OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER

I. Introduction
2. Variations and contrasts (a)
Temperature conditions during summer.
(b) Rainfall (c) Factors affecting
temperature > Location - Influence of
the Himalayas > Altitude Distance from
the sea Western disturbances > The
upper air current or jet streams.
3. Climate of India
4. The four seasons (i) The hot-dry
season (ii) The rainy season (ii) The
season of the retreating monsoon (iv)
The cold season
• Monsoon and its Mechanism
5. Rainfail Regions.
1. INTRODUCTION
The climate of a country is mainly based
on the study of its temperature, rainfall,
atmospheric pressure and direction of
winds.
KEY POINTS
The climate of India is greatly influenced
by two factors
1. Tropica of Cancer (23%N) dividing the
country into two halves - North
Temperate Zone and South Tropical
Zone.
2. Great Himalayan Range separating the
Indian subcontinent from the rest of
Asia, thus preventing the bitter cold
winds from the central Asia from
entering the country.
The vast North-South extent of India
from 8° N to 37° N covers a distance of
about 3200 km. from North to South.
While one can observe the unique
climatic contrasts from North to South,
the one factor which unifies the climate
of India is the fact of monsoons, with
alternation of seasons and reversal of
winds.
Therefore, the climate of India can be
described as Tropical Monsoon Type.
2. VARIATIONS AND CONTRASTS IN
CLIMATE (a) Temperature Conditions
during Summer
The places to the north of Tropic of
Cancer experience continental type of
climate, i.e., very hot during summer
and very cold during winter.
Example: Temperature rises up to 50°C
in Rajasthan during summer, while in
Dras near Kargil the temperatures may
go down to -40°C during winter.
The places to the south of Tropic of
Cancer, being nearer to the Equator,
remain hot with average temperature of
25°C to 27°C throughout the year. They
do not experience winter at all; for
example, Bengaluru in south.
The places situated on the vast east-west
coastline of India experience equable or
maritime type of climate, i.e., neither too
hot nor too cold throughout the year,
due to moderating influence of the sea;
e.g., Mumbai, Goa and Chennai. Hence,
whereas the places in the interior north,
have the annual range of temperature
upto 20°C the coastal region may have
only about 3°C to 5°C.
(b) Rainfall
The annual rainfall varies from about
1187 cm at Mawsynram, a station 16 km
west of Cherrapunji in the state of
Meghalaya, the highest in the world, to
less than 25 cm in Thar desert in
Rajasthan. (See Fig. 4.1).
• The erratic nature of monsoon plays
havoc at times due to unprecedented
rainfall. As a result parts of India may
suffer due to floods, while other places
may have severe drought conditions.
A Textbook of ICSE Geography - X
126
The two coasts of the Indian peninsula
are just in the reverse position with
regard to monsoon winds. The western
coast gets its heaviest rainfall during
June by South-West Monsoon, while
eastern coast remains comparatively dry
during summer. It gets maximum
rainfall during winter
Himalayan regions at higher altitude get
heavy snowfall during winter, while the
places in south India even at higher
altitude never experience any snowfall,
being nearer to the Equator.
(c) Factors affecting the temperature
This sharp contrast in climate is a result
of number of factors affecting
temperature
(i) Location: Latitude-wise the Tropic of
Cancer divides India into temperate or
subtropical North and tropical South
The northernmost part of India is
occupied by high mountains. The places
situated north of Tropic of Cancer
experience extreme or continental type
of climate. The southern peninsula,
enclosed on three sides by the Arabian
Sen, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal
experiences moderate climate with
coastal regions experiencing equable
climate. Temperature in general
increases from north to south.
(ii) Influence of the Himalayas
ac (a) The great Himalayan range
obstructs the bitter cold winds from
Siberia from entering the Indian
Subcontinent.
(b) The Himalayan range intercepts the
rain-bearing southwest monsoon winds,
forcing them to shed their moisture,
resulting in heavy rainfall in the North-
East and Indo-Gangetic Plain.
(iii) Altitude: Temperature decreases
with increasing altitude at the rate of 1°C
for every 166 m. Hence, places situated
at the higher altitude are cooler as
compared to places in the plains.
(iv) Di nce from the sea : The places
situated in the interior have extreme
continental type of climate, whereas
places situated near the sea have
equable climate due to effect of land
breeze and sea breeze caused by
differential rate of heating and cooling
of land and sea.
(v) Western disturbances and tropical
cyclones: During winter, there is an
inflow of low pressure depressionsfor
called western disturbances in north-
west India. These westerly depressions
originate in Mediterranean Sea and
enter India after crossing Iraq,
Afghanistan and Pakistan. They
intensify over north-west India and
move eastward causing rain in Punjab
and Haryana and snowfall in the
Himalayan belt ya 1
During the summer, the whole of the
East Coast of India comes under the
influence of tropical depres
that the same then outle
sions (low pressure systems originating
at the head of the Bay of Bengal). They
cause heavy loss to life and property.
(vi) The upper air currents or jet
streams: The upper a currents or jet
streams in the upper layer of the
atmosphere could determine the onset
and departure of the monsoon
3. CLIMATE OF INDIA
In spite of the great diversity and
variation in Indian climate and
topography due to various reasons
stated earlier, the most important factor
that lends unity to the Indian
Subcontinent is the fact of the
monsoons.
(1) The word 'monsoon' owes its origin
to an Arabic word meaning season. It
was used by sea men several centuries
ago, to describe a system of alternating
winds over the Arabian Sea. These
winds appear to blow from South-West
for six months and from North-East for
another six months. Hence, as they
reverse their directions seasonally, they
are called 'monsoon winds and the
climate as Tropical Monsoon Type.
(ii) Monsoon winds can be called Land
and Sea Breezes on a large-scale as both
are caused due to differential heating of
land and sea.
The winds are called South-West
Monsoon and North East Monsoon on
the basis of the direction from where
they blow
boer
Their main feature is alternation of
seasons which determines the climate of
the Indian Subcontinent.
4. THE FOUR SEASONS
India's tapering peninsular topography
surrounded on three sides by water
plays an important role in determining
the course of monsoon winds, resulting
in unique climate of India consisting of
four seasons.
On the basis of monsoon variations, the
year may be divided into four main
seasons :
(1) The Hot Dry Season (March to May)
(11) The Rainy Season or the season of
South-West Monsoon (June to
September)
(i) The Season of the Retreating South-
West Monsoon (October to November)
(iv) The Cold Season or the season of the
North-East Monsoon (December to
February).
(1) The hot dry season (March to May)
The hot season commences in March
and continues till the end of May.
1. Temperature conditions over the land:
During Summer Solstice, the sun shines
directly overhead Tropic of Cancer
which divides India into two halves.
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128
o Nome 3 stoomA LOKICH OPLOY
• Mainland of India experiences intense
heat during the months of March to May.
Low pressure conditions develop on the
mainland of India while high pressure
conditions prevail over the surrounding
seas.
• There is a steady increase in
temperature from south to north with
the highest in the interior. Rajasthan
experiences highest temperature
between 45°C to 50°C. In central India,
average temperature is about 45°C and
in south about 38°C to 40°C in the month
of May.
2. Pressure conditions and wind
direction : As the whole country
simmers in heat, the low pressure
conditions over land become more
severe and a low pressure trough
develops between Thar Desert and
Chhotanagpur Plateau. On the other
hand, the surrounding seas are cooler,
hence they develop high pressure
conditions.
• The south-east trade winds, which
blow from southeast to south-west in
southern India are attracted towards the
mainland of India. They blow from
southwest to north-east. Here the hot
season ends and South-West Monsoon
sets in the month of June.
