Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the highest temperature that can be observed in the Thar Desert?
What is the highest temperature that can be observed in the Thar Desert?
What is one characteristic feature of the climate in the Thar Desert?
What is one characteristic feature of the climate in the Thar Desert?
How is the annual precipitation in Meghalaya characterized?
How is the annual precipitation in Meghalaya characterized?
Which type of seasonal climate does India primarily experience?
Which type of seasonal climate does India primarily experience?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'monsoon' refer to?
What does the term 'monsoon' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
During which months is rainfall generally received in most parts of India?
During which months is rainfall generally received in most parts of India?
Signup and view all the answers
Which region of India tends to receive rainfall during October and November?
Which region of India tends to receive rainfall during October and November?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about precipitation in India is true?
Which of the following statements about precipitation in India is true?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect do ocean currents and onshore winds have on coastal areas?
What effect do ocean currents and onshore winds have on coastal areas?
Signup and view all the answers
What causes the winds originating from the subtropical high-pressure belt to deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere?
What causes the winds originating from the subtropical high-pressure belt to deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere?
Signup and view all the answers
When does the cold weather season begin in northern India?
When does the cold weather season begin in northern India?
Signup and view all the answers
Which months are considered the coldest in northern India?
Which months are considered the coldest in northern India?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the average temperature range in Chennai during the cold weather season?
What is the average temperature range in Chennai during the cold weather season?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the temperature in the northern plains compare to that of Chennai during winter?
How does the temperature in the northern plains compare to that of Chennai during winter?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary characteristic of the winds that originate over land and blow southwards?
What is the primary characteristic of the winds that originate over land and blow southwards?
Signup and view all the answers
What factor leads to India not being an arid land despite the prevailing winds?
What factor leads to India not being an arid land despite the prevailing winds?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes the monsoon type of climate?
What characterizes the monsoon type of climate?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the main seasons identified in India?
What are the main seasons identified in India?
Signup and view all the answers
What influences the cold season temperature in the peninsular region of India?
What influences the cold season temperature in the peninsular region of India?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the effect of the northward movement of the sun during the hot weather season?
What is the effect of the northward movement of the sun during the hot weather season?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens to the low-pressure systems that originated over the Mediterranean Sea?
What happens to the low-pressure systems that originated over the Mediterranean Sea?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is the winter rainfall, known as ‘mahawat’, significant despite being small in amount?
Why is the winter rainfall, known as ‘mahawat’, significant despite being small in amount?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary source of the southeast trade winds during the rainy season?
What is the primary source of the southeast trade winds during the rainy season?
Signup and view all the answers
When does the hot weather season typically occur in India?
When does the hot weather season typically occur in India?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the 'Kaal Baisakhi' storms known for in West Bengal?
What are the 'Kaal Baisakhi' storms known for in West Bengal?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a likely result of the movement of the monsoon trough?
What is a likely result of the movement of the monsoon trough?
Signup and view all the answers
What is commonly referred to as 'mango showers'?
What is commonly referred to as 'mango showers'?
Signup and view all the answers
What phenomenon brings temporary relief during the monsoon?
What phenomenon brings temporary relief during the monsoon?
Signup and view all the answers
What determines the spatial distribution of rainfall during the monsoon?
What determines the spatial distribution of rainfall during the monsoon?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens when the low-pressure conditions shift to the Bay of Bengal?
What happens when the low-pressure conditions shift to the Bay of Bengal?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the pre-monsoon showers towards the end of the summer?
Which of the following best describes the pre-monsoon showers towards the end of the summer?
Signup and view all the answers
What negative impact can heavy rains from monsoon depressions lead to?
What negative impact can heavy rains from monsoon depressions lead to?
Signup and view all the answers
Which regions of India are identified as drought-prone areas?
Which regions of India are identified as drought-prone areas?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic feature of the cold season in India?
What is a characteristic feature of the cold season in India?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements accurately describes the monsoon rainfall in India?
Which of the following statements accurately describes the monsoon rainfall in India?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of climatic data should be represented to compare different weather stations effectively?
What type of climatic data should be represented to compare different weather stations effectively?
Signup and view all the answers
Which characteristic is associated with areas receiving more than 400 cm of rainfall?
Which characteristic is associated with areas receiving more than 400 cm of rainfall?
Signup and view all the answers
Which two stations are most likely to have the most extreme climate conditions?
Which two stations are most likely to have the most extreme climate conditions?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a common activity associated with studying climatic conditions in India?
Which of the following is a common activity associated with studying climatic conditions in India?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the influence of retreating monsoons?
Which of the following best describes the influence of retreating monsoons?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Climate of India
- Thar Desert experiences significant temperature fluctuations within a day, while Andaman and Nicobar Islands have minimal temperature variation.
- India experiences diverse precipitation patterns, ranging from snowfall in the Himalayas to heavy rainfall in Meghalaya.
- Annual precipitation varies from over 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in Ladakh and western Rajasthan.
- Most parts of India receive rainfall from June to September, except Tamil Nadu coast which receives a large portion of its rain during October and November.
- Ocean currents and onshore winds influence the climate of coastal areas, causing warming or cooling depending on the current.
Seasons in India
- The monsoon climate is characterized by distinct seasonal patterns with significant weather changes.
- Four main seasons: Cold weather season (Winter), Hot weather season (Summer), Advancing Monsoon (Rainy Season), and Retreating Monsoon.
Cold Weather Season (Winter)
- Beginning in mid-November and lasting till February.
- December and January are the coldest months.
- Temperatures decrease from south to north.
- Average temperature in Chennai: 24°– 25° Celsius.
- Average temperature in northern plains: 10°C to 15° Celsius.
- Days are warm and nights are cold.
- Winter rainfall, known as 'mahawat', is crucial for 'rabi' crops.
- The peninsular region does not have a well-defined cold season.
Hot Weather Season (Summer)
- From March to May.
- Due to the northward movement of the Sun, the global heat belt shifts northwards.
- Temperatures rise significantly, reaching fatal levels in some areas.
- Dust storms are common in May, bringing temporary relief with light rain and cool breeze.
- Local thunderstorms with violent winds and torrential downpours occur.
- Pre-monsoon showers are common in Kerala and Karnataka, known as 'mango showers'.
Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)
- Begins in early June.
- Low-pressure conditions over the northern plains intensify, attracting trade winds from the southern hemisphere.
- South-east trade winds originate over the warm subtropical areas of the southern oceans.
- Monsoon rains are intermittent, occurring for a few days at a time with rainless intervals.
- Breaks in the monsoon are related to the movement of the monsoon trough, which determines the spatial distribution of rainfall.
- Heavy rains can lead to devastating floods in the plains.
- Frequency and intensity of tropical depressions influence the amount and duration of monsoon rains.
Retreating Monsoon
- Low-pressure conditions over north-western India shift to the Bay of Bengal by early November.
- Cyclonic depressions originate over the Andaman Sea and cross the eastern coasts of India, causing heavy and widespread rain.
- Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought-prone.
Regional Variation in India's Climate
- India's climate varies significantly across different regions due to factors like latitude, altitude, and proximity to the sea.
- Areas with higher altitude experience lower temperatures.
- Coastal regions generally have more moderate temperatures due to the moderating influence of the sea.
- These variations influence the distribution of flora and fauna, agricultural practices, and human settlements.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.