1

1) Temperature: - Degree of

heat present in a substance is

called temperature.

2) Insolation: - The incoming

solar radiation is called

insolation. It is in the form of

short radiation waves.

3) Radiation: - It is the travelling

of heat in the form of

electromagnetic waves.
 2

4) Wind: - Air in motion is called

wind.

5) Precipitation: - Falling down

of water in any form on the

surface of the Earth.

6) Rainfall: - Falling down of

water on the surface of the

Earth in the form of water

droplets.
 3

7) Sleet: - Falling down of

snowflakes and water droplets

together on the surface of the

Earth.

8) Hailstorm: - Hail is a type of

precipitation, or water in the
atmosphere. Hail is formed
when drops of water freeze
together in the cold upper
regions of thunderstorm
clouds. These chunks of ice are
called hailstones.

9) Sun Shower: - A sun-shower

or sun shower is a

meteorological phenomenon

in which rain falls while the

sun is shining.
 4

10) Humidity: - The amount of

water vapour present in the air

is called humidity.

11) Evaporation: - It is a process

by which water changes into

water vapour due to heating.

12) Condensation: - It is the

process in which water vapour

in the air changes into water.

 5

13) Normal Lapse Rate: - The

decrease in temperature with

increase in height in the

Troposphere is called normal

lapse rate. Its ratio is 1°C for

every 165 M of height.

14) Inversion of Temperature: -

The increase in temperature

with increase in height is

called inversion of

temperature.

15) Snow Line: - The general

definition of the term ‘Snow

Line’ is the boundary which

separates areas which are

covered with snow and areas

that are not.

 6

16) Isopleth: - A broad

term for any line on
a weather map
connects points
with equal values of
a particular
atmospheric
variable
(temperature, dew
point, etc.).
Isotherms, isobars,
etc. are all examples
of isopleths.

17) Isobars: - These are

the imaginary lines
drawn on map to
show the places
having equal
atmospheric
pressure.

18) Isotherms: - These

are the imaginary
lines drawn on map
to show the places
having equal
temperature.
 7

19) Tsunami: - Tsunamis are giant

waves caused by Earthquakes

or volcanic eruptions under

the sea.

20) Extreme Climate: - The

climate which has high annual
range of temperature and
great variation in the amount
of rainfall over the year is
known as extreme climate. It is
also called continental or
interior climate as it is found in
the interior parts of the
continents. For examples,
Jodhpur, Delhi and Kanpur.
 8

1) The closest distance of Earth from the Sun is 147,098,291 (147 million km) on 3rd January every year
and it is called perihelion.
2) The farthest distance of Earth from the Sun is 152,098,233 (152 million km) on 4 July every year it is
called Aphelion.
3) The average distance between the sun and the Earth 1495 98262 (149 million km) is called the
astronomical unit.
4) Mawsynram Recognized as the wettest place in the world, Located in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya,
Mawsynram records 11,872 mm of rainfall during Monsoons.
5) Cherrapunji Recognized as the second highest rainfall in world and India, Located at the conflux of two
gorges in the hill, it experiences 11,619 mm rainfall every year.
6) Agumbe is a small village of Tirthahalli Taluk that comes under the Malnad region. It experiences the
highest rainfall in Karnataka. It receives the highest rainfall in southern India.
7) Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in the Western Ghats, located in the Satara district of Maharashtra; it’s
one of the highest rainfall places in India.
8) Pasighat Home of River Brahmaputra, Pasighat is known as the ‘Gateway of Arunachal Pradesh’.
Pasighat experiences an annual rainfall of 4,388 mm.
9) The Five Wettest Places in The World
Place Location Average Annual Rainfall
1 Mawsynram Meghalaya State, India 11,871mm
2 Cherrapunji Meghalaya State, India 11,777mm
3 Tutunendo Colombia, South America 11,770mm
4 Cropp River New Zealand 11,516mm
5 San Antonio de Ureca Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea 10,450mm
10) Highest ground surface temperature was recorded 93.9°C on 15 July 1972 at Furnace Creek Ranch in
United States.
11) In May 2016, Phalodi in Rajasthan recorded India's highest-ever temperature of 51°C s (123.8°F).
12) The lowest natural temperature ever directly recorded at ground level on Earth is −89.2°C (−128.6 °F;
184.0 K) at the Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica on 21 July 1983 by ground measurements.
13) Norway (Scandinavian country) is known as the land of midnight sun because the northern part of the
country is located above the Arctic Circle, where the sun shines 24 hours a day from Mid-May to Mid-
July.
14) Most countries in the northern regions of the world have the midnight sun during summer time. Parts
of countries such as Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and Canadian territories of Yukon and
Nunavut experience the midnight sun phenomenon.
 9

