4.

Climate
1. Define the terms Weather and Climate? What are its common elements?

Ans:

Weather:

Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point of time.

Climate:

Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a
long period of the time (more than thirty years).

Elements of the weather and climate:

• The elements of the weather and climate are:

• Temperature

• Atmospheric pressure

• Wind

• Humidity

• Precipitation etc.,

2. What does Monsoon refer to?

Ans: Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal in the wind direction during a year.

3. Differentiate between Continental and Moderate type of Climate?

Ans:

Continental climate:

Places which are very far away from sea or ocean experience Continental type of climate. In
these places summer is too hot and winter is too cold.

Moderate climate:

Coastal places experience moderate type of climate. They are neither too hot nor too cold.
4. What are the six major controls of the climate of India?

Ans: Climatic controls:

• Latitude

• Altitude

• Pressure and wind system

• Distance from the sea

• Ocean currents and relief features

5. What are Ocean currents?

Ans: Ocean Currents: Ocean Currents are continuous movement of ocean water from one place to
another.

6. What are the factors affecting the climate of India?

Ans:

• Latitude

• Altitude

• Pressure and winds:

• Pressure and surface winds

• Upper air circulation

• Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones

7. What is a Coriolis force?

Ans: Coriolis force:

• An apparent force caused by the earth’s rotation. The Coriolis force is responsible for
deflecting winds towards the right in the northern hemisphere and towards the left in the
southern hemisphere.

• This is also known as “ Ferrel’s Law”.

Ans: JET STREAM:

• These are a narrow belt of high altitude (above 12000 m) westerly winds in the
troposphere. Their speed varies from about 110 km/ h in summer to about 184 km/h in
winter.

• A number of separate jet streams have been identified. The most constant are the mid-
latitude and the sub-tropical jet streams
9. Write about Mechanism of Monsoon?

Ans: The Monsoons are experienced in the tropical area roughly between 20c degrees N and 20
degrees S. To understand the mechanism of the monsoons, the following facts are important.

• The differential heating and cooling of land and water.

• The shift of the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

• Presence of the high pressure area, east of Madagascar.

• Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated.

• The movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas and the presence
of the tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during summer.

10. What is Southern Oscillation?

Ans: The periodic change in pressure conditions over the southern oceans is known as Southern
Oscillation.

11. What does ENSO mean?

Ans: ENSO is the combination of El Nino and Southern Oscillations. The changes in pressure
conditions are connected to the El Nino. Hence the phenomenon is referred to as ENSO.

12. What is a Monsoon burst?

Ans: Around the time of monsoon arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and continues
constantly for several days. This is known as the ‘burst’ of the monsoon.

13. Name the two branches of the monsoon?

Ans:

• The Arabian sea branch

15. Write any five important features about Cold weather season or winter?

Ans: Cold weather season or winter:

• 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.

• The temperature decreases from south to the north.

• Days are warm and nights are cold.

• Frost is common in the north and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
• In this season the weather is normally marked by the clear sky, low temperatures and low
humidity and feeble, variable winds.
• The westerly flow cause the much-needed winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the
mountains.
• Although the total amount of winter rainfall locally known as ‘Mahawat’ is small, they
are of immense importance for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.

16. Define the term “Mahawat”.

• The westerly flow cause the winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains.

• Although the total amount of winter rainfall locally known as ‘Mahawat’ is small, they are of
immense importance for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.

17. Write any five important features about Hot weather season or summer?

Ans: Hot weather season or summer

• From March to May, it is hot weather season in India.

• The summer months experience rising temperature and falling air pressure in the northern part of
the country.

• A striking feature of the hot weather season is the ‘loo’.

• Dust storms are very common during the month of May in northern India.

• This is also the season for localized thunderstorms, associated with violent winds, torrential
downpours, often accompanied by hail.

• Towards the close of the summer season, pre – monsoon showers are common especially in
Kerala and Karnataka.

18. Define the terms “loo”, “Kaal Baisakhi” and “Mango Showers:`

Ans:
Loo:

• These are strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the day over the north and north western
India.

Kaal Baisakhi:

• In summer season is the season for localized thunderstorms, associated with violent winds,
torrential downpours, often accompanied by hail. In West Bengal these storms are known as the
Kaal Baisakhi.

Mango showers:
• Towards the close of the summer season, pre – monsoon showers are common especially in
Kerala and Karnataka. They help in the early ripening of mangoes, and are often referred to as
‘mango showers’.

19. Write any five important features about Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)?

Ans: Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season):

• By early June, the low-pressure condition over the northern plains intensifies.

• It attracts the trade winds of the southern hemisphere.

• They cross the equator and blow in a south westerly direction entering the Indian peninsula as the
south west monsoon.

• As these winds blow over warm oceans, they bring abundant moisture to the subcontinent.

• These winds are strong and blow at an average velocity of 30km per hour.

• The inflow of the south-west monsoon into India brings about a total change in the weather.

• Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills receives the highest average rainfall in the
world.

• Rainfall in the Ganga valley decreases from the east to the west, Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat
get scanty rainfall.

20. “The monsoon is known for its uncertainties”. Support the statement.

Ans: Yes, the monsoon is known for its uncertainties.

• The alternation of dry and wet spells vary in intensity, frequency and duration.

• While it causes heavy floods in one part and, it may be responsible for droughts in the other.

• It is often irregular in its arrival and its retreat.

• Hence, it sometimes disturbs the farming schedule of millions of farmers all over the country.

21. Write any five important features about Retreating /Post Monsoons Season?
Ans: Retreating /Post Monsoons Season:

• During October-November, the monsoon trough or the low pressure trough over the northern
plains becomes weaker.

• This is gradually replaced by a high-pressure system.

• The south-west monsoon winds weaken and start withdrawing gradually.

• The months of October – November form a period of transition from hot rainy season to dry
winter conditions.

• The retreat of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature.

• While day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant.

• The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather
becomes rather oppressive during the day. This is commonly known as ‘October Heat’.

22. What is October Heat?

Ans:

• The months of October – November form a period of transition from hot rainy season to dry
winter conditions.

• The retreat of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature.

• While day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant.

• The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather
becomes rather oppressive during the day. This is commonly known as ‘October Heat’.

23. Write about the Distribution of Rainfall In India?

• The distribution of rainfall is uneven in India.

• Part of western coast and northeastern India receives over about 400cm of rainfall annually.

• However, it is less than 60cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat, Haryana and
Punjab.

• Rainfall is equally low in the interior of the Deccan Plateau, and east of the Sahyadris.

• A third area of low precipitation is around Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.

• The rest of the country receives moderate rainfall.

• Snowfall is restricted to the Himalayan region.

24. Describe the Monsoon As A Unifying Bond.

Ans:

• Even the uncertainties and uneven distribution are very much typical of the monsoons.

• 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.

• Year after year, people of India from north to south and from east to west, eagerly await the
arrival of the monsoon.

• These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural activities.

______________________THE END_______________________________