Climate

Class 9
Social Science
Geography Chapter 4

Question 1.
What is climate? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
The climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a
long period of time.

Question 2.
What is weather?
Answer:
‘Weather’ refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point of time.

Question 3.
Name the. elements of weather and climate.
Answer:
Temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation.

Question 4.
What does ‘monsoon’ imply? [CBSE 2015] Answer:
The word, ‘monsoon’ comes from the Arabic word’ mausim’ which means season. It implies a
seasonal reversal in the wind direction throughout the year.

Question 5.
Which are the rainest months of India?
Answer:
June to September

Question 6.
Name the month in which the withdrawal of monsoon begins.
Answer:
September

Question 7.
Which region of India receives most of its rainfall in winter?
Answer:
Tamil Nadu coast.

Question 8.
Name the two branches of the monsoon.
 Answer:
• The Arabian Sea branch.
• The Bay of Bengal branch.

Question 9.
What is burst of monsoon? [CBSE 2015] Answer:
Around the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and continues constantly
for several days. This is known as the ‘burst’ of the monsoon.

Question 10.
What me the ‘retreating monsoons’? [CBSE 2014] Answer:
During the months of October and November, the temperature in the Northern plains begins to
decrease, and because of low temperature, the pressure starts rising and the low pressure is no
longer strong enough to attract the monsoon winds. This results in the retreat of the monsoon.

Question 11.
With reference to the ‘Cold weather season in India, answer the following questions.
(i) What is its time period?
(ii) Name the winds which prevail over the country during this season.
Answer:
(i) Mid November to February.
(ii) North-East trade winds.

Question 12.
Name the winds from which the Tamil Nadu coast receive winter rainfall?
Answer.
North-East monsoons which reach there after passing over the Bay of Bengal, and picking
moisture from there.

Question 13.
Name two coldest areas in India.
Answer:
Dras and Kargil (Temperature – 40°C)

Question 14.
Which is the wettest place in India?
Answer:
Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi hills.

Question 15.
What is a jet stream?
Answer:
A jet stream is a fast blowing wind blowing in a narrow zone in the upper atmosphere.

Question 16.
‘The peninsular region does not have a well-defined cold season.’ Give reason.
Answer:
Due to the moderating influence of the sea, the peninsular region does not have a well-defined
cold season.

Question 17.
Name two states where mango showers are common. [CBSE 2000(B)]
Answer:
Kerala and Karnataka.

Question 18.
Name two states on the eastern coast which are frequently struck by the tropical cyclones.
Answer:
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Question 19.
What is meant by breaking of monsoon or burst of the monsoon?
Answer:
The rain bearing monsoons are extremely strong and violent. Their approach is accompanied
by thunder and lightning. This is known as the Wreaking of monsoon.

Question 20.
What is the name given to the climate of India?
Answer:
The Monsoon climate.

Question 21.
What is loo?
Answer:
It is a local wind which is hot and dry.

Question 22.
Name the wind which prevails over India in winter season. [CBSE 2013]

Answer: North-East trade winds.

Question 23.
Two stations with most equable climate.
Answer:
Mumbai and Chennai.

Question 24.
Two stations with most extreme climate.
Answer:
Leh and Jodhpur.
 Question 25.
Name any two regions which receive over 400 cm of rainfall.
Answer:
The Western coast and the North-eastern India receive over 400 cm of rainfall.
Question 26.
Name two stations influenced by the retreating and the North-East monsoons.
Answer:
Chennai and Bengaluru.

Question 27.
Two stations receiving winter showers from the western disturbances.
Answer:
Amritsar and Delhi.

Question 28.
State two chief characteristics of the Western Disturbances? [CBSE1995,2013] Answer:

• These originate over the east Mediterranean Sea.  These cause rain in North India.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
“ Despite an overall unity in the general pattern of climate of India, there are perceptible
regional variations in climatic conditions within the country.” Justify.
Or
“India has diverse climatic conditions “Support this statement by giving examples, each
of temperature and precipitation. Answer:

• The mercury occasionally touches 50°C in the western deserts, and it drops down to as low as
-45°C in winter around Leh.
• The annual precipitation is less than 10 cm in the north-west Himalayas and the western
desert. It exceeds 400 cm in Meghalaya.
• Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September, but some parts like the
Tamil Nadu coast get most of its rain during October and November.

Question 2.
Explain the factors affecting India’s climate. [CBSE 2015]

Answer:

• Latitude: The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of
Kuchchh in the west to Mizoram in the east. Almost half of the country, lying south of the
Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. All the remaining area, north of the Tropic, lies
in the sub-tropic. Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as
subtropical climates.
• Altitude: India has mountains to the north which have an average height of about 6,000
metres. India also has a vast coastal area where the maximum elevation i% about 30 metres.
The Himalayas prevent the cold winds from Central Asia from entering the subcontinent. It is
because of these mountains that this subcontinent experiences comparatively milder winters as
compared to central Asia.
• Pressure and Winds: The pressure and wind conditions over India are unique. During winter,
there is a high-pressure area north of the Himalayas. Cold dry winds blow from this region to
the low-pressure areas over the oceans to the south. In summer, a low-pressure area develops
over interior Asia as well as over northwestern India. This causes a complete reversal of the
direction of winds during summer. Air moves from the high-pressure area over the southern
Indian Ocean, in a south-easterly direction, crosses the equator, and turns right towards the
low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. These are known as the Southwest Monsoon
winds. These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall
over the mainland of India.