15) Scandinavia is a large region of northern Europe that is predominantly made up of the Scandinavian
Peninsula which contains the countries of Norway and Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
16) According to the words of the Japanese envoy himself, that name was chosen because the country was
so close to where the sun rises.

Local wind systems influence the weather pattern where ever they blow (Figure 6.19). Some important
local winds are: -

1) Bora: - North easterly from Eastern Europe to north eastern Italy

Chinook: - Warm dry westerly off the Rocky Mountains
2) Fohn: - Warm dry southerly off the northern side of the Alps and Switzerland.
3) Harmattan: - Dry northerly wind across central Africa
4) Karaburan: - ‘Black storm’ a spring and summer katabatic wind of central Asia
5) Khamsin: - South easterly from North Africa to the eastern Mediterranean
6) Loo: - Hot and dry wind which blows over plains of India and Pakistan.
7) Mistral: - Cold northerly from central France and the Alps to Mediterranean.
8) Nor’Easter: - Strong winds from the northeast in the eastern United States, especially New England
9) Nor’Wester: - Wind that brings rain to the West Coast, and warm dry winds to the East Coast of New
Zealand’s South Island, caused by the moist prevailing winds being uplifted over the Southern Alps,
often accompanied by a distinctive arched cloud pattern.
10) Pampero: - Argentina, very strong wind which blows in the Pampa.
11) Simoom: - Strong, dry, desert wind that blows in the Sahara, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and the desert of
Arabia.
12) Sirocco: - Southerly from North Africa to southern Europe.
13) Zonda wind: - On the eastern slope of the Andes in Argentina.
 10

Q. 1 Differentiate between weather and climate. (NCERT Page No. 33) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
# Aspects Weather Climate
Climate refers to the sum total of weather
Weather refers to short-term
conditions and variations over a large area
1. Definition atmospheric condition of a particular
for a long period of time (more than 30
area at a specific period of time.
years).
The climate of an area includes the
The weather of a place can change
information of long-term average
2. Durability within a short period like minutes,
atmospheric conditions observed over
hours, days, etc.
decades.
Weather may be affected by just one
The climate is the long term observations
condition of atmosphere like
3. Affected of all the atmospheric conditions at any
temperature, pressure, humidity,
By location like humidity, temperature, wind,
cloudiness, wind, precipitation, rain,
and sunshine etc.
flooding, ice storms, etc.
The weather may affect the day-to-
Climate significantly affects agriculture,
4. Influence day occupation, and it may affect
industries, and the livelihood of the
transportation services, agriculture,
peoples.
etc.
Changes The changes in the weather condition Climate conditions change over a long
5.
Observed can be observed very frequently. period.
The meteorological department of a
place observes the changes in Institutes of climate studies observe and
6. Studied By weather conditions. The study of predict the changes in climate. This study is
weather forecasting is known as called climatology.
meteorology.
 11

Q. 2 What is annual range of temperature? Explain it by giving examples. Or

Explain the spatial variation in temperature in India. (NCERT Page No. 33) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
The difference between the maximum average temperature and minimum average temperature of a
place over twelve months is known as annual range of temperature.
1) In the summer
the mercury
occasionally
touches 55°C in
the western
Rajasthan, it
drops down to
as low as minus
45°C in winter
around Leh.
2) Churu in
Rajasthan may
record a
temperature of
50°C or more on
a June day
while the
mercury hardly
touches 19°C in
Tawang
(Arunachal
Pradesh) on the
same day.
3) On a December
night,
temperature in
Drass (Jammu
and Kashmir)
may drop down
to minus 45°C
while Thiruvananthapuram or Chennai on the same night records 20°C or 22°C.
4) In Kerala and in the Andaman Islands, the difference between day and night temperatures may be
hardly seven or eight degree Celsius. But in the Thar Desert, if the day temperature is around 50°C, at
night, it may drop down considerably up to 15°-20°C.
These examples confirm that there are seasonal variations in temperature from place to place and from
region to region in India.

Q. 3 Explain the spatial variation in the rainfall throughout the country. Or

What is the average amount of rainfall over the plains of India? (NCERT Page No. 34) (3)
 Answer Key Points: - There is great variation in rainfall throughout the country.
 12

1) Cherrapunji and
Mawsynram in the
Khasi Hills of Meghalaya
receive rainfall over
1,080 cm in a year,
Jaisalmer in Rajasthan
rarely gets more than 9
cm of rainfall during the
same period.
2) The annual precipitation
is less than 10 cm in the
north-west Himalayas
and the western
deserts; it exceeds 400
cm in Meghalaya.
3) In some parts of Khasi
and Jaintia hills, the
rainfall exceeds 1,000
cm. In the Brahmaputra
valley and the adjoining
hills, the rainfall is less
than 200 cm.
4) Rainfall between 100-
200 cm is received in
southern parts of
Gujarat, east Tamil
Nadu, North-eastern Peninsular covering Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Northern
Ganga Plain along the sub-Himalayas and the Cachar valley and Manipur.
5) Western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat and
Deccan Plateau receive rainfall between 50 and 100 cm.
Q. 4 Which areas have more than 50 cm and less than 5 cm of rainfall in July? Why is it so?
(NCERT Page No. 34) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
Most areas of the country
have more than 50 cm of
rainfall in July. The Western
Rajasthan (Thar Desert) and
the North-eastern Ladakh
experience less than 5 cm. of
rainfall in July.
Due to parallel situated of
Aravalli’s, lack of vegetation,
 13

high temperatures and non-condensation of moisture in Western Rajasthan rainfall is very scanty. The
Zaskar range does not allow the monsoon winds to reach North-eastern Ladakh. So it also receives very
scanty rainfall during July.

Q. 5 Enumerate the factors that influence the climate of the Subcontinent of India. Or
Explain the factors affecting climate of a place/India. Or
Describe the main climatic controls of a place. (NCERT Page No. 34 & 35) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -

1) Latitude: - Due to the curved

surface of the Earth, the
amount of solar energy
received varies according to
latitude. The Tropic of Cancer
divides India into subtropical
(North) and tropical (South)
areas, so the tropical area
receives more heat than the
subtropical area.

2) Distribution of Land and

Water: -
India is flanked by the Indian
Ocean on three sides in the
south and bordered by a high
and continuous mountain-wall
in the north. As compared to
the landmass, water heats up
or cools down slowly. This
differential heating of land and
sea creates different air
pressure zones in different
seasons in and around the
Indian subcontinent.
Difference in air pressure
causes reversal in the direction
of monsoon winds.
 14

3) The Distance From The Sea: -

The Sea exerts a moderating
influence on a climate as the
distance from the sea
increases its moderating
influence decreases and the
people experience extreme
weather conditions. This
condition is known as
continentality. The coastal
areas in the South India
experience equable climatic
conditions.

4) Altitude: - Temperature
decreases with height. Due to
thin air, places in the
mountains are cooler than
places on the plains. For
example, Agra and Darjiling
are located on the same
latitude, but temperature of
January in Agra is 16°C
whereas it is only 4°C in
Darjiling.

5) Relief Features: - Nature of

Relief plays a major role in
determining the climate of a
place e.g. high mountains act
as barriers for cold or hot
winds; they may also cause
precipitation. Desert soil has
the capacity to hold more heat
which leads to rise in
temperature.
 15

6) The Pressure And Winds: -

The pressure and the wind
system of an area depend on
the latitude and altitude of the
place. a) During summer low
pressure is created over
interior Asia as well as India,
this leads to incoming of South-
West Monsoon winds causing
rainfall.
b) During winter the high
pressure area north of the
Himalayas is responsible for
withdrawal of these Monsoon
winds.
Q. 6 What is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)? How does it attract south monsoon? What are
the important factors which influence the mechanism of Indian weather? (NCERT Page No. 35) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
ITCZ is the zone near the
Equator from where the north-
east trade winds and the south-
east trade winds meet each other.
It changes its position with the
effect of the vertical rays of the
sun. It is near the Tropic of Cancer
in the north in summer season and
near the Tropic of Capricorn in the
south in the winter season at
about 25°N, as a result of which
the south-east trade winds cross
over the equator and enter in
India as the south-west monsoon.

 Factors influencing the

mechanism of Indian
weather are: -

1) Surface distribution of pressure

and winds include monsoon,
location of low and high
pressure.
 16

2) Upper air circulation which

includes global weather

conditions like air masses and

the jet stream.

3) Atmospheric disturbances like

western cyclones and tropical

cyclones cause rainfall.

These are the factors which

affect the Indian weather.

Q. 7 What are the characteristics of Western Cyclonic disturbances of the Indian climate?
(NCERT Page No. 35 & 36) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The cyclones developed near
the Mediterranean Sea are
termed as western
disturbances.
2) They move towards India
through Iran and Pakistan.
3) They come under the
influence of westerly jet
stream which brings them to
the northern part of India in
the winter season.
4) They cause rain in the north-
west part of the plain of India
during winter.
 17

Q. 8 Describe the mechanism of the Monsoon. Or

Explain the nature of onset of Indian monsoon. (NCERT Page No. 37 & 38) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -

1) Differential Heating and

Cooling of Land and Water: -
The differential heating and
cooling of land and water
creates low pressure on the
landmass of India while the
seas around experience
comparatively high pressure.

2) Shift of The ITCZ: - The shift of

the position of Inter Tropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in
summer, over the Ganga plain
(this is the equatorial trough
normally positioned about 5°N
of the equator – also known as
the Monsoon trough during
the Monsoon season).

3) High-Pressure Over
Madagascar: - The presence
of the high-pressure area, east
of Madagascar, approximately
at 20°S over the Indian Ocean.
The intensity and position of
this high-pressure area affects
the Indian Monsoon.
 18

4) Heating of Tibetan Plateau:

- The Tibetan plateau gets

intensely heated during

summer, which results in

strong vertical air currents and

the formation of low pressure

over the plateau at about 9 km

above sea level.

5) Jet Stream: - The movement

of the westerly Jet Stream to

the north of the Himalayas

and the presence of the

tropical easterly Jet Stream

over the Indian peninsula

during summer.

Q. 9 Explain Rain-bearing Systems of Rainfall in India. (NCERT Page No. 38 & 40) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
There seem to be two rain-
bearing systems in India.
1) First originate in the Bay of
Bengal causing rainfall over
the plains of north India.
2) Second is the Arabian Sea
current of the southwest
monsoon which brings rain to
the west coast of India. Much
of the rainfall along the
Eastern Ghats is orographic as
the moist air is obstructed and
forced to rise along the Ghats.
The intensity of rainfall over
the west coast of India is,
 19

however, related to two factors: -

a) The offshore meteorological conditions.
b) The position of the equatorial jet stream along the eastern coast of Africa.
The rain which comes in spells, displays a declining trend from west to east over the west coast, and
from the southeast towards the northwest over the North Indian Plain and the northern part of the
Peninsula.

Q. 10 What is EI-Nino? How is it related to Indian monsoon? Or

Define El-Nino. What are features of El-Nino? (NCERT Page No. 38) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The word EI-Nino means ‘Child Christ’ because this current appears around Christmas in December.
December is a summer month
in Peru (Southern
Hemisphere).
2) El-Nino is used for forecasting
long-range of monsoon
rainfall. The system involves
the ocean and atmospheric
phenomena with the
appearance of warm winds
off the coast of Peru in the
Eastern Pacific which affect
the weather.
3) EI-Nino is a complex weather
system that appears once
every three to seven years,
bringing drought, floods and
other weather extremes to
different parts of the world.
4) The system involves oceanic
and atmospheric phenomena with the appearance of warm currents off the coast of Peru in the
Eastern Pacific and affects weather in many places including India.
5) EI-Nino is merely an extension of the warm equatorial current which gets replaced temporarily by cold
Peruvian current or Humboldt Current. This current increases the temperature of water on the
Peruvian coast by 10°C. This results in: -
a) The distortion of equatorial atmospheric circulation.
b) Irregularities in the evaporation of sea water.
c) Reduction in the amount of planktons which further reduces the number of fish in the sea.