3. Storms during hot weather season: As
the warmest area shifts from Deccan
towards north-west India in the month
of May, it builds up a low pressure
trough between Thar Desert to
Chotanagpur Plateau. Winds from the
regions, surrounding low trough area
are drawn into circulation. These winds
give rise to thunderstorms with strong
dusty winds, often bringing a shower of
rain mostly in Punjab, Haryana and
Uttar Pradesh. Local winds during hot
season
(a) Kali Baisakhi: In West Bengal, these
local winds are called Kali Baisakhi
meaning the calamity of the month of
Baisakhi'. They are also called
'Norwesters' because they usually blow
in north-west direction.
• These local winds are accompanied by
thunderstorms and bring heavy rainfall.
This rain in the month of April/May is
good for tea crop in Assam and jute and
rice in West Bengal.
(b) Loo Loo are hot dusty dry winds,
some of them called 'sand storms' which
blow particularly in the month of May
and June in the Northern Plain. The
fierce heat with temperature rising upto
45° to 50°C may cause sunstroke which
may be fatal.
(c) Mango Showers: These occur in the
South India during April/May. They
bring a little rain which is Important for
mango, tea and coffee plants. Hence, the
name 'mango showers'. These are
premonsoon showers. They are called
Mango showers in Kerala and Cherry
Blossom in Karnataka, They are very
good for coffee plantation in Karnataka,
KEY POINTS
Characteristics features of hot season
Hot dry season is marked by dry
weather and excessive heat.
In this season, the sun shines directly
overhead the Tropic of Cancer.
The whole of tropical India, south of
Himalayas, experiences very high
temperature.
• The range of temperature is very high
in the interior.
• The range of temperature is low over
the coastal regions as they experience
equable climate.
Thunderstorms accompanied by dusty
winds are common.
The brief spell of showers experienced
at the time is very useful for tea crop in
Assam, rice in West Bengal and mango,
tea and coffee in the south.
(ii) The rainy season or the season of the
South-West Monsoon (June to
September)
Onset of the monsoon over the Malabar
Coast in Kerala is a spectacular event.
There is miraculous change in the
general scenario of the country. The
landscape seems suddenly transformed
with lush green fields and overflowing
rivers. (See Fig. 4.2)
MONSOON AND ITS MECHANISM
The word 'Monsoon' has been derived
from the Arabic word 'Mausim' which
means season. Originally, the word
'monsoon' was used by Arab navigators
several centuries ago, to describe a
system of seasonal reversal of winds
along the shores of the Indian Ocean,
especially over the Arabian sea, in which
the wind blow from the south west to
north east during summer and north
east to south-west during winter. In
other words, "monsoon are periodic
(seasonal) winds in which there is a
complete reversal of wind direction
every six months".
ORIGIN OF MONSOON
As stated earlier, monsoons are basically
land and sea breezes on a large-scale.
The sun shines overhead the Tropic of
Cancer from March to May.
. By the end of May, the differential
heating of the land and sea brings about
a seasonal low pressure on the mainland
of India and high pressure on the
surrounding water bodies.
Climate of India
120
hingedwo branches of South West
monsoon whe
Soutie1 Bew
The low pressure area attracts the
South-East Trade winds blowing in the
Southern Hemisphere.
As such after crossing Equator these
winds are deflected towards the Indian
subcontinent as SouthWest Monsoon
winds. They pick up moisture from the
Arabian Sea.
• They are named as South-West
Monsoon as they blow from South-West
to North-East.
• The advance of South-West Monsoon
can be seen in any satellite picture
between 1st to 5th June every year.
KEY POINTS
Characteristics of South-West Monsoon
• South West Monsoon winds are
periodic winds.
• They blow from South-West to North-
East during summer.
• South West Monsoon does not cause
uniform rainfall in the country.
. These winds are erratic, unpredictable,
irregular and unevenly distributed,
. These winds are orographic in nature.
They give heavy rain along the westem
side of Western Ghats.
South West Monsoon occurs only for
four months, June to September.
This rainfall by South West Monsoon is
called relief rainfall or orographic
rainfall.
