THE MILLENNIUM SCHOOL, KURUKSHETRA

CLIMATE

1. Despite an overall unity in the general pattern of climate of India, there are perceptible
regional variations in climatic conditions within the country.” Justify.
Or
“India has diverse climatic conditions “Support this statement by giving examples, each
of temperature and precipitation.

Answer:

 The mercury occasionally touches 50°C in the western deserts, and it drops down to as low
as -45°C in winter around Leh.
 The annual precipitation is less than 10 cm in the north-west Himalayas and the western
desert. It exceeds 400 cm in Meghalaya.
 Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September, but some parts like the
Tamil Nadu coast get most of its rain during October and November.

2. How will you differentiate between the summer and winter monsoons?
Or
Differentiate between South-West and North-East trade winds.
Answer:
3. Monsoon acts as a unifying bond”. Explain.
Answer:

 The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a
rhythmic cycle of seasons. Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very
much typical of the monsoons.
 The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar arid the life
of the people, including their festivities, revolve around this phenomenon. Year after year,
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 the agricultural
activities in motion. The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river
valley unit.

4. How does the westerly jet stream help in bringing the western disturbances to the
Indian subcontinent during the winter?

Answer:
The western disturbances originate near the Mediterranean sea in the winter. They move
eastwards. The westerly jet stream prevails over the northern plains of India in winter. Hence,
these disturbances come under the influence of the westerly jet stream— which brings them to
the Indian subcontinent. They cause widespread rainfall in this region. This winter rainfall is
very useful and effective for rabi-crops.

5. “India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as sub-tropical climates” Discuss.

Answer:
The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of Kuchchh in
the west to Mizoram in the east. Amost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of
Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. A1 the remaining area, north, of the Tropic, lies in the
sub-tropics. Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical
climates.

6. Why do the Western Ghats receive more rainfall than the Eastern Ghats?
Answer:
In terms of relief, the Western Ghats are much higher in comparison to the Eastern Ghats.
The Western Ghats are continuous stretches of high mountains.

Therefore, when the moisture-laden Arabian Sea branch of Southwest Monsoon first strikes the
Western Ghats, it brings heavy rainfall along the windward side of the Western Ghats. In Eastern
Ghats, rain, bearing winds of Southwest Monsoon do not face such orographic barrier and hence-
receive much lower amount of rainfall.
7. The coastal areas of India do not register any significant change in temperature even
during the winter and summer. Why?
Answer:
The coastal areas of India do not register any significant seasonal changes in temperature due
to the following reasons :
(a) The influence of surrounding sea keep them with equable temperature conditions such as
the mean monthly temperature of Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai fluctuates very slightly.
(b) As we know the sea watesrs are reservoirs of the warmth and they get heated and cooled
down slowly due to conventional processes of heating and cooling and, hence, they remain
warmer in winter and cooler in summer, keeping the coastal areas equable in temperature.
(c) The warm ocean currents, too, keep the coastal areas with almost equable temperature
throughout the year.

8. The western part of Rajasthan remains almost dry during southwest monsoon season.
Give three reasons in support of this statement.
Answer:
The western part of Rajasthan remains almost dry during south-west monsoon Season
because:

 These monsoon winds flow from east, dropping much of its moisture along the path. When
they reach Rajasthan, they are almost dry.
 There is no mountain high enough to check the flow of the Arabian Sea branch of monsoon
winds. The Aravalli Mountains are not very high.
 The direction of the Aravalli Mountains is parallel to the direction of Arabian Sea
winds. Hence, these winds cross over Rajasthan without giving rainfall.
 The heat of the west Rajasthan desert does not allow the condensation of moisture to take
place and hence, no rain is occurs.

9. Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent. Why?
Give Reason.