Question 3.
Mention any three characteristics of the Monsoon’. [CBSE 2011,12,14]

Answer:

• The Monsoons are pulsating in nature.

Question 4.
What is “October Heat”?
Answer:
The months of October-November form a period of transition from a hot rainy season to dry
winter conditions. The retreat of monsoons is marked by clear skies, and rise in temperature.
The land is still moist. Owing to the condition of high temperature and humidity, the weather
becomes rather oppressive. This is commonly known as ‘October Heat’.

Question 5.
Explain development of Monsoon Trough and its influence over rainfall distribution. [CBSE
2014] Answer:

• It is a region of low atmospheric pressure which develops because of excessive heat.

Questions.6.
Give reasons as to why:
(i) Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent.
(ii) The bulk rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.
(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.
(iv) The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
 (v) Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought prone.
Answer:
(i)

• During winter, there is a high-pressure area over north of the Himalayas. Whereas, there is low
pressure area over the ocean to the south. So cold and dry winds blow from the Himalayan
region towards the ocean.
• During summer, a low-pressure area develops over the interior, Asia as well %is over the
Northwestern India. This causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds during summer.

(ii)

• Most parts of India receive rainfall from the south-west monsoons which blow in India only
between June to September.
• Only the eastern coast of India receives some rainfall from the North-East trade winds during
the cold weather season.
• It is because Tamil Nadu gets rain from the north-east monsoons which reach there after
passing over the Bay of Bengal, after picking moisture from there.

(iv)

• In the mid-October, the mercury begins to fall at a rapid speed in Northern India.
• The low-pressure conditions of the North shifts to the Bay of Bengal by November. This shift
causes cyclonic depressions in the Andaman Sea.
• These cyclonic depressions give rise to tropical cyclones which cause heavy and widespread
rains in the deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri.

(v)

• Rajasthan does not receive much rain because the Aravalli Range which lies parallel to the
direction of the winds and hence condensation does not occur.
• Gujrat receives less rainfall because there are no hills and mountain ranges.
The leeward side of the Western Ghats receives less rainfall because when air descends, it gets
warmed up. Due to its rising temperature, the relative, humidity of air decreases, and the air
turns from a saturated state to an unsaturated state. Due to his fact, no rainfall occurs on the
leeward side.

Long Answer Type Questions

Questions.1.
Compare the hot weather season of India with that of cold weather season.
Answer:
Questions.2.
How will you differentiate between the summer and winter monsoons?
Or
Differentiate between South-West and North-East trade winds.
Answer:

Higher Order Thinking Skills Questions

Questions. 1.
Give reason for the following:
(i) Thiruvananthapuram has the year equable climate.
(ii) Delhi has extreme climate.
(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.
(iv) Leh has moderate precipitation almost through-out the year.
(v) The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
 Answer:
(i) It has equable climate due to proximity to sea. Sea has moderating influence over its
climate.
(ii) Because Delhi is far away from sea. As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating
influence decreases.
(iii) Tamil Nadu receives rainfall from North-east trade winds.
(iv) Leh is at a very high altitude. During the cold weather season, the ‘Western Disturbances’
contribute to heavy snowfall in this region. Both south-west and southeast monsoons also
cause precipitation in this part.
(ii) (a) In the mid October, the mercury begins to fall at a rapid speed in Northern India.
(b)The low-pressure conditions of the North shifts to the Bay of the Godavari, the Krishna and
the Kaveri.

Questions.2.
Carefully study the given rainfall and temperature graphs and answer the following of
questions:
(i) Which station receives more rainfall?
Answer:
Shillong.

(ii) Which is the rainiest month of Shillong?

(iii) Which is the coldest month in Leh?

Answer: January

(iv)Compare the climatic conditions of both the stations with reference to rainfall and
temperature. Answer:

• Leh receives very low rainfall whereas Shillong receives very high rainfall.
• Temperature in Leh remains very low throughout the year whereas temperature in Shillong
remains between 10°C to 20°C.
Bengal by November. This shift causes cyclonic depressions in the Andaman Sea.
• These cyclonic depressions give rise to tropical cyclones which cause heavy and widespread
rains in the deltas

Questions.2.
Why the people of India eagerly awaits the arrival of the monsoon?
Answer:
These monsoon winds binds the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural
activities in motion.

Questions.3.
Compare he retreating monsoon with advancing monsoon.
 Or
Mention any three features of retreating monsoon.
Or
Mention any four features of advancing monsoon.
Answer:

Questions.2.
“Monsoon acts as a unifying bond”. Explain. [CBSE March 2013,15] Answer:

• The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a
rhythmic cycle of seasons. Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very
much typical of the monsoons.
• The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar arid 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 in motion. The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley
unit.