TOPIC:-CLIMATE OF INDIA

Question 1 Very Short Questions

a, What are ‘Western Disturbances’?
Answer; Mediterranean Depressions originating over the Mediterranean Sea.
These bring rain in winter to N.W. India.
b. What is the most important feature of the tropical monsoon type of
climate?
Answer: The most important feature of the tropical monsoon type of
climate is alternation of Seasons.
c. Define ‘monsoon’?
Answer: The word Monsoon is derived from the Arabic language which means
Monsoon or weather.
d. State the main factors that affect the climate of Indian sub-continent.
Answer: Its latitudinal extent, presence of the Himalayas, and presence of the
Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in the south affect the climate
of India.
e. Mention the cause of winter showers in Western Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Westerly depressions originating in the Mediterranean Sea, cyclones
are caused which give winter showers in Western Uttar Pradesh.
f. Which parallel of latitude divides India into the northern and southern halves?
Answer: Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N latitude).
g. How are the sources of rainfall in the North-west part of India different from
the rainfall experienced on the coastal areas of Eastern India in winter?
Answer: North-west India—Summer: South-west Monsoons (Bay of Bengal
stream), Winter: Winter cyclones from Mediterranean Sea.
Coastal regions of Eastern India—Winter or North-east Monsoon or Retreating
Monsoons.
h. Name an area which receives rain in winter. What causes rainfall in this region
and how does it benefit agriculture?
Answer: (i) Indo-Gangetic Plain receives rain in winter. Due to the temperate
cyclones coming from the Mediterranean Sea these cyclonic rains are beneficial
to crops of wheat and barley.
(ii) Chennai Coast and parts of Tamil Nadu from the winter monsoon. It helps
in rice cultivation.
i. Name the state in India through which the standard meridian of India and the
Tropic of Cancer pass covering the longest distance.
Answer: Madhya Pradesh is the state in India where standard meridian of
India, as well as the Tropic of Cancer pass covering the longest distance.
Question 2 Short Questions
a. Give two important characteristics of the South West Monsoon rainfall.
Answer: Characteristics of SW monsoon are:
(i) Orographic in nature.
(ii) Uncertain in amount and time.
b. What is the direction of the summer monsoon?
Answer: South West. The intense heat that prevails over India causes the
development of low pressure over the northern plains. It attracts the moisture
bearing South East Trade winds from the southern hemisphere. After crossing
the equator they are deflected to the right and blow over India as the south
west monsoon winds.
c. Which type of climate is experienced in the Northern Plains of India? State one
main characteristic of this type of climate.
Answer: The northern plains experiences ‘continental’ type of climate as it is far
away from the oceanic effect. The main characteristics of this type of climate is,
that it experiences extremes of temperature in the months of summer and
winter i.e. it is extremely hot in summer and extremely cold in winter.
d. Why are there great variations in the climate of the Indian sub-continent.
Answer: India has diverse conditions. There are sharp variations in
temperature and precipitation from place to place and Season to Season. The
Indian climate is controlled by the following factors:
(i) Situation (ii) Relief (iii) Surface winds (iv) Upper current
e. Describe the process of retreat in case of summer monsoon.
Answer: By mid-September the South-West monsoon begins to withdraw from
the Indian sub-continent. The retreating process gets accelerated gradually as
the pressure over the land gets higher than the Sea. Cool winds begin to blow
from the north and the South-West monsoon starts moving backward.
f. State two important characteristic features of the monsoon rainfall in India.
Answer: (i) Reversal of wind system. (ii) Uneven distribution of rainfall over the
year.
g. What is ‘October Heat’?
Answer: The retreating of monsoon winds results in clearing the sky.
Consequently, the temperature increases. The land is still moist in these
months. Owing to the high temperature, the humidity becomes very
oppressive. This state of weather is known as October Heat.

