Climate of India

● India has a tropical monsoon type climate.

● This is because the tropic of cancer divides India into almost two – temperate and tropical
● India is also influenced by the monsoon winds.

Variation and contrast in Climate

North- Temperate or continental type of climate

Characteristics

● Dry air
● Large durinal range of temperature
● Scanty precipitation
● Very hot summers very cold winter

South- tropical climate

Characteristics

● Hot and more humid

● Less durinal range of temperature
● No winters

Rainfall variation

● West Coast receives rainfall in June by south west monsoon winds

● East coast receives rainfall during winter.

Factors affecting climate:

I. Location: North India due to its high mountains has extreme or continental temperature.
South India has a moderate climate because of arabian sea, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal creates
a moderating effect due to land and sea breese.
II. Relief Features: Himalays obstruct the bitter cold winds from entering India. Acts as a barrier
forcing the south west monsoon winds to shed their moisture in the north east and indogangetic
plain. Western Ghats block the south west monsoon winds forcing them to rain in the West
coast of India (Malabar Coast).
III. Altitude: For every 166 m increase in altitude there is a 1degree Celsius drop in temperature.
This is known as normal lapse rate.
IV. Distance from the sea: Differential heating of land and water causes land and sea breeze
creating moderate effect on coastal places.
V. El Nino : A cold current and a warm current meet and warms the sea surface. This travels below
India in the Indian ocean and causes monsoon in India.
 VI. Temperate and Tropical Cyclones:

Temperate Cyclones Tropical Cyclones

1 Low pressure depression originates from Low pressure depression

Mediteranian originates from Andaman Sea

2. Occurs during Winter Occurs during summers just after

the monsoon

3. Travels over land Travels over the sea

4. Do not cause any destruction but are beneficial for They cause heavy loss of life and
rabi crops property

5. They cause rain in Haryana, Punjab and snowfall in They influence the East Coast of
the Himalayas. India

6. They travel from west to east They travel from east to west.

VII. Jet Streams: they are narrow belts of fast moving shafts of air found in the upper layer of the
atmosphere at a height of 1200 m at a speed of 250-322 km/j. They announce the arrival and
departure of monsoons
OCTOBER HEAT: extreme oppressive conditions causing a sultry condition,
Marked by clear sky, high temperature and humidity
Occurs during the transition from monsoon to winters.
VIII. CLIMATE OF INDIA : The Indian Sub-continent is majorly affected by the monsoon season
(tropical monsoon type).

South West monsoon winds North East monsoon winds

1. Occurs during May, June and July Occurs from November to March

2. Brings rainfall to the plains of India. Brings rainfall to the southern coromandel
coast.

THE FOUR SEASONS:

● Hot dry season (March-May)
● Rainy Season (June- September)
● Retreating South West Monsoon (Oct-Nov)
● North East Monsoon (December- January)

Hot Dry Summers (March- May)

● Temperature: The length of the days increase due to the northward movement of the vertical
rays of the sun
● 30 degree Celsius – 32 degrees Celsius is the average temperature
 ● Southern India is cooler due to the surrounding seas with temperature ranging from 26 degree
Celsius to 32 degree Celsius.
● Durinal range of temperature is high.

● Pressure conditions: A low pressure is developed between the Thar desert and Chota Nagpur
Plateau. The high pressure over the sea and low pressure of the land attracts the south east
trade winds which bring rainfall in June.

● Storms- the low pressure draws in winds which gives rise to thunder storm. Strong dusty winds
which bring rainfall in Punjab , UP Haryana.

● Local Winds: They are small scale simple winds caused due to local temperature and pressure
difference and have a limited influence.
i. Loo: they are hot, dusty, dry winds and can cause sun stroke. They have no economical
benefit. Temp ranges from 45-50 degree Celsius.
ii. Kal Baisakhi- Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in West Bengal. In April and May-
beneficial for jute and rice in Bengal. Also called “North Westers” and mean the
“calamity of month of Baisakhi”
iii. Bardoli Cherab- extended part of kal Baisakhi in Asam. Originates from the Chota
Nagpur region and is benefical for tea crops in Assam.
iv. Mango Showers: bring little rainfall in Kerala and Karnataka- Helps in ripening of mango,
tea and coffee. Known as cherry blossom in Karnataka. Beneficial for the early ripening
of coffee and berry.

Rainfall: the winds pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and strike the coromandal giving heavy
rainfall on the eastern coast. North west India receives light rainfall. The rainfall is in the form of snow in
North. The rainfall is cyclonic and benefical to Rabi crops.

2. South West Monsoon (June to September)

South east trade winds when travel from equator towards India get deflected and are called Southwest
Monsoon Winds. They get divided into the arabian sea branch and the bay of Bengal branch.

Arabian Sea Branch: West Coast of Kerala on 1st June receives rainfall. Orographic or relief rainfall.Gives
heaviest rainfall on the wind ward side of the western ghats. Amount of rainfall decreases from South to
North. Rajasthan receives very little rainfall because the Aravalli ranges are parallel to the winds are very
low. The high temperature increases the moisture carrying capacity. The winds get exhausted by the
time it reaches Punjab.

Bay of Bengal branch: Anadman and Nicobar Islands receive the first rainfall. Travels north – east and
picks up moisture. Gets blocked by Gharo Kasi Jantia forcing it to loose its moisture. Mawsynram on the
wind ward side receives heaviest rainfall in the world. Remaining gets deflected and travls along the
foothills of Himalaya, merges with the arabian sea branch and gives rain to the Himalayas.

Arabian sea has a greater volume than Bay of Bengal Branch

Tamil Nadu remains dry and does not receive rainfall because it is parallel to Bay of Bengal branch and
on the rain shadow region of arabian sea branch

3. Retreating South West monsoon (October- November)

High pressure over the land decreases and high pressure on the sea is created by 1 st September. South -
west monsoon winds retreat this phase brings significant rainfall to the southern east coast of India,
especially Tamil Nadu

4. North East Monsoon (December- march)

Temperature in North its below 21 degree Celsius

Cool Punjab and Haryana

South India does not have a distinct old. Tem ranges 21-31 Degree Celsius.

Pressure and winds- due to high pressure over land offshore winds start to blow towards the bay of
Bengal.

They are called North East Monsoon winds.

Winds get blocked by the Eastern Ghats so they donot reach arabian Sea.

Characteristics of the winter season

● Clear sky pleasant weather

● Low temperature and humidity
● Slow northern winds