CLIMATE

India has a tropical monsoon type of climate because India lies in

the tropical belt and its climate is influenced by the monsoon
winds. The main characteristics of this type of climate are relatively
high temperatures and dry winters.
REGIONAL VARIATIONS
Example, the climatic conditions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the
north differ from that of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the south; yet all
of these States have a similar monsoon type of climate.
PRECIPITATION
Variations occur not only in the type of precipitation but also in its
amount and the seasonal distribution. Snowfall occurs in the
Himalayas, whereas it only rains over the rest of the country.
1.Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in Meghalaya get about 1100 cm
rains in the year, whereas Jaisalmer in Rajasthan hardly receives 9
cm of rainfall in a year. 2.Tura in Meghalaya gets an amount of
rainfall in a single day which is equal to 10 years of rainfall at
Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. 3.The Coromandel Coast remains dry in the
months of July and August, whereas the Ganga delta and the
coastal plains of Odisha are hit by strong storms almost every third
or fifth day during these months. 4.Most parts of India receive
rainfall during June-September, but the coastal areas of Tamil
Nadu get rains in the beginning of the winter season.
TEMPERATURE:
Seasonal variations in temperature occur from place to place and
from region to region. Variations in temperature are found also at a
single place and in a single day. Examples of these variations are:
1. Barmer in Rajasthan may record a temperature of 48°C or 50°C
on a June day, while it hardly reaches 22°C at Pahalgam or
Gulmarg in Kashmir on the same day. However, in Dras near
Kargil, the temperatures may go down to -40°C during winter.
2. Kerala has tropical climate with warm and moist air, whereas
Punjab has continental climate with severe heat alternating with
severe cold. 3. The temperature touches - 40°C in Kargil in the
month of December whereas Kerala records 20°C or 22°C in the
same month.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE CLIMATE OF INDIA
1. The Himalayas: The Himalayas form a climatic barrier
separating the Indian sub-continent from the rest of Asia. They not
only prevent the cold Siberian winds from entering the Indian
region and from India becoming a cold desert but they also force
the moisture laden South West Monsoon winds to shed rainfall in
India or else India would be a dry region.
2. . The Monsoon Winds: During summers, the moisture carried
by these south-westerly winds from the -Arabian Sea and Bay of
Bengal bring rain to the entire subcontinent. Retreating monsoon
brings rain in eastern coastal region. During winter, dry offshore,
North-East Monsoon winds blow from high pressure to low
pressure region. As they blow over a vast landmass, they are cold
and dry. They pick moisture from the Bay of Bengal to bring rain to
Tamil Nadu in winters.
3. Latitude: The Indian subcontinent is divided into two parts by
the Tropic of Cancer. The northern portion lies in the temperate
zone and the southern portion lies in the tropical zone.India is
warmer than the north and does not have a clear-cut winter season.
The northern zone does not have the mid-day Sun almost vertically
overhead during any part of the year, while the southern zone has
the mid-day Sun almost vertically overhead at least twice every
year.
4. Varied Relief: Relief plays ar an important role in the climatic
conditions of India, The Western Ghats get heavy rainfall on
western side because cause they stand in the way of South West
Monsoon winds which come from the Arabian Sea. On the other
hand, the Deccan Plateau gets less rainfall as it lies in the rain
shadow area of the Western Ghats. In Rajasthan, the Aravali Range
is parallel to the direction of the South West Monsoon winds. So it
is unable to stop the moisture laden winds. This makes Rajasthan a
dry area.
5. . Altitude: There is a decrease of 1°C for every 166 m rise in
height, because temperature decreases as you move to higher
altitudes. So, the mountains are cooler than the plains.
6. Influence of the Surrounding Areas: Nearness to the sea that
these areas have a moderate climate.
7. Western Disturbances: In the winter season due to the shifting
of the pressure belts. These cyclones bring rain to Northern Plains
and snow in Jammu and Kashmir in India.
8. Jet Streams: Jet streams are cold fast blowing winds that
develop in the upper layers of the atmosphere. They influence the
climate of India. These depressions play a very significant role in
the distribution pattern of the monsoon rainfall in the subcontinent.
The highest rainfall occurs along the track of these depressions.
9. . Distance from the Sea: Areas in the interiors of India have
extreme type of climate or continental climate whereas coastal
areas have equable or maritime climate! The effect of land breeze
and sea breeze caused by differential rate of heating and cooling of
land and sea are responsible for moderate climate in coastal areas.
10. . El-Nino Effect: El-Nino is a warm ocean current which
sometimes appears off the coast of Peru in South America during
the month of December. It increases the surface temperature of the
sea and affects the movement of monsoon winds in the Indian
Ocean and causes weak drought-like situation in the Indian
subcontinent.

