Name: Class: 9

Name of the Teacher: Date:

Topic: Lesson Notes – Climate

1. Distinguish between Climate and Weather. (1 Mark)

Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long
period of time (more than thirty years). Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an
area at any point of time.

2. Explain the six major controls of the climate of any place. (5 Mark)
i. Latitude: Due to the curvature of the earth, the amount of solar energy received varies
according to latitude.
ii. Altitude: As one goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes, the atmosphere
becomes less dense and temperature decreases.
iii. The pressure and wind system: The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the
latitude and altitude of the place.
iv. Distance from the sea: As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence
decreases and the people experience extreme weather conditions.
v. Ocean Currents: Ocean currents along with onshore winds affect the climate of the coastal
areas.
vi. Relief: relief too plays a major role in determining the climate of a place.

3. Briefly explain the factors affecting India’s climate. (5 mark)

i. Latitude: The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country divides into two.
Almost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area the
remaining area, north of the Tropic, lies in the sub-tropics.
ii. Altitude: India has mountains to the north, which have an average height of about 6,000
metres. It is because of these mountains that this subcontinent experiences comparatively
milder winters as compared to central Asia.
iii. Pressure and Winds: The climate and associated weather conditions in India are governed by
pressure and wind system.

4. Enumerate the onset of South-west Monsoon. (5 Mark)

i. The Monsoon, unlike the trades, are not steady winds but are pulsating in nature.
ii. The duration of the monsoon is between 100- 120 days from early June to mid-September.
iii. The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula generally by the first week of
June. Subsequently, it proceeds into two – the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal
branch.

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 iv. The Arabian Sea branch reaches Mumbai about ten days later on approximately the 10th of
June. The Bay of Bengal branch also advances rapidly and arrives in Assam in the first week of
June.
v. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal branches of the monsoon merge over the north-western
part of the Ganga plains. Delhi generally receives the monsoon showers from the Bay of Bengal
branch by the end of June.

5. Explain the seasons of India(5mark)

The Hot Weather Season (Summer)
i. Due to the apparent northward movement of the sun, from March to May, it is hot weather
season in India.
ii. In March, the highest temperature is about 38° celsius, recorded on the Deccan plateau, in
peninsular India, temperatures remain lower due to the moderating influence of the oceans.
iii. The summer months experience rising temperature and falling air pressure in the northern
part of the country.
iv. Towards the end of May, an elongated low-pressure area develops in the region extending
from the Thar desert in the northwest to Patna and Chotanagpur plateau in the east and
southeast.
v. This is also the season for localised thunderstorms, associated with violent winds, torrential
downpours, often accompanied by hail. In West Bengal, these storms are known as the ‘Kaal
Baisakh

The Cold Weather Season (Winter)

i. The cold weather season begins from mid -November in northern India and stays till February.
December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India.
ii. The temperature decreases from south to the north. The average temperature of Chennai, on
the eastern coast, is between 24° - 25° Celsius, while in the northern plains, it ranges between
10° - 15° Celsius.
iii. Days are warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in the north and the higher slopes of the
Himalayas experience snowfall.
iv. Frost is common in the north and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
v. During this season, the northeast trade winds prevail over the country. They blow from land to
sea and hence, for most part of the country, it is a dry season.

Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)

i. By early June, the low-pressure condition over the northern plains intensifies. It attracts, the
trade winds of the southern hemisphere.
ii. These south-east trade winds originate over the warm subtropical areas of the southern
oceans. They cross the equator and blow in a south westerly direction entering the Indian
peninsula as the south-west monsoon.
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 iii. As these winds blow over warm oceans, they bring abundant moisture to the subcontinent.
iv. The inflow of the south-west monsoon into India brings about a total change in the weather.
v. Early in the season, the windward side of the Western Ghats receives very heavy rainfall, more
than 250 cm. The Deccan Plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh also receive some amount of
rain in spite of lying in the rain shadow area.

Retreating/The North-East Monsoon

i. During October-November, with the apparent movement of the sun towards the south, the
monsoon trough or the low-pressure trough over the northern plains becomes weaker.
ii. This is gradually replaced by a high-pressure system. The south-west monsoon winds weaken
and start withdrawing gradually.
iii. By the beginning of October, the monsoon withdraws from the Northern Plains.
iv. The months of October-November form a period of transition from hot rainy season to dry
winter conditions.
v. The retreat of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature. While day
temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant.

[Link] India experience uneven distribution of rainfall? Explain. (3 Mark)

i. Parts of western coast and north-eastern India receive over about 400 cm of rainfall annually.
ii. However, it is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat, Haryana
and Punjab.
iii. Rainfall is equally low in the interior of the Deccan plateau, and east of the Sahyadris.

[Link] monsoon acts as a unifying bond. Justify the statement (5 mark)

i. The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a
rhythmic cycle of seasons.
ii. Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much typical of the monsoons.
iii. The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar and the life of the
people, including their festivities, revolve around this phenomenon.
iv. Year after year, people of India from north to south and from east to west, eagerly await the
arrival of the monsoon.
v. These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural
activities in motion. The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley
unit.