June
(d) Early August

Answer: (c) Early June

(v) Which one of the following characterizes the cold weather season in India?

(a) Warm days and warm nights

(b) Warm days and cold nights
(c) Cool days and cold nights
(d) Cold days and warm nights

Answer :(c) Warm days and cold nights

Question 2. Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) What are the factors affecting the climate of India?

Answer: The factors affecting the Climate of India are Pressure and Wind Systems, Altitude, Relief Features, Latitude,
Ocean Currents, and Distance from the Sea (Continentality). So there are a total of six factors that affect the climate.

(ii) Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?

Answer:The monsoon type of climate is characterized by a distinct seasonal pattern. The weather conditions greatly
change from one season to the other. These changes are particularly noticeable in the interior parts of the country. The
coastal areas do not experience much variation in temperature though there is variation in rainfall pattern. Four main
seasons can be identified in India - the cold weather season, the hot weather season, the advancing monsoon and the
retreating monsoon with some regional variations.

(iii) Which part of India does experience the highest diurnal range of temperature and why?
Answer: The north-western part of India experiences the highest diurnal range of temperature. In the Thar desert, the
day temperature may rise to 50°C and drop down to near 15°C the same night. On the other hand, there is hardly any
difference in day and night temperatures in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands or in Kerala.

(iv) Which winds account for rainfall along the Malabar coast?
Answer: Southwest monsoon winds account for the rainfall along the Malabar Coast. The Malabar Coast receives
significant rainfall in June and July, as it is the first region to be affected by the southwest monsoon.
(v) Define monsoons. What do you understand by "break" in monsoon?
Answer: Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal in the wind direction. Monsoon 'break' refers to the occurrence of wet
and dry spells during the rainy season. The monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time.

(vi) Why is the monsoon considered a unifying bond?

Answer: The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of
seasons. Monsoon rains are unevenly distributed and typically uncertain. The Indian landscape, plant and animal life,
agriculture, the people and their festivities, all revolve around the monsoon. All the Indian people eagerly await the arrival
of the monsoon. It binds the whole country by providing water which sets all agricultural activities in motion. That is why
the monsoon is considered a unifying bond.

Question 3. Why does the rainfall decrease from the east to the west in Northern India?
Answer :Rainfall decreases from the east to the west in Northern India because there is a decrease in the moisture of the
winds. As the moisture bearing winds of the Bay of Bengal branch of the south west monsoon move further and further
inland, the moisture gradually decreases and results in low rainfall when moving westwards. Consequently, states like
Gujarat and Rajasthan in western India get very little rainfall.

Question 4. Give reasons as to why.

(i) Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent?

Answer: Seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent takes place due to pressure differential. There is
a phenomenon in which a warm ocean current flows past Peruvian coast in place of cold Peruvian current known as El
Nino. El Nino has a major role to play in the seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent.

(ii) The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.

Answer: In summer, a low pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over north western India.

(a) This causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds during summer. Air moves from the high pressure area over
the southern Indian ocean, crosses the equator and turns right towards the low pressure areas over the Indian
subcontinent.

(b) These are known as the south-west monsoon winds.

(c) These winds blow over warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall over the mainland of India.

(d) The duration of the monsoon is between 100-120 days from early June to mid September. Thus, we can say that
rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.

(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.

Answer: During the winter season, -the north-west trade winds prevail over the country. They blow from land to sea and
hence for most parts of the country it is a dry season.The Tami Nadu coast receives winter rainfall because of movement of
low-pressure conditions to the Bay of Bengal. Thus, the retreating monsoon gets confronted by the cyclones and
depression in the Bay of Bengal and causes rainfall in Tamil Nadu during winters.

(iv) The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
Answer: The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones because the cyclonic depressions which
originate over the Andaman Sea generally cross the Eastern coasts of India and cause heavy and widespread rain.
(a) These cyclones are often very destructive. The thickly populated deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are
frequently struck by cyclones which cause great damage to life and property.
(b) Sometimes these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh.

(v) Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought- prone.
Answer: Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought prone because they receive
scanty rainfall. Even during the monsoon months the monsoon winds when rising over the Western Ghats give rain to that
area. By the time they reach Rajasthan and Gujarat there is very less moisture left in these winds and so these areas are
drought prone.

Question 5. Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help of suitable
examples.

Answer: There is regional variation in the climatic conditions of India. Temperature and Precipitation vary from place to
place and season to season.
i) Temperature differentials- In summers the temperature rises up to 50°C in parts of Rajasthan, whereas it may be around
20°C in Pahalgam in Kashmir.
→ In winters, night temperature in Drass in Kashmir may be minus 45°C, whereas Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala may
have a temperature of 20°C.
→ In Andaman and Nicobar Islands the difference between day and night temperature may be hardly 7° to 8°C.
ii) Seasonal Contrasts- Coastal areas experience less contrast in the temperature, whereas seasonal contrasts are more in
the interior of the country.
iii) Rainfall variations- There is decrease in rainfall generally from east to west in the northern plains.
→ Most parts of India get rainfall from June - September, whereas the Coromandel Coast gets rainfall in the winter season.
Question 6. Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.
Answer: Following are the features of the cold season:
→ The winter season begins from mid-November and ends in February; in northern India.
→ December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India.
→ The temperature ranges between 10°-15°C in the northern plains, while it ranges between 24°-25°C in Chennai and
other coastal areas.

→ The northeast trade winds prevail over the country in this season. As these winds blow from land to sea, most parts of
the country experience a dry season.
→ The weather is usually marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity and weak variable winds.
→ The inflow of the cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest is a characteristic feature of the cold weather
over the northern plains.

→ These low-pressure systems originate over the Mediterranean Sea and Western Asia and move into India. They cause
winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains.
→ The winter rainfall is small but is very important for the rabi crop. This rainfall is locally known as mahawat.
→ The peninsular region does not get a well-defined winter because of the moderating influence of the sea.

Question 7. Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.

Answer: Characteristics of the monsoon rainfall in India:

→ The duration of the monsoon varies from 100 to 120 days from early June to mid- September.
→ Around the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and continues regularly for several days. This is
called the 'burst' of the monsoon. They are distinguished from the pre-monsoon showers because of their increase in
rainfall amount and regularity.
→ The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian Peninsular generally by the first week of June.
→ The rainfall is unevenly distributed across the country.
Effects of the monsoon rainfall in India:

Agriculture in India largely depends on Indian monsoons for water. Late, Low or excessive rains have a negative impact
upon crops.
→ Due to uneven distribution of rainfall across the country, there are few places that are drought prone and few are flood
affected.
→ The monsoon provides India with a diverse climatic pattern. Hence, in spite of the presence of great regional variations,
it has a unifying influence upon the country and its people.