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Name: Vishu Kartik

Roll No: 028
Section: 2

Sources:
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http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/documents/climate.htm
wikipedia

Topic: Indian Ocean Development

Climate in the Western Ghats varies with altitudinal gradation and distance from the equator. The
climate is humid and tropical in the lower reaches tempered by the proximity to the sea. Elevations
of1,500 m (4,921 ft) and above in the north and 2,000 m (6,562 ft) and above in the south have a
more temperate climate. Average annual temperature here are around 15 C (60 F). In some parts
frost is common, and temperatures touch the freezing point during the winter months. Mean
temperature range from 20 C (68 F) in the south to 24 C (75 F) in the north. It has also been
observed that the coldest periods in the south western ghats coincide with the wettest.[22]

During the monsoon season between June and September, the unbroken Western Ghats chain acts
as a barrier to the moisture laden clouds. The heavy, eastward-moving rain-bearing clouds are
forced to rise and in the process deposit most of their rain on the windward side. Rainfall in this
region averages 3,0004,000 mm (120160 in) with localised extremes touching 9,000 mm (350 in).
The eastern region of the Western Ghats which lie in the rain shadow, receive far less rainfall
averaging about 1,000 mm (40 in) bringing the average rainfall figure to 2,500 mm (150 in). Data
from rainfall figures reveal that there is no relationship between the total amount of rain received and
the spread of the area. Some areas to the north in Maharashtra while receiving heavier rainfall are
followed by long dry spells, while regions closer to the equator receiving less annual rainfall, have
rain spells lasting almost the entire year

Flora[edit]
Of the 7,402 species of flowering plants occur in the Western Ghats, 5,588 species are native or
indigenous and 376 are exotics naturalized and 1,438 species are cultivated or planted as
ornamentals. Among the indigenous species, 2,253 species are endemic to India and of them, 1,273

species are exclusively confined to the Western Ghats. Apart from 593 confirmed subspecies and
varieties; 66 species, 5 subspecies and 14 varieties of doubtful occurrence are also reported and
therefore amounting 8,080 taxa of flowering plants.[55]

The Climate
Climate plays a decisive role in determining the types of vegetation and their zonation.
Hence its study is necessary for a proper understanding of the ecology of forests. After
dwelling briefly on the salient features of the climate of India in general we will take up the
Western Ghats in particular, and analyze the variations of some of the major climatic
parameters.

The Monsoons
The large Eurasian (Europe and Asia) land mass and the equally large Indian Ocean result
in differences between the heating capacities of the Eurasian landmass and the Indian
Ocean. Because land heats up faster and cools down quicker than water, a seasonal
reversal of winds occurs. This is called the monsoon from an Arabic word Mousim that
describes a seasonal reversal of winds. Southwesterly winds [southwest monsoon] blow on
shore in South Asia during the Northern Hemisphere summer while northeasterly winds
[south dry monsoon] blow offshore during the Northern Hemisphere's winter.
As the sun begins its northward movement to its highest point (The Tropic of Cancer
[wwtropic]) during the spring the land heats up rapidly. This intense heating creates lower
pressure with rising air currents. Additional air blows in [southwest monsoon] from the
ocean bringing precipitation. As the precipitation wave advances, first into the Western
Ghats of India and then from the Bay of Bengal [southwest monsoon] into northern India,
precipitation arrives and the dry fields become flooded soon. Some of the world's heaviest
rains occur in monsoon climates. During one year at Cherripunji in northeastern India,
466 inches of rain was recorded-in one month! Eventually the rains stop as the season's
change. Dry autumn gives way to a cool, dry winter when the huge Siberian High
dominates all of the Eurasia's weather. Winds circulate from the northeast out of this high
bringing South Asia a dry winter regime.
The monsoons determine the agriculture calendar of farmers throughout the region. Prior
to the monsoon onset, rural life is slow as the earth is scorched under the intense sun with
air temperatures often exceeding 115 degrees F. With the onset of rain, human activity
resumes with soil preparation, weeding and other tasks associated with growing season
accomplished into a very short time period. If the monsoon commences later than usual
(the monsoon occurs on regular basis in South Asia), the consequences can be severe and
can still result in famine to this densely populated region.