10. The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall. Why? Give Reasons.

11. Explain any three factors which affect the mechanism of monsoons. [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
The three factors are:
(a) The presence of land and water causes the differences in temperature. This results in
differences in pressure which gives rise to the monsoons. The monsoon winds blow from
high pressure to low pressure. This determines the direction of winds.
(b) The movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas and the presence
of the easterly jet stream over the peninsula during summer.
(c) The shift of the position of the Inter Tropical Convergence zone in summer over the
Ganga plain (normal position is about 5°N of the equator).
12. Describe the path of the monsoon winds, after it strikes the West Bengal coast.
Answer:
(a) The Bay of Bengal Branch first strikes the coast of Bangladesh and then proceeds towards
Assam in the first week of June.
(b) The high mountains cause the monsoon winds to deflect towards the west over the Ganga
plains.
(c) The rainfall keeps on decreasing as the winds move up the Ganga Valley.
(d) By mid-June, the Arabian Sea Branch meets the Bay of Bengal Branch.
(e) The monsoon reaches Delhi by 29th June. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and eastern
Rajasthan receives rain by the 1st week of July and Himachal Pradesh by mid-July.

13. Why is the distribution of rainfall uneven in India? Mention any five factors?
Answer:
The distribution of rainfall is uneven in India because:
(a) Relief: The Western Ghats receives heavy rainfall. The Arabian sea branch of the South-
West monsoon, which are moisture laden winds, causes very heavy rainfall when they strike
the Western Ghats. Mawsynram gets more rain due to its relief. It gets rain from the Bay of
Bengal branch of the South-West monsoon.
(b) Distance from the Sea: Places near the coastal region get more rainfall than the places
situated far away from the sea.
(c) Direction of the Winds: Rajasthan get scanty rainfall due to Arabian sea Branch blowing
parallel to the Aravalli hills.
(d) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): It is also known as monsoon trough during
the monsoon season. The trough and its axis keep on shifting, northward or southward, which
determines the spatial distribution of rainfall. When the trough lies over the plains, rainfall is
over this region. When the axis shift closer to the Himalayas, there is a dry spell over the
plains and widespread rainfall in mountainous catchment area.
(e) Cyclonic disturbances: The occurrence of cyclonic depressions, which originate over
Andaman Sea, generally cross the eastern coasts of India cause heavy and widespread rain in
deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri, coasts of Odisha and West Bengal.

14. What influence has the Himalayas on India’s climate?

Answer

• Himalayas act as natural barriers to the extremely cold winds from Central Asia and enables
North India to have more or less uniform and comfortable temperatures.
• They act as a barrier to the south west monsoon in summer and precipitates heavy rain on the
country.
• Most of the Indian rivers are fed by glaciers located in the Himalayas.

15. The breaks in monsoon are related to the movement of the monsoon trough. Explain.
Answer:
(i) The breaks in monsoon are related to the movement of the monsoon trough. For various
 reasons, the trough and its axis keep on moving northward or southward, which determines
the spatial distribution of rainfall.

(ii) When the axis of the monsoon trough lies over the plains, rainfall is good in these parts. On
the other hand, whenever the axis shifts closer to the Himalayas, there are longer dry spells in the
plains and widespread rain occur in the mountainous catchment areas of the Himalayan rivers.

16. How do the frequency and intensity of tropical depressions determine the amount and
duration of monsoon rains?
Answer:
The tropical depressions form at the head of the Bay of Bengal and cross over to the
mainland. The depressions follow the axis of the monsoon trough of low pressure. The
monsoon is known for its uncertainties. The alternation of dry and well spells vary in
intensity, frequency and duration. While it causes heavy floods in one part, it may cause
droughts in the other. It is often irregular in its arrival and retreat. So, it sometimes disturbs
the farmers.

17. How are the Himalayas a boon to us?

Answer:

 The Himalayas lie to the north of India. They have an average height of about 6,000 m.
 The Himalayas are a boon to us. They prevent the cold winds from Central Asia from
entering the sub-continent.
 It is because of these mountains that this sub-continent experiences comparatively milder
winters as compared to Central Asia.

18. What conditions are faced by the regions having heavy and scanty rainfall?

19. Read the table given below and answer the following questions:
20. Study the graph given below and answer the preceding questions:
21. Difference between weather and climate?

Q22. Duration of weathers:-

Q- 23 Classification of weathers and its features:
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMBEMBER