Weather and Climate Basics

Climate refers to long-term weather patterns over an area, while weather describes the atmospheric state at a specific time.

Monsoon is the seasonal reversal of winds that brings significant rainfall, crucial for agriculture in affected regions.

Latitude affects solar energy received, and altitude influences temperature, as higher altitudes generally lead to cooler temperatures.

<p>The cold weather season lasts from mid-November to February, with December and January being the coldest months, characterized by low temperatures and clear skies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The advancing monsoon, from June to September, is marked by the southwest monsoon bringing rainfall, with breaks leading to wet and dry spells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The retreating monsoon season, occurring in October and November, is warm with initially low pressure that gradually rises, featuring hot days and cool nights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main elements include temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, and precipitation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Distance from the sea influences climate by affecting temperature and humidity; coastal areas tend to have milder climates compared to inland regions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Higher altitudes and increased distance from the sea generally lead to lower rainfall, while coastal areas and lower altitudes tend to receive more rainfall.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The western coast and northeastern India receive over 400 cm of rainfall annually, leading to a risk of flooding in these regions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The summer monsoon brings heavy rainfall from the sea to land, while the winter monsoon primarily blows from the land to the sea, resulting in minimal precipitation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Thar Desert has extreme temperature fluctuations, reaching over 50°C during the day and dropping below 15°C at night due to limited vegetation and sunlight availability at night.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'break in monsoon' refers to dry spells during the monsoon season when rainfall occurs only intermittently.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Monsoons unify the country by providing essential rainfall for agriculture and water resources, impacting all regions and creating a shared dependence on this seasonal change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rainfall decreases from east to west due to the low pressure area in northwest India, which attracts southwest monsoon winds to the eastern regions more effectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Snowfall in India is primarily restricted to the Himalayan region, which is characterized by high altitudes that facilitate snow accumulation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Relief features, like mountains, affect rainfall distribution by blocking moist winds, leading to heavy rainfall on the windward slopes and creating dry conditions on the leeward slopes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In summer, temperatures in Rajasthan can exceed 50°C, while in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, they are around 20°C.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The southwest monsoon is moisture-laden and blows from the sea to the land, while the northeast monsoon is dry, blowing from land to sea.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Precipitation in India ranges from over 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in regions like Ladakh and western Rajasthan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The leeward side of the Western Ghats is drought-prone because the moisture-laden winds lose most of their moisture on the windward slopes, resulting in little rainfall on the leeward side.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The seasonal reversal of wind direction is caused by the differential heating of land and water; in summer, the land is warmer, creating low pressure that draws winds from the sea, while in winter, the land cools, resulting in high pressure that pushes winds towards the sea.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Monsoon winds bring heavy rainfall primarily between June and September when intense low pressure over the land draws moisture-laden winds from the surrounding seas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The northeast monsoon brings winter rainfall to the Tamil Nadu coast as it picks up moisture while crossing the Bay of Bengal, despite originating from the dry land.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The delta region is frequently struck by cyclones due to the transfer of low pressure from northwestern India to the Bay of Bengal, creating conditions conducive for cyclonic depressions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>During the monsoon season, winds blow from high-pressure areas over the sea to low-pressure areas over the warm land, facilitating moisture transport and rainfall.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Indian subcontinent's positioning, surrounded by water on three sides, leads to variations in temperature and pressure, resulting in distinct climatic patterns such as the monsoons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>High summer temperatures in the Indian subcontinent create a significant low-pressure area, which draws in moisture-laden winds from cooler seas, establishing the monsoon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Himalayas block the southwest monsoon winds, causing heavy rainfall on the windward slopes, but as the winds move westward, they lose moisture, leading to decreased rainfall in northern India.</p> Signup and view all the answers