9881315725

9433375235

ANALYTICAL QUESTIONS: CLIMATE

Q.1
1 i. The southwest monsoon is late this year. The Indian Meteorological [2]
Department (IMD) on Tuesday, May 16, had predicted that the onset of
southwest monsoon is delayed by four days. An agricultural economy,
India is heavily reliant on the monsoon which brings 75 percent of its
annual rainfall. — Indian Express
(a) As a student of Geography, what according to you may be the reason
for the delay of monsoon? [2]

Ans. When tropical cyclones formed on the sea surface, it causes the
pulling of the moisture out of Kerala coast.
Another reason is El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), due to which
water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean become cooler than
normal because of the upwelling of cold water from the bottom of the
sea, and the Indian Ocean water near Australia becomes warmer led to
a delay in monsoon.

(b) What is the usual time for the onset of summer monsoon in Kerala?
Ans. The onset of summer monsoon normally sets in over Kerala
around 1st June.

2. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is the most common practice in Shillong,

Meghalaya. It is interesting because Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram
situated at a distance of 55 km. from Shillong receive the highest rainfall
in the world, yet the state capital Shillong faces acute shortage of water.
Nearly every household in the city has a rooftop rainwater harvesting
structure. Nearly 15-25 per cent of the total water requirement of the
household comes from rooftop water harvesting.

1. Why does Shillong need to harvest rainwater?

Ans: The Bay of Bengal Branch of SW monsoon winds shed its
maximum moisture on the windward side of Khasi hills where
Cherrapunji and Mawsynram lie.
As Shillong lies on the northern leeward slopes of the Khasi Hills and
therefore receives less rain.

2. What is the name of the rainfall that is received here?

For further details contact 9769045105, 9820682768,

 9881315725
9433375235

Ans: Orographic rainfall.

3. Telling Numbers: Arabian Sea cyclones more frequent in recent years

These events had significant impacts over various regions of the Indian
subcontinent leading to loss of lives and property as well as adversely
affecting the livelihood of the vulnerable community.
The Indian Express

i. What are the reasons for the increasing number of tropical cyclones?
Ans: a. The increasing temperature of the Arabian Sea during last five
decades due to human activity and global warming causing water to
evaporate faster from the sea creating a low pressure region.
b. The rising temperature enables the Arabian Sea to supply abundant
energy for strengthening the cyclones.

ii. How the tropical cyclones are named?

Ans: In general, tropical cyclones are named according to the rules at
regional level. In the Atlantic and in the Southern hemisphere (Indian
ocean and South Pacific), tropical cyclones receive names in
alphabetical order, and women and men's names are alternated.

4. El Ninos are far costlier than once thought, in the trillions, study says—
and one's brewing now. Meteorologists expect that this El Nino, coupled
with excess warming from climate change, will see the world grapple
with record-high temperatures
Economic Times

a. What is reason for the occurrence of El Nino?

Ans: El Nino is a natural climate pattern borne out of unusually warm
waters in the eastern Pacific.
The southeast trade winds that travel to the intertropical convergence
zone over India become weaker due to El Nino's warming of the tropical
Pacific Ocean.

b. When is El nino is declared?

An El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern
Pacific rise 0.5 °C above the long-term average.

For further details contact 9769045105, 9820682768,

 9881315725
9433375235

5. Reshma a student from Kerala visited Ladakh with her parents. She was
shivering with cold and was surprised at the vast difference in
temperature between her state and Ladakh.

i. What is possible reason for her observation?

Ans: Ladakh is located in the high altitude and as the altitude
increases, the temperature decreases.
Kerala on the other land is a coastal state experiencing moderating
effect of the sea as well as its location close to the equator.

ii. She found, Ladakh very dry too. There was hardly any
vegetation. What are the reasons for such conditions?
Ans: a. Ladakh lies on the leeward side of the SW monsoon winds and
hence receives less rain.
b. Moreover, the state receives its precipitation in the form of snow as
it’s in the high altitude and has low temperature.
c. Due to scanty rain and low temperatures, the plant life is poor in
this region.

Prepared by
Dr. Sanjeev Padvi

For further details contact 9769045105, 9820682768,