climate
(1)What are the controls
affecting the climate of
India?
Latitude, Altitude and Pressure and Winds
are the main factors which affect the
climate of India.
(2)Why does India
have a monsoon
type of climate?
India comes in the Inter Tropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This fact; in
association with various other factors,
like the El Nino, Jet Stream and
Coriolis Force are the reasons for
monsoon type of climate in India
[Link] part of India does experience the
highest diurnal range of temperature and
why?
Northwestern part of India experiences the highest diurnal range
of temperature. This happens because of the presence of the Thar
Desert and also because this region does not have the moderating
influence of the ocean.
[Link] winds account for rainfall along the Malabar coast?
Sunny Windy
Monsoon winds
Cloudy Rainy
5. What are Jet streams and how do they
affect the climate of India?
Fast flowing and narrow air currents are
called jet streams. The streams flow at
high altitudes (about 12,000 feet) in the
troposphere. The westerly jet streams are
responsible for western cyclonic
disturbances in the north and north-
western parts of India. The subtropical
westerly jet stream moves north of the
Himalayas with the apparent movement
of the sun. The tropical jet stream (an
easterly jet stream) blows over the Indian
Peninsula; approximately over 14° north
during the summer months.
[Link] monsoons. What do you understand by “break” in
monsoon?
The seasonal reversal in wind
direction during a year is called
monsoon. Monsoon tends to
have ‘breaks’ in rainfall; which
means that there are wet and
dry spells in between. The
monsoon rains take place only
for a few days at a time and
then come the rainless
intervals.
[Link] is the monsoon
considered a unifying bond?
Although there are wide variations in weather
patterns across India, the monsoon brings
some unifying influences on India. The Indian
landscape, its flora and fauna, etc. are highly
influenced by the monsoon. The entire
agricultural calendar in India is governed by
the monsoon. Most of the festivals in India
are related to agricultural cycle. These
festivals may be known by different names in
different parts of the country, but their
celebration is decided by the monsoon. It is
also said that the river valleys which carry
the rainwater also unite as a single river
valley unit. Due to these reasons, monsoon is
often a great unifying factor in India
[Link] does the rainfall
decrease from the east to
the west in Northern
India?
The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon winds moves towards
northeast and return
Westwards covering the northern plains. While they
move towards west, their moisture
contains tends to reduce with subsequent rains. Hence
the rainfall decreases from east to west
in northern India
[Link] reasons as to why.
Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent?
Seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent takes place due to pressure differential. El Nino has
major role to play in the seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent.
The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.
The monsoon begins from the first week of June and advances quite rapidly to cover almost the whole country by
mid-July. Hence, the bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over the months of a few months; mainly June to
August.
The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.
The Tami Nadu coast receives winter rainfall because of movement of
low-pressure conditions to the Bay of Bengal.
The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
The Bay of Bengal is the centre of various pressure changes and hence there is always a chance of development
of cyclone. Due to this, the delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought-prone. The parts fall in the rain
shadow area of the Aravalli. Hence, they are drought prone.
[Link] the regional variations in the climatic
conditions of India with the help of suitable examples.
Indian Peninsular shows wide variations in
climatic conditions across various regions. For
example; during winter season, the temperature
goes into negative in the Himalayan region. In the
northwestern India, temperatures can range
between zero degrees to 15°C during winter.
During the same season, the temperature in
Chennai remains a comfortable 25°C. The same
variation can be seen in summer as well, while the
temperature in Rajasthan can however around
47°C, it is a comfortable 30°C in Chennai.
[Link] the characteristics
and effects of the monsoon
rainfall in India.
The Monsoon, unlike the trades, are not
steady winds but are pulsating in nature,
affected by different atmospheric conditions
encountered by it, on its way over
the warm tropical seas. 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. This is known as the
‘burst’ of the monsoon and can be
distinguished from the pre- monsoon
showers.
