Geography Chapter 4 Climate

1.:Define climate and weather. Mention the elements which are similar to both
climate and weather.
Ans. 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.

The elements of weather and climate are the same, i.e. temperature, atmospheric
pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation

2. How far it is correct to say that both the pressure and the wind conditions
over India are unique? Explain.

Ans. Both the pressure and wind conditions over India are unique.

The North of the Himalayas has high pressure during the winter season.

Cold dry winds blow towards the low pressure areas over the oceans to the south.

The low pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over northwestern India
in summer season.

This causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds during summer.

3. Describe in brief about the factors which controls the climate of any place.

Ans. There are six major controls of the climate of any place. They are: latitude,
altitude, pressure and wind system, distance from the sea, ocean currents and relief
features.

Latitude -Due to the curvature of the earth, the amount of solar energy received
varies according to latitude. As a result, air temperature generally decreases from
the equator towards the poles.

Altitude - As one goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes, the
atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature decreases. The hills are therefore
cooler during summers.
Pressure and Wind - The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the
latitude and altitude of the place. Thus it influences the temperature and rainfall
pattern.

Distance from Sea- The distance from the sea makes a great impact on the climate
of an area. Areas near the coast have moderate climate. On the other hand, areas
far away from the sea have extreme climates.

Ocean Currents - Ocean currents along with onshore winds affect the climate of the
coastal areas, For example, any coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing past
it, will be warmed or cooled if the winds are onshore
.
Relief - it too plays a major role in determining the climate of a place. High
mountains act as barriers for cold or hot winds; they may also cause precipitation if
they are high enough and lie in the path of rain-bearing winds. The leeward side of
the mountains remains relatively dry.

4. What do you mean by Coriolis force?

Ans. An apparent force caused by the earth's rotation.

Coriolis force is responsible for deflecting winds towards the right in the northern
hemisphere and towards the left in the southern hemisphere.

This also known as Ferrel's Law.

5. Explain October heat?

Ans. The months of October and November are dry months.

Sky become clear and due the dryness temperature begins to rise.

The days become very hot in October.

This period of high day-temperature is called the October Heat.

6. Why do the houses in Rajasthan have thick walls and flat roofs?
Ans. Since the weather in Rajasthan is very hot and receives very less rainfall, the
houses have thick walls and flat roofs. This is because these thick walls prevent the
heat from entering into the houses while the flat roofs help to retain the little water
that has been collected during rainfall.
7.;Why is it that the houses in the Tarai region and in Goa and Mangalore have
sloping roofs?

Ans. The houses in the Tarai region and in Goa and Mangalore have sloping roofs
because they get heavy rain during the monsoon season. When there are sloping
roofs, the rain water can easily flow off towards the ground or to a receptive unit
where water is collected instead of collecting on the rooftop.

8. Why are houses in Assam built on stilts?

Ans. Houses in Assam are built on stilts because the state receives abundant rainfall
due to which there are chances of floods. In case of flood the water might get inside
the houses, if the houses are built on ground level, so in order to avoid flooding of
houses, houses are built on stilts and above the ground level.

9. Why are most of the world's deserts located in the western margins of
continents in the subtropics?

Ans. Most of the world's deserts are located in the western margins of continents in
the subtropics because the prevailing winds in the tropics are tropical easterly winds.
The tropical easterly winds become dry by the time they reach the western margins
of the continents and so they bring no rainfall.

10. Write a short note on windward side.

Ans. The areas or the side of a mountain which gets more rain is called the
windward side. It receives more rain because it is front side of the mountain.

Mumbai is on the windward side. so gets heavy rainfall.

11.Write a short note on leeward side.

Ans. The sloped side of a mountain which is dry and gets less rain is called the
leeward side. It is dryer because when the clouds climb the mountains, they lose
most of its water, so this part remains dry. Pune is on the leeward side, so gets the
less rainfall.

12. What do you understand by "break " in monsoon?

Ans. The Monsoon has a tendency to have breaks in rainfall. has a wet and dry
spell.
In other words, the monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time.
They are interspersed with rainless intervals.
These breaks in monsoon are related to the movement of interspersed troughs.

13. Name the four seasons of India.

Ans. The hot weather season. (March to may) Advancing Monsoon season-Rainy
season(June to September)

The Retreating monsoon season (October to November)

The cold weather season (December to February)

14. What are the features of 'Loo'?

Ans. Loo is the striking feature of hot weather season.