Dry-Winter Monsoons
The winds from the northeast during the winter months are dry because they have lost
their moisture on the Asian landmass. As these winds approach the southern tip of India,
the location of the state of Tamil Nadu, they do pass over the Bay of Bengal and pick up
moisture. TamilNadu then receives most of its rainfall during these months [rainfallMadras]. Toward late spring and early summer the weather is hot and dry over most of the
subcontinent.
Summary-Dry Monsoons
September to March: Winds from the northeast dry winds because of rain shadow effect of
Himalayas some rain in Tamil Nadu province of southeast India and wind pickup moisture
over the Bay of Bengal.
Wet-Summer Monsoons
As the land surface heats up air is drawn in from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in the
east. These winds pick up plenty of moisture and the rains fall first along India's western
coast. Later the winds round the southern tip of India and are funneled up the Bay of
Bengal into the delta area of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. Later, the rains reach
the upper Ganges valley and the capital city of New Delhi receives less moisture than the
other areas mentioned and it arrives later in June and July. Locate the cities of Bombay,
Calcutta, and New Delhi [sscities] and then check their monthly precipitation to confirm
this pattern.
The Deccan Plateau to the east of the Western Ghats receives significantly less rainfall than
the coasts. As the summer (wet) monsoons approach the West Coast of India, they rise up
the western Ghats (mountains) and the air cools. This cool air is less able to hold moisture
and it is released as rainfall. This is called OROGRAPHIC RAINFALL. Orographic means
that it is related to mountains.
By the time the winds make it over the Western Ghats they have lost most of their moisture
and very little falls on the Deccan Plateau to the east of the Ghats. This reduced rainfall on
the leeward side (away from the wind) of mountains is called a RAIN SHADOW EFFECT.

Summary-Wet Monsoons
June to September: Western Ghats produce OROGRAPHIC rainfall rain shadow effect on
east side of Western Ghats little rain in the northwest because winds blow over little water
due to the Arabian peninsula later (mid June) rains reach Ganges-Brahmaputra delta late
June rains reach New Delhi.

Temperature
The variations in temperature are also marked over the Indian sub-continent.
During the winter seasons from November to February, due to the effect of
continental winds over most of the country, the temperature decreases from
South to North. The mean maximum temperature during the coldest months of
December and January varies from 29 degree centigrade in some part of the
peninsula to about 18 degree centigrade in the North, whereas the mean
minimum varies from about 24 degree centigrade in the extreme South to below
5 degree centigrade in the North. From March to May is usually a period of
continuous and rapid rise of temperature. The highest temperature occurs in
North India, particularly in the desert regions of the North-West where the
maximum may exceed 48 degree centigrade. With the advent of South West
Monsoon in June, there is a rapid fall in the maximum temperature in the
central portions of the country. The temperature is almost uniform over the area
covering two thirds of the country which gets good rain. In August, there is a
marked fall in temperature when the monsoon retreat from North Indian in
September. In North-West India, in the month of November, the mean maximum
temperature is below 38 degree centigrade and the mean minimum below 10
degree centigrade. In the extreme North, temperature drops below freezing
point.
Rainfall
In the southern tip of the Indian peninsula rainfall is less than 2000 mm per year, which is
not sufficient to support evergreen formations.The rain fall distribution shows two
distinctive peaks -one around June and the other around October. A delayed arrival and
an earlier withdrawal of the monsoon cuts short the rainy period in higher latitudes.
Generally the maximum rainfall is in July, sometimes in August (Mahabaleshwar, 17
56N).Rainfall higher than 5000mm is found only to the north of 11o 15N,except for the
western slopes of Anaimalai, Palni and Nilgiri ranges whose high elevations favour
condensation.From the Wyanad region almost continuously up to Mahabaleshwar,the
annual rainfall exceeds 5000mm over the entire region between the foot of the Ghats and
the Western edge of the plateau..The amount of rainfall may be considered in some places:
thus Agumbe, although situated at an altitude of only 645m receives a mean annual rainfall
of 7640 mm concentrated over 128 days.This station received an average of 2427 mm in
July and 2124 mm in August. The absolute maximum rainfall far a single month is 4508
mm (in August 1946). The Nilgiris shows that the increase in rainfall from 2400 mm to
more than 6000 mm corresponds to a marked elevation of the hill range (here the Ghats
rise up to 2500m). However after crossing this peak, the rainfall decreases abruptly and is
only 2000 mm 5 Km from the plateaus edge. A major part of the high Nilgiri plateau
receives scanty rainfall of 1500 to 1000 mm. Precipitation is much greater at the latitude of

Agumbe already exceeding 4000 mm near the coast, it increases steadily and rapidly
towards the interior. The Ghats, although not very high in this region (650m), has
nevertheless considerable influence :precipitation increases from 5900 to 7500 mm in 6 km.
The decrease over the plateau is also very rapid: from 7500 to 4000 mm in 15 km and 2000
mm in 50 km. It is remarkable that despite the low elevation of the Ghats and the high
rainfall in this region. The transect at the latitude of Goa is very similar to that of Agumbe.
The maximum rainfall is slightly less than 6000 mm isohyete is attained 25 Km.