Question 3 Long Questions

a. Describe the climatic conditions which prevail over India during different
Seasons.
Answer:
1. The Cold Season: The cold Season lasts from December to February.
(a) Temperature: The sun is over head at Tropic of Capricorn. India has winter
Season. January is the coldest month. The Southern parts have warm
 conditions (20°C) while low temperatures (10°C) are found in North-West
India.
(b) Pressure and Winds: High pressure is developed over N.W. part while a low
pressure exists over Indian Ocean with the result winds blow from land to
Sea. The out-blowing winds are Westerly in Northern plain and North Easterly
over the rest of the country.
(c) Rainfall: The North-east Monsoons are off-shore wind and are dry but these
winds pick up some moisture while crossing Bay of Bengal and give rain to
South-east coast of India. Some cyclones from Mediterranean Sea also bring a
small amount of rain (10 to 20 cm.) to Northern plains. Night frost is common
in the North-west parts.
2. The Hot Season: The hot Season lasts from March to May.
(a) Temperature: As the sun’s rays fall vertical over Tropic of Cancer, the
temperature begins to rise. The average temperature is above 30°C, the
maximum temperature rises to 50°C in Barmer (Rajasthan). The daily range of
temperature rises in inland areas.
(b) Pressure and Winds: Intense heat results in the development of low
pressure over North-West India. A high pressure exists over Indian Ocean.
South-West Monsoons begin to blow from Sea to land. ‘Nor-westers’ and ‘Loo’
blow over Northern plains.
(c) Rainfall: Some areas receive convectional rainfall. The west coast also
starts receiving rainfall. Most of the country is dry in title pre-Monsoon period.
The Rainy Season: The rainy Season lasts from June to September.
(a) Temperature: The sun shines vertical over Tropic of Cancer. The
temperatures are more than 30°C. With the onset of monsoon there is a drop
in temperature (5°C to 10°C) with the result, July is not the hottest month.
(b) Pressure and Winds: South-West Monsoons blow from Sea to land with a
‘burst’ on the West Coast. It blows in two currents.
(I) The Arabian Sea Current (II) The Bay of Bengal Current.
(c) Rainfall: Most of the parts of India receive rainfall in this Season. The
Arabian Sea branch gives heavy rainfall on the west coast, but Deccan plateau
lies in rain shadow of western Ghats. The Bay of Bengal branch gives heavy
rainfall in Eastern Himalayas. The rainfall goes on decreasing up the Ganges
Valley with the decrease in moisture. Rajasthan is practically a desert.
b. Give two important characteristics of the summer monsoon rainfall in India.
Answer: Two important characteristics of the summer monsoon rainfall in
India are as follows:
(i) The monsoon rainfall in India is unevenly spread and sporadic. Thus places
like the western Ghats receive heavy rainfall of more than 200 cm whereas the
desert regions of Rajasthan receive scanty rainfall of less 50 cm a year.
(ii) Monsoon rainfall in India is orographic in nature. Thus the windward
slopes of the Western Ghats receive more rain than the leeward slopes

c. (i) Give an account of distribution of annual rainfall in India.

 (ii) Explain how it is related to the relief, with examples.
Answer:
(i) The average annual rainfall of India is 110 cm. Regional variations in the
distribution are found due to differences in relief of the country. Rainfall is
unevenly distributed throughout the country. India can be divided into the
following rainfall regions:
Areas of heavy rainfall: These areas get more than 200 cm, of annual rainfall.
These include Western Coast and Western Ghats, Sub-Himalayas, and the
North-east parts of India.
Areas of moderate rainfall: These areas get annual rainfall of 100-200 cm.
These include West: Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Eastern parts of U.P., and Madhya
Pradesh; coastal plains of Tamil Nadu.
Areas of very little rain: Jammu-Kashmir, Western Rajasthan (Thar Desert).

