CLASS-IX

SUBJECT-GEOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 4 NOTES

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).

Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point in time.

The elements of weather and climate are the same, i.e. temperature, atmospheric
pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation. On the basis of the monthly atmospheric
conditions, the year is divided into seasons such as:

• Winter
• Summer
• Rainy Seasons
Climatic Controls
The climate of any place depends on the following factors:

1) Latitude

The amount of solar energy received varies according to latitude due to the curvature
of the earth. That’s why air temperature generally decreases from the equator
towards the poles.

2) Altitude

The atmosphere becomes less dense, and temperature decreases when we go to a

higher altitude from the Earth’s surface. This is the reason why hills are cooler during
summer.

3) Pressure and wind system

The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the latitude and altitude of the
place. It influences the temperature and rainfall pattern.

4) Distance from the sea

• The sea exerts a moderating influence on the climate.

• As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence decreases
and people experience extreme weather conditions.
• This condition is known as continentality, i.e. very hot during summers and
very cold during winters.

5) 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.

6) Relief features

• Relief plays a major role in determining the climate of a place.

 • High mountains act as barriers to cold or hot winds.
• They may also cause precipitation if they are high enough and lie in the path
of rain-bearing winds.
• Precipitation is any form of moisture which falls to the earth. It includes rain,
snow, hail and sleet.

Factors Affecting India’s Climate

Latitude

The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of
Kachchh in the west to Mizoram in the east. India’s climate has characteristics of
tropical as well as subtropical climates.

Altitude

India has mountains to the north and also has a vast coastal area where the
maximum elevation is about 30 metres. Owing to the mountains, the subcontinent
experiences comparatively milder winters as compared to central Asia.

Pressure and winds

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

• Pressure and surface winds

• Upper air circulation
• Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones

Air moves from the high-pressure area over the southern Indian Ocean in a south-
easterly direction, crosses 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 territories of India.

Jet streams are fast-flowing, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmosphere.

The Indian Monsoon

The climate of India is strongly influenced by monsoon winds. The seasonal reversal of
the
wind system is known as “monsoon”. The monsoons are experienced in the tropical
area roughly between 20° N and 20° S. Go through the following facts to understand
the mechanism of the monsoons in a better way:

1. The differential heating and cooling of land and water create a low pressure
on the landmass of India while the seas around experience comparatively high
pressure.
2. The shift of the position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in
summer over the Ganga plain is also known as the monsoon trough during the
monsoon season.
3. The presence of the high-pressure area east of Madagascar, approximately
20°S over the Indian Ocean, affects the Indian Monsoon.
4. The Tibetan plateau gets intensely heatedduring summer, which results in
strong vertical air currents and the formation of low pressure over the plateau
at about 9 km above sea level.
5. The movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas and
the presence of the tropical easterly jet streamover the Indian
peninsula during summer also impact the Indian Monsoon.

The changes in the pressure conditions over the southern oceans also affect the
monsoons. The irregularly periodic variation in winds and sea surface temperatures
over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean that affects the climate of the tropics and
subtropics is known as Southern Oscillation or SO.
The Onset of the Monsoon and Withdrawal
The duration of the monsoon is between 100-120 days from early June to mid-
September. Around the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and
continues constantly for several days, which is known as the “burst” of the monsoon.

Arrival of the Monsoon in Different Parts of India

The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula generally by the 1st
week of June. Subsequently, it proceeds into two – the Arabian Sea branch and the
Bay of Bengal branch.

• The Arabian Sea branch reaches Mumbai on approximately the 10th of June.
• The Bay of Bengal branch arrives in Assam in the 1st week of June.
 • By mid-June, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon arrives over Saurashtra-
Kuchchh and the central part of the country.
• The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal branches of the monsoon merge over
the northwestern part of the Ganga plains.
• Delhi receives the monsoon showers from the Bay of Bengal branch by the end
of June.
• By the first week of July, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and eastern
Rajasthan experience the monsoon.
• By mid-July, the monsoon reaches Himachal Pradesh and the rest of the
country.

Withdrawal of the Monsoon

• The withdrawal of the monsoon begins in the northwestern states of India by

early September.
• By mid-October, it withdraws completely from the northern half of the
peninsula. From north to south, the withdrawal of monsoon takes place from
the first week of December to the first week of January.
• By early December, the monsoon has withdrawn from the rest of the country.

The Seasons
4 main seasons can be identified in India:

1. The cold weather season (Winter)

2. The hot weather season (Summer)
3. The advancing monsoon (Rainy Season)
4. The retreating monsoon with some regional variations (Transition Season)

Let’s discuss each of them in detail:

The Cold Weather Season (Winter)

Winter begins in mid-November in northern India and stays till February.

• December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India.
• The temperature decreases from the south to the north.
• Days are warm and nights are cold.
• The weather is marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity and
feeble, variable winds.
• This season is extremely important for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.
The Hot Weather Season (Summer)

• From March to May, a hot weather season is observed in India.

• The summer months experience rising temperatures and falling air pressure in
the northern part of the country.
• A striking feature of the hot weather season is the ‘loo’.
• Loo is the strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the day over north and
northwestern India.
• Towards the close of the summer season, pre-monsoon showers come, which
help in the early ripening of mangoes and are often referred to as ‘mango
showers’.

Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)

• South-east trade winds originate over the warm subtropical areas of the
southern oceans.
• They cross the equator and blow in a southwesterly direction entering the
Indian peninsula as the southwest monsoon.
• The monsoon winds cover the country for about a month.
• Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills receives the highest
average rainfall in the world.

Retreating/Post Monsoons (The Transition Season)

• 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 a rise in temperature.
While day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant.
• Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather
becomes rather oppressive during the day.
• This is commonly known as ‘October heat’. In the second half of October, the
mercury begins to fall rapidly in northern India.

Distribution of Rainfall

1. Parts of the western coast and northeastern India receive over about 400 cm
of rainfall annually.
2. Rainfall is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat,
Haryana and Punjab.
3. Rainfall is low in the interior of the Deccan plateau and east of the Sahyadris.
4. Snowfall is restricted to the Himalayan region.
 5. The annual rainfall is highly variable from year to year.

Monsoon as a Unifying Bond

• The unifying influence of the monsoon on the Indian subcontinent is quite
noticeable.
• The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather
conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons.
• The uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much typical of the
monsoons.
• Year after year, the 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
agricultural activities in motion.