The monsoon arrives at the
southern tip of the Indian
peninsula generally by the first
week of June. Subsequently, it
divides into two – the Arabian Sea
branch and the Bay of Bengal
branch. The Arabian Sea branch
reaches Mumbai about ten days
later on approximately the 10th of
June. This is a fairly rapid
advance.
The Bay of Bengal branch also
advances rapidly and arrives in
Assam in the first week of June.
The lofty mountains cause the
monsoon winds to deflect towards
the west over the Ganga plains.
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
generally receives the monsoon
showers from the Bay of Bengal
branch by the end of June
(tentative date is 29th 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 or the
retreat of the monsoon is a more
gradual process. 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. The
withdrawal from the southern half
of the peninsula is fairly rapid.
By early December, the monsoon
has withdrawn from the rest of the
country.
The islands receive the very first
monsoon showers, progressively
from south to north, from the
first week of April to the first
week of May. The withdrawal takes
place progressively from north to
south from the first week of
December to the first week of
January. By this time the rest of
the country is already under the
influence of the winter monsoon.
12. GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COLD SEASON.
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 patterns. The cold weather
season begins from 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.
The average temperature of Chennai, on the eastern
coast, is between 24° – 25° Celsius, while in the
northern plains, it ranges between 10° – 15° Celsius.
Days are warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in
the north and the higher slopes of the Himalayas
experience snowfall.
[Link] a brief account of the hot weather season in India.
The period between March to May is the hot weather season or
summer in India.
The characteristic features of the hot weather season are as
follows:
Due to the apparent northward movement of the sun, the global
heat belt shifts northwards.
The influence of the shifting of the heat belt can be seen
clearly from temperature recordings taken during March-May at
different latitudes. In March, the highest temperature is about
38° Celsius, recorded on the Deccan plateau.
In April, temperatures in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are around
42°C. In May, temperature of 45°C is common in northwestern
parts of the country. In temperature remain lower due to the
Peninsular India, has moderating to influence of the oceans.
Dust storms are common during the month of May in Punjab,
Haryana, Delhi, Eastern Rajasthan and
Western Uttar Pradesh. Sometimes, they bring light rain and
pleasant cool breeze that provide temporary relief from the
heat
[Link] A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE CONDITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE RETREATING MONSOONS
The months of October-November mark a period of transition from hot rainy season to cold dry
winter conditions. With the apparent movement of the sun southwards, the low-pressure monsoon
trough over the Northern Plains weakens and is gradually replaced by a high-pressure system. The
low-pressure conditions shift to the Bay of Bengal.
The retreat of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature. While day
temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant. The land is still moist.
As a result, the southwest monsoon winds weaken and start withdrawing gradually from India. By
the beginning of October, it withdraws from the Northern Plains. This period is known as the
Retreating Monsoon
The Retreating Monsoon season is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature. While days are
warm, nights are cool and pleasant. High rate of evaporation from the land that is still moist results
in high humidity and oppressive weather conditions during the day. This phenomenon is known as
‘October heat’.
The low-pressure conditions, of northwestern India, get transferred to the Bay of Bengal by early
November. This shift is associated with the occurrence of cyclonic depressions, which originate over
the Andaman Sea.
The deltas region of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are frequently struck by cyclones,
which cause great damage to life and property. Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of
Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh. The bulk of the rainfall of the Coromandel Coast is derived
from depressions and cyclones.
[Link] ARE THREE FEATURES OF ADVANCING MONSOON?
THE THREE FEATURES OF ADVANCING MONSOON ARE:
By early June, the low-pressure condition over
the northern plains intensifies. It attracts the
trade winds of the southern hemisphere.
These south-east trade winds originate over
the warm subtropical areas of the southern
oceans. They cross the equator and blow in a
south-westerly direction entering the Indian
peninsula as the south-west monsoon.
As these winds blow over warm oceans, they
bring abundant moisture to the subcontinent.
These winds are strong and blow at an average
velocity of 30 km per hour.
