Climate

Question 1.
The sum total of weather conditions and variation over a large area for a long period of time is referred to as Climate.

Question 2.
The climate of India is described as the Monsoon type.

Question 3.
On a winter night, the temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low as -45°C .

Question 4.
What are thunder storms called in West Bengal?
A:Thunder storms are called Baisakhi in West Bengal.

Question 7.
Name the two branches of the monsoon.
Answer: The Arabian Sea Branch, They Bay of Bengal Branch.

Question 8.
The climate of India is strongly influenced by _______ . A: Monsoon winds

Question 11.
What do you mean by mango showers?
Answer: Mango showers are the pre-monsoon showers that takes place on the coast of Kerala and Karnataka. Since they help in
the early ripening of mangoes, they are called mango showers.

Question 13.
An apparent force caused by the earth’s rotation is called Answer: Coriolis force

Question 15.
Wind generally blow from the area of _______ .
Answer: High Pressure to Low Pressure

Question 16.
In which hills Mawsynram is located?
Answer: In Khasi Hills

Question 22.
Which states experience loo in summers?
Answer: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, etc.

Question 23.
Why hills are cooler during summer season?
Answer: It is because as one goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less dense and
temperature decreases. That is why hills are cooler in summer.

Question 25.
Why do winters in India experience dry season?
Answer: It is because during this season northeast trade winds prevail over the country. That is why India experience dry season
in winter. They blow from land to sea in most parts of the country.

Question 26.
What is a ‘loo’?
Answer: The strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the day over the north and northwestern India during summers are
known as ‘loo’. The ‘loo’ is a striking feature of the hot weather season from April to June. Loo usually occurs during the
afternoon but sometimes it even continues until late in the evening.

Question 28.
What do you mean by dust-storms?
Answer: They are very common during the month of May in Northern India. These storms bring temporary relief as they, lower
the temperature and may bring bright light rain and cool breeze
Question 1.
What does the word “monsoon” imply?
Answer: The word, monsoon is derived from the Arabic word, Mausam. It means season. Hence, the word, monsoon implies the
seasonal reversal in the wind direction during a year. It conveys the rhythm of seasons and changes in direction of winds and in
the distribution pattern of rainfall and temperature with the change of seasons. The monsoon winds move six months from sea to
land and another six months from land to

Question 8.
What do you know about rainfall distribution in India?
Answer:
Rainfall distribution is unequal in our country. Parts of western coast and northeastern India receive over about 400 cm of rainfall
annually. However, it is less than 60 cm 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.

Question 11.
Write a short note on withdrawal or retreat of monsoon.
Answer: Withdrawal or the retreat of the monsoon is a more gradual process. The withdrawal. of the monsoon begins in
northwestern states of India by early September. By mid-October, it withdraws completely from the northern half of the
peninsula. The withdrawal from the southern half of the peninsula is rapid. By early December, the monsoon has withdrawn from
the rest of the country.

Question 12.
The western part of Rajasthan remains almost dry during southwest monsoon season. Give three reasons in support of this
statement.
Answer:
The western part of Rajasthan remains almost dry during south-west monsoon Season because:
• These monsoon winds flow from east, dropping much of its moisture along the path. When they reach
Rajasthan, they are almost dry.
• There is no mountain high enough to check the flow of the Arabian Sea branch of monsoon winds. The
Aravalli Mountains are not very high.
• The direction of the Aravalli Mountains is parallel to the direction of Arabian Sea winds. Hence, these winds
cross over Rajasthan without giving rainfall.

Question 15.
Describe with examples how distance from the sea influences the climate of a place.
Answer:
The sea exerts a moderating influence on climate. As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence decreases and
the people experience extreme weather conditions. This condition is known as continentality i.e., it is marked as very hot during
summers and very cold during winters. For example, Delhi is located in the interior of the country, at a distance from the sea,
experiences an extreme type of climate.

17. What is October Heat?

A.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’.

19. What are three features of Advancing Monsoon? A. The three features of
Advancing Monsoon are:
• By early June, the low-pressure condition over the northern plains intensifies. It attracts the trade winds of the
southern hemisphere.
• These south-east trade winds originate over the warm subtropical areas of the southern oceans. They cross the
equator and blow in a southwesterly 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 30 km per hour.