(ii) The Western Ghats: places to the windward side of the Ghats, e.g., Mumbai,
Goa, Mangalore, Kerala coast get heavy rain, Places on the leeward side like
Pune, the Deccan plateau, Chennai, get less rain.
Garo-Khasi Hills: Cherrapunji which is favourably situated in these hills, gets
entrapped in the Bay of Bengal branch of the S.W. Monsoon and gets very
heavy rain, Shillong which lies on the leeward side of these Hills gets less rain.
Aravalli Hills: These hills run parallel to the Arabian Sea branch of the S.W.
Monsoon and is not conducive to rain. Besides, the Bay of Bengal winds of the
S.W. Monsoon coming from the east is blocked and hence Rajasthan lying on
the leeward side of these Hills, gets little rain. This is why Thar is a desert.
The Himalaya Mountains block the Bay of Bengal branch of the S.W. Monsoon
from crossing the mountains. The places on the southern slopes of the
Mountains get heavy rain.

d. State three dominant characteristics of the monsoon.

Answer: The dominant characteristics of monsoon are:
(i) Seasonal reversal of direction in the winds system. The monsoon winds blow
from land to Sea in winters and from Sea to land in summers.
(ii) Seasonal heavy rainfall and drought are common features of the monsoon.
(iii) Inspite of local variation in climatic conditions, it unites the whole sub-
continent in a single climatic thread of monsoon type of climate.

e. (i) ‘Rainfall decreases as one travels up the Ganges Valley.’ Why?

(ii) What is the direction of the summer monsoon on the Indo-Gangetic Plain?
Answer: (i) A branch of Summer Monsoon from Bay of Bengal moves up the
Ganges Valley, it moves westwards along the Himalayas. The lower Ganges
Valley receives the rainfall first and the upper Ganges Valley later on. Kolkata
has an annual rainfall of 160 cm. As the branch of monsoon moves westward,
it gets drier and drier. So it gives less rainfall. Varanasi gets 104 cm. of rainfall,
Delhi gets 66 cm of rainfall.
 (ii) Their direction on the Indo-Gangetic plain is east-west.

f. The Coromandel coast has more rainy months but less rainfall than the
Konkan Coast. Why?
Answer: Konkan Coast faces on-shore S. W. Monsoons during summer. These
moist laden winds give heavy rainfall (more than 300 cm.). But these winds do
not give much rainfall on the Coromandel Coast as it lies in the rain shadow of
Western Ghats. Coromandel Coast also receives winter rainfall from N. E.
monsoons, but on Konkan Coast these winds are off. shore and do not give any
rainfall. N. E. Monsoon is a dry wind as it blows from the land. Thus,
Coromandel Coast gets rainfall in both the Seasons, but the total blows
amount is less than that of Konkan Coast

g. (i) What is meant by a ‘Rain Shadow’ area?

(ii) Give one example of ‘Rain Shadow’ areas in India.
Answer: (i) The leeward side of the hill is called ‘Rain Shadow’ area which
remains dry because the winds are blocked by the hills.
(ii) An example of ‘Rain Shadow’ area in India is:
For Arabian Sea branch Chennai lies at leeward side of western ghats and falls
under Rain Shadow area.

h. (i) Why are there great variations in the climate of the Indian sub-continent?
(ii) Name any three local winds which blow in India and write briefly about
each.
Answer: (i) There are great variations in the climate of the Indian sub-continent
because of the vast longitudinal extent and different topographical features.
(ii) Mango showers-Good for the growth of mangoes. Kerala.
Loo-Hot dry winds from Rajasthan to Western U.P.
Kalbaisakhi-Thunderstorms in West Bengal and Assam.

i. Why are Himalayas called perfect climate divide? Explain their two-fold
functions in this regard.
Answer: (i) Himalayas act as a shield to protect the sub-continent from the
bitter cold winds of Central Asia.
(ii) They also act as a barrier for the rain bearing winds from leaving our
country.

j. State the climatic significance of the Himalayas to the people of South Asia.
Or
Describe the two ways in which the Himalayas influence the climate of India.
Answer: The Himalayas play a very significant role in influencing the climate of
South Asia by virtue of their high altitude, length and direction. They effectively
 intercept the summer monsoons coming from Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
and cause precipitation in the form of rain or snow. Besides, they prevent the
cold continental air masses of Central Asia from entering into India.