MONSOON PHENOMENA AND ITS MECHANISM

Monsoons are periodic or seasonal winds. They develop because of
differential heating as well as cooling of the land and sea. They are
divided into two wind systems-the Summer Monsoon and the
Winter Monsoon.
SUMMER MONSOONS
In summer, the land gets heated more than the sea. Hence there
develops a centre of low pressure on the land. Over the adjoining
sea, the air is comparatively cool, and a high pressure develops
there. This causes the winds to blow from the sea to the land. It is
the 'Summer Monsoon.' In May, June and July, the plains of the
Indian subcontinent are heated by the vertical rays of the sun. The
intense heat develops a low pressure. During these months, over
the Indian Ocean, a high pressure area develops. So, the winds
blow from the Indian Ocean northward and north-westward into
Asia. As they blow from the sea to the land, they bring heavy
rainfall in some parts of the Indian subcontinent. The summer
monsoon winds blow south-west; so they are known as the 'South-
West Summer Monsoon."
WINTER MONSOONS
During winter season, the conditions are just reverse of those in
summers. A high pressure develops over a big landmass stretching
from Central Asia upto north-west Indian plains. At the same time a
low pressure zone develops in the Indian Ocean. As the winds blow
from the land to the sea, they bring cold dry weather. They are
incapable of producing rain. When these winds blow over seas and
pass over the adjoining land, they bring some rainfall. The
Southern Coromandel Coast (Tamil Nadu and southern tip of
Andhra Pradesh) in India get rain from winter monsoons. The
winter monsoon winds blow northeast; so the monsoon is known as
the 'North-East Winter Monsoon.'
FOUR SEASONS: The Monsoon type of climate has distinct
seasonal pattern marked by significant change from one season to
the other. These changes are clearly visible in the interior parts of
the country. The coastal areas, due to the influence of the seas do
not experience much variation in temperature though there occurs
variation in the pattern of rainfall. Thus, the year may be divided
into four principal seasons on the basis of monsoon variations: 1.
The Hot and Dry summer (March to May). 2. The Hot and Wet or
Rainy Season or the South-West Monsoon (June to September).3.
The Retreating South-West Monsoon (October-November). 4. The
Cold and Dry Winter Season or North East Monsoon (December-
February).
1. THE HOT DRY SUMMER In India, the hot season begins in
March and lasts until June. The vertical rays of the Sun fall directly
over the Tropic of Cancer during this period..
2. TEMPERATURE From March to May, due to the northward
movement of the path of the Sun's vertical rays, the length of the
day increases. It results in the increase in solar radiation which
moves northward over the tropical areas of South Asia and the
temperature starts rising. In most parts of India, temperature
ranges between 30° and 32°C. The highest day temperatures
increase as the heat belt moves further north. In north-western
part of India, temperatures around 48°C are not uncommon. In
south India, the hot weather is not as intense as in north India. The
moderating influence of the oceans together with the Peninsular
situation of south India keeps the temperatures lower than that in
north India. The temperatures, therefore, remain between 26°C
and 32°C in south India.
PRESSURE CONDITIONS
The warmest area slowly shifts from the Deccan to northwest
India. The high temperature in the subcontinent causes a low
pressure between Thar Desert and Chota Nagpur Plateau. The
surrounding seas are cooler and develop high pressure conditions
in the Indian Ocean.

