INDIA: CLIMATE, FLORA, AND FAUNA

GIVE REASONS FOR THE FOLLOWING:

1. The Himalayas act as a barrier for India

A. The Himalayan range act as a barrier
for India because it separates India
from the rest of Asia, thus preventing
the country from the bitter cold winds
from central Asia.
2. Mumbai experiences less range of
temperature as compared to Agra.
A. Mumbai experiences less range of
temperature as compared to Agra
because Mumbai situated at the coast
 experiences equable climate where as
Agra experiences continental climate.
3. Northwest India receives rainfall in
winter.
A. Western disturbances or temperate
cyclones originate in Mediterranean Sea
during winter and bring rain fall in
northwest India and snowfall in the
Himalayas.
4. Chennai has more rainy months but
receives less rainfall than Mangalore.
A. Chennai lies on the eastern coast. By
the time the winds of the Arabian Sea
branch of the southwest monsoon
reach Chennai, the moisture content
decreases. Whereas Mangalore lies on
 the western coast and receive more
rainfall.
5. Jaisalmer in Rajasthan receives very
low rainfall from southwest monsoon.
A. Jaisalmer in Rajasthan receives very
low rainfall from southwest monsoon
because of the following reasons:
➢ The southwest monsoon winds run
parallel to the Aravalies and not get any
obstruction.
➢ The heat in the desert increases
southwest monsoon capacity to hold
moisture.
6. Many species are in the danger of
becoming extinct.
A. Conservation of wildlife is necessary. Due
to indiscriminate cutting of forests, hunting
and commercial exploitation, many species
of wildlife are under threat of becoming
extinct.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. Name the four seasons of India.
A. The four seasons of India are:
A. The hot dry season (March to
May)
B. The rainy season or the season of
Southwest monsoon (June to
September)
C. The season of the retreating
Southwest monsoon (October and
November)
 D. The cold season or the season of
the Northeast monsoon (December
to February)
2. State any two characteristics of
southwest monsoon?
A. The two characteristics of southwest
monsoon are:
• Seasonal rainfall from June to
September.
• Uneven distribution.
3. What are the characteristics features of
hot season?
A. The characteristic features of hot season
are:
• This season is marked by dry weather
and excessive heat.
 • In this season the sun shines directly
overhead at the tropic of cancer.
• The range of temperature is very high.
• The brief spell of showers experienced in
this season is very useful for crops.
4. The eastern coast receives rainfall in
winter. Why?
A. The Northeast monsoon pick-up moisture
from Bay of Bengal and give rainfall to
Eastern coast of India, Coromandel Coast.
5. What is meant by rain shadow area?
A. The dry area on one side of a mountain
caused by winds lose their moisture
travelling up a mountain is called rain
shadow area.
6. In what way the vegetation of a place
corresponds with its climate?
A. There are two factors on which the type
of natural vegetation and its distribution
depend upon.
1. Variation in the amount of rainfall
2. Variation in relief.
Ex: (a) Tropical rainforests, are found
where the annual temperature is 250C
to 270C.They occur where rainfall is
more than 200cm.
(b) Desert and semi desert vegetation
is found in the area of average
temperature of 250C to 270C and with
a rainfall of less than 25cm.
7. Where are the deciduous forests found?
Give two characteristics of the same.
A. Deciduous forests are found in the belt
running along the western Ghats,
surrounding the belt of Evergreen forests,
both on eastern and western slopes.
Another belt of deciduous forests run along
the Shivalic range and Chhota Nagpur
plateau. These forests are found in the
following states- Bihar, UP, Odessa, Madhya
Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Assam
and parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Characteristics:
➢ These forests shed their leaves for
about 6-8 weeks during the spring
and early summer during
March/April.
 ➢ These are most important
economically as they yield valuable
timber and several other forests
products.
8. Differentiate between a National Park
and a Sanctuary.
A. National Park:
It is large areas where several
ecosystem exist freely .They are not
disturbed by human exploitation and
occupation. It is reserved area meant for
preserving natural vegetation.
Sanctuary:
It is almost like a national park and
special care is taken of the endangered
species.
9. Why is it necessary to conserve forests?
A. The latest reports of the National Remote
Sensing Agency (NRSA) indicate that the
country is losing about 1.3million hectares
of forest cover every year. This will be
detrimental to our national interest. Hence
urgent need for conservation of forests. Also
it is necessary to conserve forests because:
• They are storehouse of timber, fuel,
herbs, bamboo etc..
• They provide employment
• They are source of income
• They provide raw material to many
industries
• They provide shelter for wildlife
• Maintaining ecological balance
• Forests prevent soil erosion
 • Forests provide clean environment
• They help to absorb much of the sun’s
insolation
• They cause rain.
10. How do forests help in conserving our
wildlife and ecobalance in nature?
A. Forests provide shelter for wildlife and
sanctuary to birds. They also are
maintaining ecological balance in nature.
11. Why is it necessary to conserve our
wildlife resources?
A. Due to indiscriminate cutting of forests,
hunting and commercial exploitation, many
species of wildlife are under threat of
become extinct. So it is necessary to
conserve our wildlife.