1. What are the major controls of the climate? Explain them.

A. The six major controls of the climate are latitude, altitude, pressure and wind system, distance from the sea, ocean currents and
relief features.
• Due to the shape 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, as one goes from the surface of the earth
to higher altitudes.
• Ongoing from the earth’s surface to higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature
decreases. The hills are, therefore, cooler during summers.
• The pressure and wind system of any area depends on the latitude and altitude of the place. Thus, it influences
the temperature and rainfall pattern. The sea exerts a moderating influence on climate.
• As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence decreases and the people experience extreme
weather conditions. This condition is known as continentality (i.e., very hot during summers and very cold
during winters).
• 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 too plays a major role in determining the climate of the place. High mountains act as barriers for cold or
hot winds; they may also cause precipitation it they are high enough and lie in the path of rainbearing winds.
The leeward side of mountains remains relatively dry.

2. Give a brief account of the hot weather season in India.

A. The period between March to May is the hot weather season or summer in India.
The characteristic features of the hot weather season are as follows:
• Due to the apparent northward movement of the sun, the global heat belt shifts northwards.
• The influence of the shifting of the heat belt can be seen clearly from temperature recordings taken during
March-May at different latitudes. In March, the highest temperature is about 38° Celsius, recorded on the
Deccan plateau.
• In April, temperatures in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are around 42°C. In May, temperature of 45°C is
common in northwestern parts of the country. In temperature remain lower due to the Peninsular India, has
moderating to influence of the oceans.
• The summer months experience rising temperature and falling air pressure in the northern part of the country.
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 Chota nagpur plateau in
the east and southeast. Circulation of air begins to set in around this trough.
• Strong, gusty, hot, dry winds, locally called ‘loo’, blow during the day over the north and northwestern India.
They may continue until late in the evening.
• Dust storms are common during the month of May in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Eastern Rajasthan and Western
Uttar Pradesh. Sometimes, they bring light rain and pleasant cool breeze that provide temporary relief from the
heat.
• High temperature during the day causes violent, localised thunderstorms by the evening. These thunderstorms
are associated with violent winds, torrential downpours, often accompanied by hail. These storms are known as
‘Kaal Baisakhi’ or calamity of the month of Baisakh in West Bengal. (Any flue)

6. Write a brief account of the conditions and characteristics of the retreating monsoons.
A. The months of October-November mark a period of transition from hot rainy season to cold dry winter conditions. With the
apparent movement of the sun southwards, the low-pressure monsoon trough over the Northern Plains weakens and is gradually
replaced by a high-pressure system. The low-pressure conditions shift to the Bay of Bengal.
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.
As a result, the southwest monsoon winds weaken and start withdrawing gradually from India. By the beginning of October, it
withdraws from the Northern Plains. This period is known as the Retreating Monsoon
The Retreating Monsoon season is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature. While days are warm, nights are cool and
pleasant. High rate of evaporation from the land that is still moist results in high humidity and oppressive weather conditions
during the day. This phenomenon is known as ‘October heat’.
The low-pressure conditions, cover northwestern India, get transferred to the Bay of Bengal by early November. This shift is
associated with the occurrence of cyclonic depressions, which originate over the Andaman Sea.
The deltas region of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are frequently struck by cyclones, which cause great damage to life
and property. Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh. The bulk of the rainfall of
the Coromandel Coast is derived from depressions and cyclones.

Write the difference between weather and climate.

 WEATHER CLIMATE

1. Weather is day-to-day information on the 1.Climate is statistical weather information that provides
atmospheric conditions in any area information about the average weather condition of a particular
place over a long period.

2.the changes in the weather condition can be 2.The changes in climate take a longer time to change.
observed very frequently.

3.weather forecasting is observed by the 3.Climatology is the scientific study of climate, which is described
meteorological department as the average of weather conditions over time.

4.weather is affected by temperature, pressure, 4.Atmospheric conditions at any location like humidity,
humidity, cloudiness temperature, the sunshine, wind, etc are affected by climate