EXTRA QUESTION & ANSWERS

GEOGRAPHY
CLASS IX
CHAPTER-4: CLIMATE

Q. Differentiate between Climate and Weather.

Ans.- Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long
period of time (more than thirty years). For example- India.
Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point of time. For example- South
Extension, Andrews Ganj etc.

Q. What are the elements of weather and climate?

Ans.- The elements of weather and climate are the same, i.e. temperature, atmospheric pressure,
wind, humidity and precipitation.

Q. What type of climate India has and why it is so?

Ans.- The climate of India is described as the ‘monsoon’ type because it is strongly influenced by
monsoon wind.
• The monsoon wind is characterised by a distinct seasonal pattern.
• It causes the weather conditions to change from one season to the other.
• These changes are particularly noticeable in the interior parts of India.

Q. What does the term monsoon mean?

Ans.- The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausim’ which literally means season.
‘Monsoon’ refers to the seasonal reversal in the wind direction during a year.

Q. Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help of suitable
examples.
OR
Despite an overall unity in the general pattern, there are perceptible regional variations in climatic
conditions within the country. Explain the statement with the help of examples.
Ans.- Despite an overall unity in the general pattern, there are perceptible regional variations in
climatic conditions within the country. For example-

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 • In summer, the mercury occasionally touches 50°C in some parts of the Rajasthan desert,
whereas it may be around 20°C in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
• On a winter night, temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low as minus
45°C. Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand, may have a temperature of 22°C.
• Precipitation is mostly in the form of snowfall in the upper parts of Himalayas, whereas it
rains over the rest of the country.
• The annual precipitation varies from over 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in Ladakh
and western Rajasthan.
• Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September. But some parts like the
Tamil Nadu coast get a large portion of its rain during October and November.

Q. Why the houses in Rajasthan have thick walls and flat roofs?
Ans.- The houses in Rajasthan have thick walls to prevent the heat from entering into the
houses while the flat roofs help to retain the little water that has been collected during rainfall.

Q. Why is it that the houses in the Tarai region and in Goa and Mangalore have sloping roofs?
Ans.- The houses in Tarai region, Goa and Mangalore have sloping roofs because these regions
receive heavy rainfall. Therefore, when the houses have sloping roofs, it helps them to get rid of the
collected rainwater which flows down from the roof to the ground.

Q. Why houses in Assam are built on stilts?

Ans.- Houses in Assam are built on stilts because the state receives plentiful rainfall due to which
there are chances of floods. So in order to avoid flooding of houses, houses are built on stilts and
above the ground level.

Q. What are the controls affecting the climate of India? Explain them.
Ans.- There are six major controls of the climate of any place.
They are: latitude, altitude, pressure and wind system, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean
currents and relief features.
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.
Altitude
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 • 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.
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 and rainfall pattern.
Distance from the sea
• The sea exerts a moderating influence on climate.
• As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence decreases and the people
experience extreme weather conditions.
Ocean currents
• Ocean currents along with onshore winds affect the climate of the coastal areas.
• For example, any coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing past it, will be warmed or
cooled if the winds are onshore.
Relief features
• Relief too plays a major role in determining the climate of a place.
• High mountains act as barriers 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 or opposite side of mountains remains relatively dry.

Q. Explain the factors that affect India’s climate.

Ans.- Latitude
• The latitude, 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 Himalayan mountains to the north, which have an average height of about 6,000
metres.
• 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.
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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
• Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones

Q. Define the following terms-

• Coriolis force
• Western Cyclonic Disturbances
• Jet streams
Ans.- Coriolis force
• An apparent force caused by the earth’s rotation.
• The Coriolis force is responsible for deflecting winds towards the right in the northern
hemisphere and towards the left in the southern hemisphere.
• This is also known as ‘Ferrel’s Law.
Western Cyclonic Disturbances
• The cyclone which originate over the Mediterranean Sea and western Asia, move into India
along with the westerly Jet stream and bring rainfall.
• They usually influence the weather of the north and north-western regions of India in winter
months.
Jet streams
• These are a narrow belt of high altitude (above 12,000 m) westerly winds in the troposphere.
• Their speed varies from about 110 km/h in summer to about 184 km/h in winter.

Q. Why does rainfall decrease from east to west in Northern India?

Ans. The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon winds travels northeast before returning westward
across the northern plains.
As these winds move west, they lose moisture and deliver less rain with each subsequent downpour.
Consequently, rainfall decreases from east to west in Northern India.

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

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Ans.- Diurnal range of temperature is the difference between maximum and minimum temperature of
a day.
• Diurnal range of temperature is high in the deserts like Rajasthan, Thar Desert and interior
parts of Rann of Kutch.
• In these sandy areas the day temperature may raise up to 50oC and by night the temperature
drops down to nearly freezing point.

Q. What are the main characteristics of the cold weather season in northern India?
Ans. The cold weather season in northern India begins in mid-November and lasts until February,
with December and January being the coldest months.
• During this period, temperatures decrease from south to north, averaging 24°–25°C in
Chennai and 10°C–15°C in the northern plains.
• Days are warm, but nights are cold, with frost common in the north and snowfall in the
higher slopes of the Himalayas.
• The weather is typically marked by clear skies, low temperatures, and low humidity.

Q. Discuss the impact of the northward movement of the sun on the climate of India during the hot
weather season. Include temperature variations recorded in different regions from March to May.
Ans. The northward movement of the sun during the hot weather season from March to May causes
the global heat belt to shift northwards, significantly impacting India’s climate.
• In March, temperatures begin to rise, with the Deccan Plateau recording highs of about 38°C.
By April, regions like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh experience temperatures around 42°C.
• May sees temperatures peaking at around 45°C in the northwestern parts of the country.
• This progression indicates a clear pattern of increasing heat as the sun's position changes,
leading to rising temperatures across the country, particularly in the north, while peninsular
India remains comparatively cooler due to oceanic influences.

Q. How do the northeast trade winds influence the weather during the cold season?
Ans. During the cold weather season, the northeast trade winds prevail over the country, blowing
from land to sea, which results in a generally dry season for most areas.
• However, on the Tamil Nadu coast, these winds blow from sea to land, bringing some
rainfall.

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 • The winds contribute to a high-pressure region in northern India, causing light winds to move
outward, primarily influencing the weather in the Ganga valley.

Q. Why is the monsoon considered a unifying bond?

Ans.- The subcontinent of India has great variations in the temperature conditions and the
amount of rainfall.
• Nevertheless, the unifying influence of the monsoon on the Indian subcontinent is quite
perceptible.
• The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar and the life of
the people, including their festivities, revolve around this phenomenon.
• The monsoon thus binds the entire continent, where all wait eagerly for their arrival.

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