Q. 11 What is meant by break in the monsoon? Or

What is Break in Monsoon? What are its causes? When is the monsoon expected to break in Kerala and
reach the plains of Punjab? (NCERT Page No. 40) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
During the south-west monsoon period after having rains for a few days, if rain fails to occur for
one or more weeks, it is known as break in the monsoon. These dry spells are quite common during the
rainy season. These breaks in the different regions are due to different reasons: -
 20

1) In northern India rains are likely to fail if the rain-bearing storms are not very frequent along the
monsoon trough or the ITCZ over this region.
2) Over the west coast the dry spells are associated with days when winds blow parallel to the coast.
Breaking of the Monsoon in Kerala: -Beginning of June, reaching Punjab: First week of July.

Q. 12 Explain the important features of Winter Season of India. (NCERT Page No. 42 & 42) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The Cold Weather Season in India
exists between mid-November
and February in Northern India.
December and January are the
coldest months.
2) The day time average
temperature lies between 10-15°C
in the north eastern states in the
plain areas.
3) During the cold season, the days
are warm and nights are cold.
4) When temperature decreases,
frost is commonly experienced in
Northern India.
5) This is dry season in most parts of
the country as northeast trade
winds blow from land to sea.
6) Many cyclonic disturbances occur
over northern India during this time. These results in rainfall during winters and snow fall in the
Himalayan regions. This rainfall helps in the cultivation of the Rabi crops.
Q. 13 Give the main features of Hot Weather (Summer) Season. (NCERT Page No. 42 & 45) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The summer season in India exists between the month of March and June.
2) The highest temperature of 35°C to 45°C is recorded in the Northern Plains.
 21

3) During the summer

season, a local hot wind
called the ‘Loo’ blows in
the northern parts of
the country.
4) During this season,
thunder storms known
as ‘Kalbaisakhi’ hit the
states of West Bengal
and Assam and leads to
heavy rainfall.
5) It also rains in coastal
Kerala and Karnataka.
These showers are
known as ‘Mango
showers’ as they help in
the early ripening of
mangoes.
6) The southern states do
not experience heat
because of closeness to
the sea.

Q. 14 Explain some local storms of hot weather season in India. (NCERT Page No.45) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) Mango Shower: -
Towards the end of
summer, there are pre-
monsoon showers which
are a common
phenomenon in Kerala
and coastal areas of
Karnataka. Locally, they
are known as mango
showers since they help
in the early ripening of
mangoes.
2) Blossom Shower: -
With this shower, coffee
flowers blossom in
Kerala and nearby
areas.
3) Nor Westers: - These
are dreaded evening
thunderstorms in
 22

Bengal and Assam. Their notorious nature can be understood from the local nomenclature of
‘Kalbaisakhi’, a calamity of the month of Baisakh. These showers are useful for tea, jute and rice
cultivation. In Assam, these storms are known as “Bardoli Chheerha” or ‘Tea Showers’.
4) Loo: - Hot, dry and oppressing winds are blowing in the Northern plains from Punjab to Bihar with
higher intensity between Delhi and Patna.

Q. 15 Explain the important features of Advancing Monsoon Season of India. Or

Why India gets a monsoon named as south-west monsoon? (NCERT Page No.45 & 47) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The low-pressure
condition over the
northern plains
attracts the trade
winds of the
southern
hemisphere. As these
winds blow over
warm oceans, they
bring abundant
moisture to the
subcontinent.
2) The windward side of
the Western Ghats
receives very heavy
rainfall, and the
Deccan Plateau and
parts of Madhya
Pradesh also receive some amount of rain in spite of lying in the rain shadow area.
3) After crossing the equator, they follow a southwesterly direction. That is why they are known as
southwest monsoons.
4) The maximum rainfall of this season in the world is received by Mawsynram in the southern ranges of
the Khasi Hills.
5) They blow during the months of June to September.
6) These blow from the high pressure area on the sea to the low pressure area on the land.
7) These blow into India in two branches, i.e., the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal branch.

