CLIMATE OF INDIA

CLIMATE OF INDIA

1. What are the characteristics of the Monsoon winds?

            The Monsoon winds are moisture-laden winds and cause heavy rainfall. They are seasonal winds.

(4 marks): By the end of May when the weather is at its hottest in India, low pressure area develops in Rajasthan and the north west. South East trade winds from the South of the equator blow towards it but due to the rotation of the earth (Farrel’s law) change direction and become south west winds. Since they blow from across the ocean, they are moisture laden and are known as Monsoon winds. They cause heavy rainfall to greater parts of India.

2. Which factors influence the climate of India?

            The climate of India has been influenced by its position or location, size and physical features. Monsoon winds are also influential over the climate of India.

3. “Indian agriculture is a “gamble with monsoon’. Why?

            Climate and the south west monsoon winds control agricultural activities in India. They have an indirect bearing on crop patterns and economic activities of farmers. Majority of the people in India are farmers. If monsoons fail, the crops fail and if they are heavy, there are floods. If monsoons are good enough there is a good harvest. Thus, there is maximum dependence of agriculture on monsoons. Hence the saying – agriculture is a gamble with monsoons.

4. From which winds do the Western Ghats get rainfall? How?

            The Western Ghats get rainfall from the South-West monsoon winds.

            They blow from the equator across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. As these winds blow across the west coast, they are stopped by the Western Ghats and thus giving heavy rainfall.

5. Rainfall occurs in few places in India during summer. Give reasons.

            During summer no major wind systems blow over India. Therefore most parts of the country do not get rainfall at this time. But a few places get rainfall due to local heating and convection currents.         

6. How does the South-West Monsoon winds bring rain to a greater part of India?

            By the end of May when the weather is at its hottest in India, low pressure area develops in Rajasthan and the north west. South East trade winds from the South of the equator blow towards it but due to the rotation of the earth (Farrel’s law) change direction and become south west winds. Since they blow from across the ocean, they are moisture laden and are known as Monsoon winds. They cause heavy rainfall to greater parts of India.

            The Peninsular shape of India divides the South-West Monsoon winds into two branches namely the Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch. The Arabian Sea branch strikes the Western Ghats and gives heavy rainfall to the western side. The rain decreases as it advances towards Madhya Pradesh. The Bay of Bengal branch moves towards Myanmar and the north-eastern part of India, the foothills of the Himalayas and the Northern Plains and causes heavy rainfall. The rain decreases as the winds move westwards. With the exception of Tamil Nadu, most of India’s rainfall comes from the South West Monsoons.

7. What are Retreating Monsoon winds?

            The South-West Monsoon winds start retreating from the beginning of October due to decrease in temperature and increase in pressure and they are called Retreating Monsoon winds.

8. What are Mango showers? Where does it occur?

            The pre-monsoon showers that occur in April-May due to local heating and convection currents are called Mango showers. They occur in Kerala.

9. Which monsoon winds bring rain to Coromandel coast? How? (March 2006)

            The north-east monsoon winds bring rain to Coromandel coast.

            The north-east monsoon winds blow from the land and are dry. However, they pick up moisture while crossing the Bay of Bengal and give rainfall to Coromandel coast..