Question 4 Give Reasons

. Give Geographical Reasons for the following:
a. The latitudinal extent of India is responsible for the variation in the climatic
conditions which prevail in the country.
Answer: The Northern plains lie to north of the Tropic of Cancer in the
Temperate Zone. The winters are much colder. South India lies below the
Tropic of Cancer, in the tropics and gets the direct rays of the sun. Hence it is
hot through most of the year. The winters are not so cold.

b. The Northern Plains of India have a Continental type of climate.

Answer: Northern plains have continental climate because it is away
from the moderating influence of the sea.

c. The northern plains of India do not freeze in winter.

Answer: The Himalayas prevent the bitterly cold winds of the north from
entering into India and helps to keep the temperature of the northern
plains at a moderate level.

d. The northern plains of India do not freeze in winter.

Answer: The Himalayas prevent the bitterly cold winds of the north from
entering into India and helps to keep the temperature of the northern
plains at a moderate level.

e. It is cooler on the mountain slopes than in the plains during summer.

Answer: Because the temperature decreases with altitude.

f. Mention why does sub-continent have Tropical Monsoon climate.

Answer: Due to the pressure system, which is well developed over the
land and Sea and due to the presence of a large land mass, and water
body. Differential heating and cooling of land and water is the chief
cause of the Tropical Monsoon type of climate.

g. At a place like Bhopal one can see the midday sun exactly over head
twice a year, while at Vidisha, only a few kilometre north of it, one is not
able to do so even once. Give the reason briefly.
Answer: Bhopal lies south of the Tropic of Cancer and Vidisha lies north
 of the Tropic of Cancer. Direct rays of the sun can be experienced only
till Tropic of Cancer.

h. Even in summer Shimla is cooler than Delhi.

Answer: Shimla is cooler than Delhi in summer as it is located at a
higher altitude than that of Delhi. Thus due to Normal Lapse Rate
Shimla enjoys a cooler climate than Delhi.

i. Kochi has a lesser annual range of temperature than Agra.

Answer: Kochi has a coastal location while Agra has a continental
location. Due to the influence of the moist winds from the sea it
experiences a moderate climatic condition throughout the year.
Whereas Agra has extreme temperature conditions resulting in high
annual range of temperature.

j. Explain why Nainital is cooler than Agra.

Answer: Nainital is a hill station located at a higher altitude. Since
temperature decreases with altitude, it is cooler as compared to Agra
which lies in the interior. It experiences continental type of climate.

k. Patna receives heavier rain than Delhi.

Answer: Patna receives heavier rain than Delhi because the Bay of
Bengal branch of South-West Monsoon goes up the Ganga plain as it
proceeds up the Ganga valley, the amount of rain fall keeps decreasing
East to West. Since Patna is located to the east of Delhi, it receives 102
cm of rain fall while Delhi gets 50 cm of rain fall annually.

l. Mangalore is not cold even in the month of December.

Answer: Mangalore is located at the south of Tropic of Cancer along the
Western Coast of India and enjoys the moderating influence of land and
sea breezes throughout the year. The climate over there being equable
or mari time type, the place does not experience any winter.

m India is known as the land of the endless growing Season. Explain.

. Answer: India is known as the land of the endless growing Season
because being a sub-tropical land it enjoys a growing Season
throughout the year. Growing Season is that part of the year when the
growth of vegetation is made possible by the favourable combination of
temperature and rainfall.

n. Explain the term ‘Burst of Monsoon’.

 Answer: The sudden outbreak of the monsoon winds with an
intensifying low pressure over the north-western part of the sub-
continent, associated by thunder and lightning is called the ‘Burst of
Monsoon’.
o. Explain the term Retreating Monsoon.
Answer: South-West Monsoons begin to withdraw from the sub-continent
during the first week of October. The sun begins to move towards equator.
There is a decrease in temperature. Hot and sticky weather is found. Some
tropical cyclones are developed which give heavy rainfall in coastal areas. Cool
weather begins in North-West India, but the southern parts have an equable
climate.

p. The mango showers are beneficial local winds.