Q. 16 Why Mawsynram and Cherrapunji get very high rainfall? (NCERT Page No. 47) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
 23

Mawsynram receives the highest

amount of rainfall in the world
in the rainy season because it is
surrounded by the North-east
hills of India, mainly Khasi, Garo,
Jaintia in Meghalaya plateau is
funnel-shaped. The Bay of
Bengal branch of the south-west
monsoon is enclosed by these
hills resulting in the heaviest
amount of rains.

Q. 17 Give the main characteristics of the monsoons rainfall. (NCERT Page No. 47 & 49) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) Rainfall received from the southwest monsoons is seasonal in character, which occurs between June
and September.
2) Monsoonal rainfall is largely governed by relief or topography. For instance the windward side of the
Western Ghats registers a rainfall of over 250 cm.
3) During the southwest monsoon
period, the monsoon rainfall has
a declining trend with increasing
distance from the sea. Kolkata
receives 119 cm, Patna 105 cm,
Allahabad 76 cm and Delhi 56 cm.
4) The monsoon rains occur in wet
spells of few days duration at a
time. The wet spells are
interspersed with rainless
interval known as ‘breaks’.
5) The summer rainfall comes in a
heavy downpour leading to
considerable run off and soil
erosion.
6) Monsoons play a pivotal role in
the agrarian economy of India
because over three-fourths of the
total rain in the country is
received during the southwest monsoon season.
7) Its spatial distribution is also uneven which ranges from 12 cm to more than 250 cm.
8) The beginning of the rains sometimes is considerably delayed over the whole or a part of the country.
9) The rains sometimes end considerably earlier than usual, causing great damage to standing crops and
making the sowing of winter crops difficult.
Q. 18 Explain the meaning of retreating of monsoon. Give its features. (NCERT Page No. 49) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
 24

1) During October and

November, the south-west
monsoon winds become
weaker and start retreating.
2) The retreat of the monsoon
is marked by clear skies and
an increase in mercury level
in the northern plains.
3) This increase in
temperature along with
high level of humidity is
termed as ‘October heat’.
4) At this time, the low
pressure conditions shift to
the Bay of Bengal giving rise
to cyclonic depressions.
These cyclonic depressions
often result in the
destruction of life and
property generally on the
eastern and southern
coasts.
5) By the beginning of October, the low pressure covers northern parts of the Bay of Bengal and by early
November, it moves over Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
6) By the middle of December, the center of low pressure is completely removed from the Peninsula.

Q. 19 Where do tropical cyclones originate? Which states do they hit the most? Or
Describe the main features of Tropical Cyclones. (NCERT Page No. 49) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
Tropical cyclones originate
over the Bay of Bengal and
the Indian Ocean. These
tropical cyclones have very
high wind velocity and heavy
rainfall and hit the Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and
Orissa coast.
1) The cyclones which originate
and travel in the tropical zone
are known as tropical
cyclones.
2) These cyclones are often very
destructive.
3) They originate in the Andaman Sea in the month of November.
 25

4) The low-pressure conditions,

over north-western India, get
transferred to the Bay of
Bengal by early November. This
shift is associated with the
occurrence of cyclonic
depressions.
5) These cyclones generally cross
the eastern coasts of India and
cause heavy and widespread
rain.
Q. 20 Explain the distribution of rainfall in India. (NCERT Page No. 50) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -
The average annual rainfall in India is about 125 cm, but it has great spatial variations.
1) Areas of High Rainfall: - The highest rainfall occurs along the west coast, on the Western Ghats, as
well as in the sub-Himalayan areas is the northeast and the hills of Meghalaya. Here the rainfall
exceeds 200 cm. In some parts of Khasi and Jaintia hills, the rainfall exceeds 1,000 cm. In the
Brahmaputra valley and the adjoining hills, the rainfall is less than 200 cm.
2) Areas of Medium Rainfall: - Rainfall between 100 and 200 cm is received in the southern parts of
Gujarat, east Tamil Nadu, northeastern Peninsula covering Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Madhya
Pradesh, northern Ganga
plain along the sub-
Himalayas and the Cachar
Valley and Manipur.
3) Areas of Low Rainfall: -
Western Uttar Pradesh,
Delhi, Haryana, Punjab,
Jammu and Kashmir,
eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat
and Deccan Plateau receive
rainfall between 50 and
100 cm.
4) Areas of Inadequate
Rainfall: - Parts of the
Peninsula, especially in
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Maharashtra, Ladakh
and most of western
Rajasthan receive rainfall
below 50 cm.
Snowfall is restricted to
the Himalayan region.
Q. 21 Define ‘climatic region’? What are the bases of Koeppen’s classification? Or
 26

