CLASS X GEOGRAPHY

CLIMATE (2)
Give one geographical reason for each of the following:- ( questions from book)
i)Mumbai is warmer than Kanpur in December.
Mumbai is located along the coast while Kanpur is located to the interior, far away
from the sea. Hence Mumbai experiences the moderating influence of land and sea breeze and
is warm in December while Kanpur experiences continental climate and is cold in winter.
ii) Punjab gets rain in winter.
Punjab receives rainfall in winter from western disturbances (temperate cyclone)
originating over the Mediterranean sea, carried towards India by westerly jet stream.
iii) The Indo Gangetic plain gets some rainfall in the months of December and January.
Same as ii
IV) When the Malabar coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast is
comparatively dry.
The Malabar coast is located on the windward slope of the Western Ghats, hence
receives heavy rainfall from the Arabian sea branch of the south west monsoon winds in July.
The Tamil Nadu coast is located in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats, as a result
receives little rainfall from the Arabian Sea branch of the south west monsoon winds. Moreover
the Bay of Bengal branch of the south west monsoon winds blow parallel to the Tamil Nadu
coast and do not bring rainfall. Hence Tamil Nadu coast remains comparatively dry in July.
v) The Northern plains of India have a Continental type of climate.
The Northern Plains of India is located to the interior, far away from the
moderating influence of the land and sea breeze. Hence the Northern Plains of India
experiences continental climate that is summer is very hot and winter is very cold.
vi) Central Maharashtra receives less rainfall than Western Maharashtra.
Central Maharashtra is located in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats while
Western Maharashtra is located in the windward side of the Western Ghats. Hence Western
Maharashtra receives heavy rainfall from the Arabian Sea branch of the south west monsoon
winds while Central Maharashtra receives less rainfall.
vii) Variations in the type of climate in different regions of India.
Relief, altitude of a place, distance from the sea are the factors which influence the climate of a
place and vary from region to region. Hence different regions of India experience different
types of climate. 1.
viii) Most parts of India receive rainfall between June to September.
During summer season (June-September), the South West Monsoon winds blow from high
pressure over Indian Ocean towards the low pressure area over north western part of Indian
subcontinent. South West Monsoon winds carry enormous amount moisture from the ocean
and bring rainfall to most parts of India.
ix) South West Monsoon withdraw from northern India in October.
In early October, the Monsoon trough of low pressure over the Ganga plains becomes
weaker due to the apparent southward movement of the Sun. The low pressure trough is
gradually replaced by high pressure. Hence the South West Monsoon winds start retreating
from northern India in October.
x) Pune receives less rainfall than Mumbai.
Pune is located on the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats whereas Mumbai is
located on the windward side of the Western Ghats. Hence Pune receives less rainfall from the
Arabian sea branch of the South West Monsoon winds while Mumbai receives heavy rainfall.
xi) Tropical cyclones bring heavy rainfall while Temperate cyclones bring light rainfall.
A Tropical cyclone is mainly formed when a low pressure area develops over the sea,
due to high temperature and this results in high humidity, followed by heavy rainfall.
Temperate cyclones develop in temperate zone where the temperature is not very high hence
low pressure is not very low and pressure gradient is gentle resulting in low wind speed and less
humidity. Moreover different sectors of a temperate cyclone have different temperature due to
its large size which lead to continuous light rainfall for several days.
xii) Kerala has a tropical climate while Punjab has a continental climate.
Kerala is located to the south of Tropic of Cancer in the tropical zone and along the
west coast of India. Hence Kerala experiences high temperature, high humidity and heavy
rainfall from the Arabian sea branch of the South West Monsoon winds. Punjab is located to
the interior, far away from the moderating influence of sea and experiences continental climate
with severe heat alternating with severe cold.
xiii) The monsoon rain is unevenly distributed in India.
Different factors like temperature and pressure conditions of a place, direction of relief
features, direction of moisture bearing South West Monsoon winds, cyclonic depression etc
influence the distribution of rainfall which vary from place to place in India. 2
xiv) Excessive cold in north India during winter season.
North India has inland location and does not experience the moderating influence
of the land and sea breeze hence has continental climate with very cold winter followed by very
hot summer.
xv) Most of India remains dry during the North East Monsoon season.
Most parts of India do receive rainfall during the North East Monsoon (winter)
season because North East Monsoon winds which blow over India during winter are dry
offshore winds.
xvi) The northern plains of India do not freeze in winter.
Location of the Himalayas to the north of India and its east to west alignment
prevent the severely cold Siberian winds from entering the northern plains in winter. Hence
northern plains do not freeze in winter.
xvii) In spite of the Aravalli Range, Rajasthan receives scanty rainfall.
In Rajasthan, the Aravalli Range is parallel to the South West Monsoon winds. So it
is unable to stop the South West Monsoon winds. Moreover Aravalli range is lower in height
and does not act as a physical barrier. Hence Rajasthan receives scanty rainfall.
xviii) Patna receives heavier rainfall than Delhi.
The Bay of Bengal branch of the South West Monsoon winds after striking the
Arakan Hills of Myanmar and the Himalayas get deflected towards the low pressure area
located in the north western part of India. Due to this reason, the South West Monsoon winds
blow in an east to west direction over the northern (Gangetic) plains of India. As Patna located
to the eastern side of the northern (Gangetic) plains, receives more rainfall than Delhi, located
to the west.
xix) Western Rajasthan receives no rain from the Arabian sea branch of the South West
Monsoon winds.
