GEOGRAPHY CH-4

GEOGRAPHY
2024-25
Chapter 4
Climate
Learning Outcomes of the Chapter

 Difference between weather and climate.
 Elements of weather and climate
 Climatic controls
 The Seasons
 The Cold Weather Season (Winter)
 The Hot Weather Season (Summer)
 Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)
 Retreating/Post Monsoons (The Transition Season)
 Distribution of Rainfall
 Monsoon as a Unifying Bond
Answer the following questions
Q1- What are the elements of weather and climate?
Answer: The elements affecting the climate are temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind,
humidity and precipitation.
Q2- Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?
Answer:
 India has a monsoon-type climate because of the strong influence of monsoon winds
over the subcontinent.
 The summer monsoon causes heavy rainfall when it blows from sea to land.
 The winter monsoon winds blow from the interior of the continent to the sea and do
not cause much rain.
Q3- What are the six major controls of the climate of any place?
Answer: The six major controls of the climate of a place are- latitude, altitude, pressure and
wind system, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents and relief features.
 Latitude- Due to the curvature of the earth, the amount of solar energy received varies
according to latitude. As a result, air temperature generally decreases from the equator
towards the poles.
 Altitude- As one goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes, the atmosphere
becomes less dense and temperature decreases.
 The pressure and wind system- This depends on the latitude and altitude of the place,
it influences the temperature and rainfall pattern.
 Distance from the sea- The sea exerts a moderating influence on climate: As the
distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence decreases and the people
experience extreme weather conditions.
 Ocean currents- Any coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing past it, will be
warmed or cooled if the winds are onshore.
 Relief- It plays a major role in determining the climate of a place. High mountains act
as barriers to cold or hot winds, sometimes they lie in the path of rain-bearing winds
and cause rainfall.
Question 4. Distinguish between southwest monsoon and northeast monsoon.

Answer:
Southwest Monsoon Northeast Monsoon
(i) The summer period is marked by the southwest (i) The winter period is marked by
monsoons. northeast monsoon.
(ii) The southwest monsoon blow in a southwest (ii) The northwest monsoon blow in a north
direction to the mainland of India from June to easterly direction across India from mid-
September. November to February
(iii) It blows in India into two branches namely the

(iii) It does not possess any branches.
Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch.
(iv) The southwest monsoon are warm winds. (iv) These are cold winds.
Question 5. Describe with examples how distance from the sea influences the climate of a
place.
Answer: The sea exerts a moderating influence on 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 i.e., it is marked as very hot during
summers and very cold during winters. For example, Delhi is located in the interior of the
country, at a distance from the sea, experiences an extreme type of climate.
Q6- Why does the rainfall decrease from the east to the west in Northern India?
Answer: The low-pressure area in India lies in the northwest, towards which the southwest
monsoon winds are attracted. After shedding moisture in South India, the Bay of Bengal
branch of the southwest monsoons strikes the Khasi-Garo Hills. After causing heavy rainfall
on the windward slopes, these winds turn westward because of the presence of the lofty
Himalayas. These winds then continue shedding rainfall as they move up the Ganga Valley
towards the low-pressure area. The rainfall thus shed keeps decreasing as the winds proceed
from east to west in northern India, as this is the last region to be affected by the monsoons.
Q8- Give reasons as to why.
(i) Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent?
Answer: Seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent occurs due to the
difference in temperature between land and water. In summer, the land heats up faster,
creating a low-pressure area, attracting moist winds from the ocean. In winter, the land cools,
leading to high pressure, causing winds to blow towards the sea.
(ii) The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.
Answer: The bulk of rainfall in India occurs during the monsoon season, primarily from June
to September. This is due to the southwest monsoon winds, which bring heavy moisture from
the Indian Ocean
(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.
Answer: The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall primarily due to the northeast
monsoon. From October to December, these winds blow from the land to the sea, picking up
moisture from the Bay of Bengal.
(iv) The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
Answer: The delta region of the eastern coast of India is frequently struck by cyclones due to
its geographical location. The warm waters of the Bay of Bengal provide the necessary heat
and moisture for cyclone formation. Additionally, the flat topography of the delta allows
cyclones to make landfall easily, causing significant impacts.
(v) Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought- prone.
Answer: Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought-
prone due to their geographical features. These areas receive less rainfall because the Western
Ghats block moisture-laden winds, creating a rain shadow effect. Additionally, high
temperatures and low water retention in the soil contribute to frequent droughts.
Questions to be learnt from the book-
Q1- Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help of
suitable examples.
Q.2. Why Monsoon is considered as unifying bond for the country?
Q3- Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.
Q4- Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.
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GEOGRAPHY CH-4

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GEOGRAPHY

Learning Outcomes of the Chapter

Q1- What are the elements of weather and climate?

Q2- Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?

Question 4. Distinguish between southwest monsoon and northeast monsoon.

Southwest Monsoon Northeast Monsoon

(iii) It blows in India into two branches namely the

Q8- Give reasons as to why.

(ii) The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.

(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.

Q.2. Why Monsoon is considered as unifying bond for the country?

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