• The Deccan plateau lying in the
rainshadow of Western Ghats receives
very little rainfall.
The South-West Monsoon divides into
two branches due to tapering
topography of peninsular India.
Forobier 1. The Arabian Sea Branch 2.
The Bay of Bengal Branch
Ces brauch
Love Jive seccions 1. The Arabian Sea
Branch (a) The Arabian Sea branch of
the South-West Monsoon strikes the
western coast of India in Kerala on 1st
June. It gives very heavy rainfall along
the windward side of Western Ghats as
these winds are unable to cross over
Western Ghats.
(b) This rainfall is called orographic or
relief rainfall.
& bengar brough
(c) The Deccan Plateau lying in the rain
shadow of the Western Ghats receives
very little rainfall; for example,
Mahabaleshwar situated on the western
side of Western Ghats, receives 250 cm
of rainfall, whereas Pune, only a few km
away, receives less than 70 cm.
(d) The duration and amount of rainfall
goes on
decreasing as Arabian Sea Branch moves
northward. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to
travel from Kanniyakumari to Shiwaliks.
) Arabian Sea branch gives very little
rainfall to Rajasthan due to two reasons
(e
• The Aravali's alignment is parallel to
rainbearing South-West Monsoon Winds
and as such they do not offer any
obstruction Furthermore, these hills are
very low.
• The moisture-laden winds passing over
Rajasthan do not saturate as the heat in
the desert region increases their
capacity to hold moisture. Thus, they
reach the Shiwaliks without shedding
their moisture.
(1) The total volume of the Arabian Sea
branch is much more powerful, as much
as three times greater than the Bay of
Bengal branch due to two reasons -
(1) The Arabian Sea branch is much
larger than the Bay of Bengal branch.
(ii) The whole of the Arabian Sea branch
is used up by the entire country whereas
only through South-East part of its
Myanmar and India, the Thailand.
(g) The Arabian Sea branch gets
exhausted by the time it reaches Punjab
and sheds its moisture after the Bay of
Bengal branch at the foothills of the
Himalayas.
2. The Bay of Bengal Branch
(a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands and
Sri Lanka are the first to receive rainfall
from the Bay of Bengal branch.
(b) The Bay of Bengal branch advances
northeastward, after picking moisture
from the Bay of Bengal.
(c) The main target of the Bay of Bengal
is a low pressure area in north
Myanmar. However, a part of it is
intercepted by the north-east Himalayas
including Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
(d) Mawsynram, 16 km west of
Cherrapunji, gets the heaviest annual
rainfall in the world (1187.3 cm). This is
relief rainfall. Shillong on the other
hand, lying in the rain shadow of Khasi
Hills gets little rainfall.
(e) The remaining portion of the Bay of
Bengal branch is deflected towards west
along the
이
130 In spite Avavarps Rajhastar dres
not greceive am live reason
A Textbook of ICSE Geography - X
"
Himalayas. However, the rainfall goes
on decreasing as it proceeds through the
Ganga valley. The current finally merges
with the Arabian Sea branch and sheds
remaining moisture at the foothills of
the Himalayas. On its way it gives
rainfall to West Bengal, Indo-Gangetic
Plain, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and
Punjab.
KEY POINTS
Characteristic Features of South West
Monsoon
(a) The distribution of rainfall is not
uniform. The SouthWest Monsoon
causes rainfall in most of the country
except in Tamil Nadu. The duration and
amount of rainfall varies from 2 to 4
months. Even the amount of rainfall
varies from region to region.
(b) Erratic nature of South-West
Monsoon is evident from the fact that
sometimes parts of the country may be
facing fury of floods due to heavy rains,
mostly in the plains, while the other
parts may be reeling under severe
drought conditions due to scanty
rainfall; e.g., mostly north-west
Rajasthan and rain shadow areas of
Deccan.