Explain major climatic types of India based on Koeppen’s scheme. (NCERT Page No. 53) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
A climatic region has a
homogeneous climatic
condition which is the
result of a combination of
factors. Koeppen gave his
scheme of Climatic
classification on monthly
values of temperature
and precipitation. He
identified five following
climatic types: -
1) Tropical climates, where
mean monthly
temperature throughout
the year is over 18°C.
2) Dry climates, where
precipitation is very low in
comparison to
temperature. If dryness is
less, it is semiarid (S); if it
is more, the climate is arid
(W).
3) Warm temperate climates,
where mean temperature of the coldest month is between 18°C and minus 3°C.
4) Cool temperate climates, where mean temperature of the warmest month is over 10°C, and mean
temperature of the coldest month is under minus 3°C.
5) Ice climates, where mean temperature of the warmest month is less than 10°C.

Q. 22 How economic life in India is affected by monsoon? Or

“Monsoon is a gambling for Indian farmers.” Explain. (NCERT Page No. 53) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The entire agricultural cycle of
India revolve around
Monsoon. In India about 64%
people depend on agriculture
for their livelihood and
agriculture itself is based on
southwest monsoon.
2) Except Himalayas all the parts
of the country have
temperature above the
threshold level to grow the
crops or plants throughout the
year.
3) Variability of rainfall brings
 27

droughts or floods every year in some parts of the country.

4) Agricultural development of India depends on timely and adequately distributed rainfall. If it fails,
agriculture is adversely affected particularly in those regions where means of irrigation are not less.
5) Sudden monsoon burst creates problem of soil erosion over large areas in India.
6) Winter rainfall by temperate cyclones in north India is highly beneficial for Rabi crops.
7) Regional climatic variation in India is reflected in the vast variety of food, clothes and house types.
8) Sudden monsoon burst creates problems of soil erosion over large areas in India.
9) Winter rainfall by temperate cyclones in north India is highly beneficial for Rabi crops.
10) Regional climatic variation in India is reflected in the vast variety of food, clothes and house types.

Q. 23 “In spite of abundant rainfall, India is a water thirsty land”. Why is it so? (Value ßased) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
India is a water thirsty
land in spite of abundant
rainfall. This is because of
the following factors: -
1) Occurrence of rainfall in a few
months (from June to
September).
2) Rapid run off and the quick
evaporation of rainwater.
3) Long breaks and delays in the
Monsoons.
4) High demands of water due to
larger population.

Q. 24 Define ‘drought’ and its various types. (Value ßased) (3)

 Answer Key Points: -

Drought is a condition in
which the amount of water
needed for
evapotranspiration exceeds
the amount of water
available for precipitation
and soil. Droughts are of
three types: -
 28

1) Permanent Drought: -

Permanent drought is

characterised by the arid

climate in which vegetation is

sparse and hardy, fully

adapted to water shortage.

2) Seasonal Drought: - Seasonal

drought is found in dry and

rainy seasons. Most of the

parts of India suffer from this

kind of drought.

3) Contingent Drought: -

Contingent drought is irregular

with variable rainfall and

occurs in any season but

frequently in sub-humid

climates.
 29

Q. 25 What is Global Warming? What are the effects of Global Warming? Or

What is global warming? Give its causes and effects. (NCERT Page No. 53 & 55) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -

Global warming is a gradual

increase in the earth’s average

surface temperature over the

past one to two centuries,

generally due to the greenhouse

gases caused by increased levels

of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and

other pollutants.