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

These are very hot winds so the direct exposure to these winds is very harmful.

15. Why is the monsoon considered a unifying bond?

Ans. The monsoon is considered a unifying bond due to the reasons as mentioned
below:

(1) The Indian landscape, its flora and fauna etc. are highly influenced by the
monsoon.

(ii) The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather
conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons.
(iii) Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much typical of
the monsoons

(iv) The entire agricultural calendar in India is governed by the monsoon.

(v) Most of the festivals in India are related to the agricultural cycle e.g., Baisakhi.

16. What are the features of the hot weather season in India?

Ans. There is a hot weather season from March to May in India.

The temperature recording taken during march- May at different latitudes clearly
shows the influence of the shifting of the heat belt.
The Highest temperature is about 30° C in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in April. In
May, the temperature commonly reaches at 45° C in the north western parts of the
country.

Due to the moderating influence of the oceans, the temperature remains lower in
peninsular India.

The Temperature rises and air pressure falls in the northern part of the country
during summer month.

At the end of May, an elongated low pressure area develops in the region extending
from the Thar Desert in the north-west to Patna and Chota Nagpur plateau in the
east and south- east.

'Loo' is the most striking feature of the hot weather season

17. What does the word 'Monsoon' imply?

Ans. The word 'monsoon' is derived from the Arabic word 'mausim' which literally
means season.

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

The climate of India is the monsoon type. Such type of climate is found mainly in the
south and Southeast Asia.

18. What are the features of cold weather season in India?

Ans. The cold weather season remains from mid November to February in northern
India. December and January are known as the coldest months in the northern parts
of india. The temperature decreases form south to the North.
One of the main features of the cold weather season in India is warm days and cool
nights.
There is snow fall on the higher slopes of the Himalayas and frost is common in the
north. The northeast trade winds flow over the country during this season. They blow
from land to sea.

19. Write some features of 'Mango Shower'.

Ans. Towards the close of summer season, pre monsoon showers are common,
especially in Kerala and Karnataka.
This spell of rainfall pours down at the end of the summer and help in early ripening
of mangoes.
That's the reason they are called 'mango showers'.

20. Why does Mawsynram get the heaviest rainfall in the world?

Ans. Mawsynram experiences Orographic rainfall as it is located on the windward

side of Garo Hill.
Mawsynram lies in the funnel-shaped depression caused by the Khasi range in
Meghalaya.
The Bay of Bengal branch of monsoons is trapped in it and causes heavy rainfall.
.

21. What are Western Cyclonic Disturbances?

Ans. The Western Cyclonic Disturbances are weather phenomena of the winter
months.
They are brought in by the westerly flow from the Mediterranean region.
They usually influence the weather of the north and north western regions of India.
They bring rainfall in the states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. .

22. Evaluate spread of monsoon over the Indian sub-continent from Kerala to
Jammu and Kashmir.

Ans. The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula generally by
the first week of June.

Subsequently, it proceeds into two branches, Arabian Sea Branch and the Bay of
Bengal branch.

The Arabian Sea branch reaches Mumbai about ten days later on approximately the
10th of June

The Bay of Bengal Branch also arrives in

Indian Peninsula generally by the first week of June.

The remaining area lying north of the tropic of cancer belongs to the sub tropical
area.

23. What are the features of Monsoon?

Ans. The monsoons, unlike the trade winds, are not steady winds but are pulsating in
nature.
The duration of the monsoon is between 100- 120 days from early June to
mid-September.

Around the time of its arrival the normal rainfall increases suddenly and continues
constantly for several days. This is called as the burst of the monsoon.

The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the India Peninsula generally by the first
week of June.

It has two branches- the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.

24. Which parts of India receive heavy rainfall, moderate rainfall, low rainfall
and scanty rainfall?

Ans. Areas of Heavy Rainfall: Assam, the Ganga Delta, the Western Ghats, Western
Coastal areas and Mountainous regions of Himachal etc receive high rainfall.

Areas of Moderate Rainfall: Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chota Nagpur Plateau, West
Bengal, Bihar, Eastern UP, North-eastern Punjab, eastern parts of Tamil Nadu and
Eastern slopes of Western Ghats.

Areas of low rainfall: The Deccan Plateau, western UP, South-eastern parts of
Punjab, Eastern Rajasthan and some part of Kashmir. Areas of Scanty Rainfall:
Western Rajasthan, Kachchh, South-eastern parts Haryana and north-eastern
Kashmir.