(c) The most important aspect of Indian
rainfall is that it is largely controlled by
orography. The effects caused due to the
Himalayas and the Western Ghats on the
amount and distribution of rainfall and
the inability of the Aravalis to cause
rainfall in Rajasthan has been discussed
earlier. Thus, India would have been a
vast desert but for the size and position
of the Himalayas and the Western Ghats.
India has varied relief features.
(d) Due to the local variations of heat
and moisture during the months of
October and November, tropical
depressions (low pressure systems)
originate at the head of the Bay of
Bengal. These are local depressions and,
therefore, whenever the temperature
crosses 42°C to 43°C, convectional
rainfall occurs. This is more common in
south India especially on the eastern
coast. (e) In spite of all-round
development, India still remains an
agricultural country and a major part of
its economy depends on the intensity of
monsoons. All the hydroelectric projects,
the perennial and non-perennial rivers
of north and south, canals, wells, lakes
and irrigation projects all over India are
affected in case of failure of monsoons.
The variability of rainfall in time and
space plays havoc with the agricultural
production of the country. Therefore, the
life of the Indian farmer revolves
around the monsoon regime.
(iii) The Retreating South-West Monsoon
(October November)
By 1st September, with the apparent
movement of the sun towards south, the
low pressure in central India starts
weakening, and is no longer able to
attract the monsoon winds towards
land. During Autumn equinox when the
sun shines directly over Equator, the
high pressure begins to build over
mainland and subsequently with low
pressure
over the sea, the South-West Monsoon
begins to withdraw from the mainland
of India.
• The withdrawal of the south west
monsoon is a much slower process than
its onset. It is just the reversal of the
process. As the South-West Monsoon had
travelled towards the north, now it
retreats towards the south. The
retreating South West Monsoon blows
from North East to South West. (See Fig.
4.3)
. This process starts in October and is
over by the end of November.
. By the end of September, the South-
West Monsoon withdraws from Punjab
and Uttar Pradesh, by October from
central India and finally by the end of
November from south India.
• The Retreating Monsoon causes rain in
coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, the
eastern coasts, the south of Krishna
Delta and in the interior districts.
KEY POINTS
Characteristic Features of Retreating
South-West Monsoon
(a) The retreat of S.W. Monsoon takes
place due to withdrawal of the S.W.
Monsoon from the mainland of India.
(b) This process starts in October and is
over by the end of November.
(c) The retreating monsoon winds (d)
These winds pick up moisture from Bay
of Bengal and cause winter rain in
October-November, in coastal region of
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and
coromandal coast.
blow from N.E. to S.W.
(e) Tropical cyclones or depressions (low
pressure system) are common
originating over Bay of Bengal. They
cause tremendous loss of life and
property.
(e) The withdrawal of S.W. monsoon
leads to clear cloudless sky, high
temperature and high humidity. Thus
this sultry and oppressive weather is
often referred to as "October heat".
(iv) The Cold Season or the Season of the
North-East Monsoon (December to
March)
The cold weather season commences at
the end of November and continues till
March. Clear sky, pleasant weather, low
temperature and humidity, high range of
temperature and slow northern winds
are the chief characteristics of this
season.
1. Temperature Conditions
(a) Temperature Conditions in the North:
The northern parts of the country have a
mean temperature below 21°C and
much lower in Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and
Haryana.
Climate of India
131
* January is the coldest month when the
temperature in Gangetic Plain varies
from 2.5°C to 175°C
The night temperature falls below
freezing point in many hilly areas. Dras
valley in Kashmir near Kargil is the
coldest place in India with minimum
temperature recorded as 45°C. It would
have been much colder but for the great
range of Himalayas shielding the
subcontment from the cold, winter
winds from Siberia.
However, many places in the
northernmost parts of Himalayas
experience heavy snowfall which results
in cold wave enveloping the
surrounding areas of Punjab, Haryana
and Northern Plains.
(b) Temperature Conditions in the South:
The areas south of the Tropic of Cancer
remain warm and do not have distinctly
defined winter weather.