 Causes of Global Warming: -

1) Carbon dioxide is the major
source of global warming. This
gas is released to the
atmosphere by burning of
fossil fuel.
2) Other gases like methane,
chlorofluorocarbons, ozone
and nitrous oxide which are
present in much smaller
concentrations in the
atmosphere, together with
carbon dioxide are known as
greenhouse gases. These gases are contributing to global warming.
3) Rapid industrialization and technological changes, the revolution in agriculture and transport sectors
has resulted in large supplies of carbon dioxide and methane which cause global warming.

 Effects of Global Warming: -

1) Due to global warming the polar ice caps and mountain glaciers would melt and the amount of water in
the ocean would increase.
2) Melting of glaciers and sea-ice due to global warming leads to rise in the sea level up to 48 cm by the
end of twenty first century.
3) Increase the incidence of annual flooding.
 30

4) Insect-borne diseases
like malaria, and leads
to shift in climatic
boundaries, making
some regions wetter
and other dries.
5) Agricultural pattern
would shift and human
population as well as
the ecosystem would
experience change.
6) The peninsular India
would be submerged.

Q. 1 Multiple choice questions.

(i) What causes rainfall on the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu in the beginning of winters?
(a) South-West monsoon (b) Temperate cyclones
(c) North-Eastern monsoon (d) Local air circulation

(ii) What is the proportion of area of India which receives annual rainfall less than 75 cm?
(a) Half (b) One-third (c) Two-third (d) Three-fourth

(iii) Which one of the following is not a fact regarding South India?
(a) Diurnal range of temperature is less here. (b) Annual range of temperature is less here.
(c) Temperatures here are high throughout the year. (d) Extreme climatic conditions are found here.

(iv) Which one of the following phenomenon happens when the sun shines vertically over the Tropic of
Capricorn in the southern hemisphere?
(a) High pressure develops over North-western India due to low temperatures.
(b) Low pressure develops over North-western India due to high temperatures.
(c) No changes in temperature and pressure occur in north-western India.
(d) ‘Loo’ blows in the North-western India.

(v) In which of the following states in India do we find ‘As’ type of climate as per Koeppen’s classification?
(a) In Kerala and coastal Karnataka (b) In Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(c) On Coromandel Coast (d) In Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
 31

Q. 2 Answer the following briefly in not more than 30 words.

(i) What are the three important factors which influence the mechanism of Indian weather?
 Answer: -

(ii) What is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone?

 Answer: -

(iii) What is meant by ‘bursting of monsoon’? Name the place of India which gets the highest rainfall.
 Answer: -
The sudden onset of the moisture-laden winds associated with violent thunder and lightning, is
often termed as the “break” or “burst” of the monsoons. Mawsynram in Meghalaya is the place of India
which gets the highest rainfall.

(iv) Define ‘climatic region’? What are the bases of Koeppen’s classification?
 Answer: -

(v) Which type(s) of cyclones cause rainfall in north-western India during winter? Where do they
originate?
 Answer: -

Q. 3. Write the answers of the following questions in 150 words.

(i) Notwithstanding the broad climatic unity, the climate of India has many regional variations. Elaborate
this statement giving suitable examples.
 Answer: -
Due to the influence of monsoon, India as a whole has broad climatic unity. However, the climate of
India has many regional variations expressed in the pattern of winds, temperature and rainfall, rhythm
of seasons and the degree of wetness or dryness. There are various examples of this: -
1) Temperature: - In the summer the mercury occasionally touches 55°C in the Western Rajasthan; it
drops down to as low as minus 45°C in winter around Leh. Churu in Rajasthan may record a
temperature of 50°C or more on a June day while the temperature in Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) is
19°C on the same day.
2) Rainfall: - Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya receive rainfall over 1,080 cm
in a year while Jaisalmer in Rajasthan rarely gets more than 9 cm of rainfall during the same period.
3) Monsoon: - The Ganga delta and the coastal plains of Orissa are hit by strong rain-bearing storms
almost every third or fifth day in July and August while the Coromandel Coast, a thousand km to the
south, goes generally dry during these months.

(ii) How many distinct seasons are found in India as per the Indian Meteorological Department? Discuss
the weather conditions associated with any one season in detail.
 Answer: -