PRESSURE CONDITIONS The warmest area slowly shifts from the

Deccan to northwest India. The high temperature in the
subcontinent causes a low pressure between Thar Desert and
Chota Nagpur Plateau. The surrounding seas are cooler and
develop high pressure conditions in the Indian Ocean.
LOCAL WINDS: (a) A striking feature of the hot weather season is
the strong and dusty winds, called loo, which blow during day time
over northern and north-western India. These winds have
temperature range between 45°C and 50°C which is hot enough to
cause heatstrokes. (b) There are occasional tornado-like dust
storms in Punjab and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. (c) The
thunderstorms accompanied with strong winds and heavy rainfall
occur in Assam and West Bengal. These local winds are known as
Kalbaisakhi which means the calamity of the month of Baisakh'.
In Assam, these storms are known as Bardoli Chheerha. They
originate over the Chotanagpur Plateau and are carried eastward
by westerly winds. They bring rainfall in Assam, West Bengal and
Odisha. This rainfall is quite beneficial for growing jute and rice in
West Bengal and tea in Assam. (d) Thunderstorms cause rainfall
along the Kerala and Karnataka coasts. The little rainfall that they
bring is important for mango, tea and coffee plants. Such rains are
called mango showers as they help in the early ripening of the
mango crop. They are also called cherry blossoms in Karnataka.
3. THE SOUTH-WEST MONSOON SEASON These winds bring
heavy rainfall accompanied by violent thunder and lightning. This
sudden violent onset of rainfall in the first week of June is termed
as the Burst of the Monsoon. However, when the South-West
Monsoon fails to bring rainfall for two or more weeks and there is a
dry period in the rainy season it is called the Break of Monsoon.
The first State to receive the monsoon showers is Kerala and also
the last to see its withdrawal. As a result of the tapering
topography of peninsular India the South-West Monsoon winds
divides into two branches:
(a) The Arabian Sea Branch; and (b) The Bay of Bengal
Branch
(b) The Bay of Bengal Branch
THE ARABIAN SEA BRANCH
The monsoon winds originating over the Arabian Sea further split
into three branches: (a) Its one branch is obstructed by the
Western Ghats. These winds go up the slopes of the Western Ghats,
become cool and bring heavy rains in the windward side of the
Sahyadris and the (b) The second branch of the Arabian Sea
monsoon winds strikes the coast north of Mumbai. (c) The third
branch strikes the Saurashtra Peninsula and the Kutch.
THE BAY OF BENGAL BRANCH
The Bay of Bengal branch is directed towards the coast of
Myanmar and part of south-east Bangladesh. However, owing to
the presence of the Arakan Hills along the coast of Myanmar, a
large part of this branch of monsoon is deflected towards the
Indian subcontinent. The monsoons, therefore, enter West Bengal
and Bangladesh from south and south-east instead of the south
westerly direction. Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, located on the
Western Coastal Plains.
crest of the southern range of Khasi Hills, receive the highest
average annual rainfall in the world. 3. The Retreating Monsoon
The South-West Monsoon starts retreating from northern India in
early October. Hence, the months of October and November are
known for the retreating monsoon. The combination of high
temperature and humidity gives rise to an oppressive weather. This
is commonly known as 'October heat'. Day temperature rises due to
clear skies.
TROPICAL CYCLONES
There are tropical depressions (low-pressure systems) originating
in the Bay of Bengal caused by local variations of heat and
moisture. They lead to tropical cyclones in November and
December. Such cyclones generally originate in the neighbourhood
of the Andaman Islands between 12°N and 17°N and travel west or
northwest over the Bay of Bengal. Whenever they occur, they cause
great loss of life and property due to heavy rains on the eastern
coastal regions of India. OCTOBER HEAT October is marked by
clear cloudless sky, high temperature and high humidity.
4. THE NORTH-EAST MONSOON SEASON The cold weather
season commences at the end of November and continues till
March. The skies are relatively clear with dry weather. Night
temperatures are low, specially in northern India, but the days are
pleasantly warm. The mean temperature in the northern plains is
below 20°C and gets even lower in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana.
5. TEMPERATURE In winter season, January is usually the coldest
month. The temperature remains quite low during the winter
months over the Indian sub- continent. The temperatures decrease
from south to north. Dras Valley in Kashmir near Kargil records
minimum temperature of -45°C. It is the coldest place in India). The
excessive cold in north India during this season is due to the
following reasons: (a) In the month of February, the cold winds
from the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan bring cold wave over the
northwestern parts of India;
(b) Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan experience continental type of
climates as they are located far away from the sea to experience its
moderating influence; and (c) The snowfall in the nearby
Himalayan ranges creates cold wave situation.