• The isotherm of 20°C runs in cast-west
direction, roughly parallel to the Tropic
of Cancer and divides India climatically
in the northern and southern parts. In
the south of this isotherm the
temperatures always remain above 21°C
and in extreme south above 25°C.
January temperature at
Thiruvananthapuram is 31°C.
. In the coastal region, too, there is very
little change in range of temperature.
Temperature remains above 21°C
throughout the year.
2. Pressure Conditions and Wind
Directions
As discussed earlier, because of the
apparent migration of the sun towards
south, shining directly over the Tropic of
Capricorn, the Indian subcontinent
receives oblique rays of the sun during
the winter.
. As a result, high pressure builds up on
the land with low pressure centered on
the water bodies surrounding the
peninsula. As such, offshore winds start
blowing towards low pressure areas
centered in the Bay of Bengal.
. These winds do not blow towards the
Arabian Sea because of the Deccan
Plateau. Hence, they are forced to blow
via Indo-Gangetic Plain towards the Bay
of Bengal. As these winds blow from
northeast to south-west they are called
the North-East Monsoon.
3. Rainfall during the Cold Season
Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu:
During winter, dry offshore, North-East
Monsoon Winds blow from high
pressure region to low pressure,
centered at the head of the Bay of
Bengal.
. These winds do not bring rains to
Ganga valley but as
they proceed after crossing the Bay of
Hengala gather enough moisture. As
they strike the Coronas dal Coast on
castern India, Tamil Nadu and souther
tip of Andhra Pradesh get heavy rainfall,
accompanies by stormy winds.
They cause heavy damage to standing
crops and means of transport. Tamil
Nadu receives nearly 70 cm rainfall
during the winter season.
•The rainfall is highest at Nagapattinam
and Toppuc turai, nearly 100 cm, but
goes on decreasing rapid in land as it
reaches the interior giving only 3-4 c of
rainfall to Karnataka Plateau.
Winter rainfall in the North-West: In the
north, even though the sky is generally
clear, the spell of fine weather is often
broken by light rainfall which occur due
to westerly depressions or Temperate
cyclones originating in the
Mediterranean Sea.
The precipitation is in the form of snow
in higher regions of Jammu and Kashmir
and Himachal Pradesh
They give up to 10 to 15 cm rainfall to
Punjab. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as
they proceed eastward causing cold
wave in the surrounding regions.
This rainfall is cyclonic rain and is
beneficial to crops, especially wheat and
barley.
Characteristic features of the Cold
Weather Season
(a) This is the season when North-East
Monsoon takes over from the South-
West Monsoon. Unlike the South-West
Monsoon, the onset of the North-East
Monsoon is not so clearly defined.
(b). A characteristic feature of the cold
weather season is the inflow of western
disturbances originating from
Mediterranean sea. The frequency of
these disturbances is 4 to 6 per month
between December and January. Winter
rainfall is caused by the depressions that
are associated with the western
disturbances moving out from the
Mediterranean sea.
. They give up to 10 to 15 cm rainfall to
Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and
Western Uttar Pradesh, as they proceed
eastward, causing cold wave and
snowfall in surrounding regions around
western Himalayas.
(c) The rabi crops wheat in north-west
India and rice in Tamil Nadu, depend on
winter rainfall. Hence. it is of great
economic importance affecting the
production of these crops.
(d) The cold weather season in the
country is generally
A Textbook of ICSE Geography - X
132
marked by fine cool weather, low
humidity and large variation in the
range of temperature.
5. RAINFALL REGIONS
Areas with over 200 cm of rain
(a) North of Tropic of Cancer
Areas: (i) southern slopes of eastern
Himalayas. (ii) the Garo, Khasi, Jaintia
and Lushai Hills, commonly known as
the Assam Hills.
States Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal.
Bangladesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Note Mawsynram, situated 16 km from
Cherrapunji in Meghalaya state receives
the highest annual rainfall in the world.
