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1 ICSE - GEOGRAPHY NOTES & QUESTION ANSWERS 8. CLIMATE OF INDIA India s climate is monsoon type, but their characteristics vary from place to place. Due to the vastness of the country and a variety of relief features, there are regional variations in the climate of India. The interior of the country, especially in the north, has a continental type of climate. The coastal areas have a more equable climate. In mountainous areas, altitude determines the climate. There is a great deal of variation in the amount of annual rainfall. The following examples will confirm this variety and diversity in the annual rainfall. The following examples will confirm this variety and diversity in the climate. Contrasting Climate: In June, the highest temperature in Rajasthan may go up to 50 C, whereas in Drass and Kargil, the night temperature in January may go down to 45 C. Mawsynram near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya have an annual rainfall of 1200 cm, whereas in the Thar Desert, the annual rainfall is less than 13 cm. Kerala has tropical climate with warm and moist air, whereas Punjab has continental climate with severe heat alternating with severe cold. The Coromandel Coast remains dry in the months of July and August, whereas the Ganga delta and the coastal plains of Orissa are hit by strong storms almost every third or fifth day during these months. Factors Affecting Climate of India: Latitude extent of the Indian Subcontinent are as under. Tropic of Cancer passes half way through the subcontinent. Most of the subcontinent lies in the tropical and sub tropical zones. Consequently, the temperature is generally high throughout the year. Influence of the Himalayas: The east west extension of the lofty Himalayas stands as a barrier against the cold winds from Central Asia. They also force the monsoon winds to shed most of their moisture within the country. Similarly, the Western Ghats force the rain bearing winds from the Arabian Sea to shed their moisture on the western slopes. Altitude: With increase in height, temperature decreases. Places located in the hills and mountains are cooler than the places in the plains. Ooty in the Nilgiris is pleasant throughout the year though it is relatively close to the Equator. Distance from the Sea: Places situated near the sea experience a moderate climate, i.e. neither very hot nor very cold such as Chennai. Places situated in the interior of the country, such as Delhi and Amritsar, experience continental climate, i.e. very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Surface winds: Monsoon winds cause abundant rainfall in the Indian Subcontinent. Winds blowing in from the north west during the winter cause cold waves in northern India. During summer, hot and dry winds (loo) sweep over the northern plains of India causing a phenomenal increase in temperature. During winter, the monsoons retreat and bring rain only to certain parts of Tamil Nadu. Western disturbances: During winter, there is a low pressure depression, called western disturbance, in north west India. The rainfall in the northern states such as Punjab and Haryana is due to western disturbances or the cyclones which originate over the Mediterranean Sea. Jet streams: The air currents, called jet streams, in the upper layers of the atmosphere are believed to determine the arrival and departure of the monsoons. However, research is going on to study the extent to which monsoons may be affected by these air currents. ICSE GEOGRAPHY THOMAS.K.J - HASS
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