Same as xvii.
xx) Mangalore is not cold even in the month of December.
Mangalore (in Karnataka) is located along the west coast of India and
experiences the moderating influence of the land and sea breeze. Mangalore enjoys maritime
climate hence winter is not cold and summer is not hot.
xxi) Even in summer Shimla is cooler than Delhi.
Shimla (in Himachal Pradesh) is a hill station, located at a high altitude and Delhi is
located in the plains. 3
Temperature decreases by 1 degree celcius with every 166mts increase in height. Hence
mountains are cooler than plains.
xxii) Western part of Rajasthan is a desert region.
In Rajasthan, the Aravalli range is parallel to the direction of the South West
Monsoon winds from Arabian Sea. Hence South West Monsoon winds do not shed rainfall to
Rajasthan. Moreover western part of Rajasthan lies in the rain shadow region of the Aravalli
range, hence receives no rainfall from the Bay of Bengal branch of the South West Monsoon
winds.
xxiii) Kochi has a lower annual range of temperature than Agra.
Kochi (in Kerala) is located along the west coast of India and experiences the
moderating influence of land and sea breeze. Hence Kochi records low range of temperature.
Agra (in UP) is located to the interior, far away from the moderating influence of the sea,
experiences continental climate with large range of temperature.
xxiv) The Northern plains and Punjab receive cyclonic rain in winter.
The Northern plains and Punjab receive rainfall in winter from western
disturbances (temperate cyclones) originating over Mediterranean Sea.
xxv) Kanyakumari experiences an equable climate.
Kanyakumari (in Tamil Nadu) has coastal location and experiences moderating
influence of land and sea breeze. Hence Kanyakumari has maritime or equable climate.
xxvi) Chennai has a lower annual range of temperature than Lucknow.
Chennai (in Tamil Nadu) is located on the east coast of India and experiences
moderating influence of land and sea breeze and hence records lower annual range of
temperature. Lucknow (in UP) is located to the interior and hence has continental climate with
high annual range of temperature.
xxvii) Mangalore experiences more rainfall than Mysore.
Mangalore (in Karnataka) is located on the windward side of the Western Ghats
while Mysore (in Karnataka) is located in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats. So
Mangalore receives heavy rainfall from the Arabian Sea branch of the South West Monsoon
winds while Mysore receives less rainfall.
xxviii) Chennai receives less rain than Thiruvananthapuram although it has more rainy days.
Chennai receives rain in summer (rainy) season as well as in winter season so it
has more rainy days. Thiruvananthapuram (in Kerala) is located on the windward side of the
Western Ghats and receives very heavy rainfall from the Arabian Sea branch of the 4
South West Monsoon winds. Since Chennai is located in the rain shadow region of the Western
Ghats, it does not receive much rainfall from the Arabian Sea branch of the South West
Monsoon winds. Moreover the Bay of Bengal branch of the South West Monsoon winds blow
parallel to the coast of Tamil Nadu and do not bring rainfall to Chennai.
xxix) Shillong gets less than 200cm of rainfall in a year while Cherrapunji receives more than
1250 cm of rainfall.
Cherrapunji (in Meghalaya) is located on the windward side of the Garo hills (the Meghalaya
plateau) and receives very heavy rainfall from the Bay of Bengal branch of the South West
Monsoon winds. Shillong is located in the rain shadow region of the Garo hills, so receives less
rainfall.
xxx) Jaipur has a higher annual range of temperature than Mumbai.
Jaipur (in Rajasthan) is located to the interior and does not receive the moderating
influence of land and sea breeze. Hence Jaipur has continental climate with high annual range
of temperature. Mumbai (in Maharashtra) is located along the west coast of India and has
equable/maritime climate with low annual range of temperature.
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*Annual range of temperature = Maximum temperature recorded in summer – Minimum

temperature recorded in winter.
For example:- 33.1°c-23.1°c = 10 °c.
*If the range of temperature is 15°or less, the place/station is located along the coast.
*If the range of temperature is more than 15°c, the place/station is located to the interior, far
from the sea.
*If a place is located along the coast, it has maritime/equable/moderate climate that is summer
is warm (not hot) and winter is cool (not cold). [low annual range of temperature]
*If a place is located to the interior, it has continental/extreme climate that is summer is very
hot and winter is very cold. [high annual range of temperature].
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*Mumbai, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram areo located along the west coast (Arabian
sea coast) of India --- receives heavy rainfall from the Arabian sea branch of the South West
Monsoon winds during the rainy season (June – September).
*Chennai is located along the east coast ( Bay of Bengal coast) of India ---receives maximum
rainfall during the retreating monsoon season (October –November) from the retreating
monsoon winds. Chennai also receives rainfall in winter from North East /winter. 5
Monsoon winds. Chennai receives little rainfall from the Arabian sea branch of the South West
Monsoon winds in summer/rainy season (June –September).
*If a place/station receives maximum rainfall during the retreating monsoon season (October-
November)…..the place is located along the east coast of India.
*If a place/station receives maximum rainfall in summer/rainy season (June -September)
……..the place is located along the west coast of India.