(1187.3 cm)
(b) South of Tropic of Cancer
Areas Western slopes of the Western
Ghats or windward side of Western
Ghats comprising Konkan and Malabar
coast. States: Western coastal plains of
Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa and
Kamataka. Areas with 100 - 200 cm
rainfall (a) In the North
Areas: Middle Ganga Valley.
States Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya
Pradesh. (b) In the South
Areas Northern part of Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana and southern parts of Tamil
Nadu, Parts of Western Ghats and
eastern Maharashtra.
States Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Areas with 50 - 100 cm rainfall
(a) In the North
Areas: Upper Ganga Valley, eastern
Rajasthan. States Parts of Punjab,
Haryana and Kashmir with very short
rainy season. :
(b) In the South
Areas Southern Deccan comprising the
plateau regions of Karnataka.
States Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and
Tamil Nadu.
Areas with less than 50 cm rainfall
(a) In the North -
Areas Western Rajasthan, southern
Punjab and northernmost part of
Kashmir.
(b) In the South
Areas Regions of the Deccan in the rain
shadow of Western Ghats.
On the whole, annual rainfall decreases
towards north and westward in
northern parts of the subcontinent and
over peninsular India the rainfall
decreases towards the interior.
REASON OUT THE FOLLOWING
1. Kolkata recelves heavier rain than
Ans. Kolkata is situated in the east in the
Ganga Delta region, whereas Lucknow is
located in the interior, in the middle
course of Ganga. The Bay of Bengal
branch of S.W. monsoon gives more rain
to Kolkata and gets exhausted by the
time it reaches Lukcknow. Hence,
Kolkata receives more rainfall.
Lucknow.
2. The summer monsoon winds blow
over the Arabian sea from the
southwest.
Ans. As the S.E. trade winds in the
southern hemisphere cross Equator,
they are deflected to the right (according
to Ferrel's law) due to coriolis force and
blow towards the west coast over the
Arabian Sea from the southwest.
3. Thar is a desert.
Ans. The Arabian Sea branch of South
West monsoon, blow parallel to Aravali
Hills, so they do not intercept winds.
Therefore, Thar is a desert.
4. Goa receives heavier rainfall than
Puducherry.
Ans. Goa receives heavier rainfall than
Puducherry because it receives is
situated on the western coast of India
and so rainfall from S.W. monsoon,
whereas Puducherry on the eastern
coast receives very little rainfall by
South West Monsoon. It mostly receives
rainfall from the retreating monsoon.
The Konkan coast experiences
orographic rainfall.
5. Ans. The Konkan Coast lies on the
windward side of the Western Ghats and
hence receives heavy rain from the S.W.
Monsoon winds of Arabian Sea branch.
The windward side of an area is the
slope of a range that gets the full blast of
an onshore wind and hence get plenty of
rainfall.
6. Jaipur has higher annual range of
temperature than Mumbai.
Ans. Jaipur lies in continental interior
whereas Mumbai lies close to the sea.
Jaipur is far away from the influence of
sea/ocean. Thus Jaipur has extreme
temperature but Mumbai has equable
climate. Jaipur is landlocked place! area.
7. Kanpur has extreme temperature
conditions.
Ans. Kanpur lies in the interior, far from
moderating effect of the sea.
8. Kochi is warmer than Mumbai even
though both lie on the western coast of
India.
Ans. Kochi is warmer because it is closer
to the Equator than Mumbai.
9. The Ganga plain gets the monsoon
rain much later than the west coast of
India.
Ans. That is because the monsoon winds
come to India from the south west and
so reach the west coast before it can
reach the Ganga plain.
10. Mangalore experiences more rainfall
than Mysore.
Ans. Mangalore receives more rainfall
than Mysore since it lies on the western
side of Westem Ghats, which is the
windward side. Hence, it gets heavy
rainfall from S.W. Monsoon.
Mysore on the eastern side lies on the
leeward side and hence remains in
rainshadow area.
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