Answer: Mango showers are local winds which bring rain to Kerala in
the month of May. It is good for the growth of mangoes.

q. Mumbai is warmer than Kanpur in December.

Answer: Because it is close to equator as well as Sea.

r. Chennai has a lower annual range of temperature than Lucknow.

Answer: Chennai is located at lower latitude and is closer to the equator
as compared to Lucknow. Besides Chennai is close to Sea so its
temperature gets moderated whereas Lucknow is in the interior.

s. Jaipur has a higher annual range of temperature than Mumbai.

Answer: Jaipur has a higher annual range of temperature because it is
in the interior and it has a continental type of climate, Very hot in
summer and Very cold in winter as it is far away from the oceanic effect,
where as Mumbai is a coastal area. It is very close to ocean and due to
the oceanic effect; it has a moderate climate which makes annual range
of temperature very low.

t. Why does Kanyakumari experience an equable climate?

Answer: Since, Kanyakumari is located at the top of the Indian sub-
continent where the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea meet,
moderating the climate making it equable or maritime.

u. The North East Monsoons bring almost no rain to most of India.

Answer: The North-East Monsoon is a dry wind blowing from the Asian
landmass. It collects moisture from the Bay of Bengal. It brings less rain
to east India, Chennai coast.
v. Punjab gets rain in winters. Why?
Answer: Punjab gets rainfall in the winter months due to the winter
monsoons. The source of winter rainfall for Punjab is also the cyclonic
rain received from western disturbances entering the Indian sub-
continent from the North-west.

u. Kanyakumari is the first to receive the south-west monsoon stream and

the last to see its retreat.
Answer: West coast region is the first to receive rain from the South-
west monsoon. Hence, Kanyakumari is the first to receive the South-
west monsoon stream. By the first week of October the South-west
monsoon begins to withdraw from India since Kanyakumari is the last
station to see the retreat of the South-west monsoon.

w. Why does the Tamil Nadu coast get rainfall in October?

Answer: The south-west monsoon begins to withdraw from India by the
first week of October. It leaves Jammu-Kashmir, the Northern Plains,
then peninsular India, moving southwards and westwards. When it
reaches the Chennai coast on its way backwards, it is checked by the
Eastern Ghats and imparts rain to the Chennai coast. Chennai gets
about 60 cm of rain from the retreating monsoon.

x. Mangalore and Chennai lie approximately on the same latitude, yet

Mangalore receives its rainfall from June to September, while Chennai
receives rainfall in November and December. What is the reason of this
difference?
Answer: Since Mangalore is situated on the west coast, it receives the
South-west monsoon in June but Chennai is situated on the east coast
so it receives rain from the retreating monsoon in November and
December.

y. When the Malabar coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil
Nadu coast is comparatively dry.
Answer: When the malabar coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July the
Tamil Nadu coast is dry because it lies in rain shadow region of Arabian
sea branch and Bay of Bengal is parallel to the coast.

z Western coastal plains receive more rainfall than the Eastern coastal
plains.
Answer: Western coastal plain receives more rainfall than eastern
coastal plain because western coastal plain lies on the windward side of
 western Ghats and gets rainfall more than 200 cm but Eastern coastal
plain lies on the leeward side of the Western Ghats and gets a little
rainfall (50 to 100 cm).

Question 5. Differentiate
a. Mention two differences in the climatic conditions which prevail over
Kerala and Uttar Pradesh in the month of June.
Answer: Kerala faces the South-West Monsoon which starts by the end
of May and brings heavy rain. The climate is cooled. Uttar Pradesh on
the other hand lies to the north, in the interior. It will get the rain from
the Bay of Bengal branch of the South-West Monsoon which will reach
there by the end of June or beginning July. This rain will also be much
less as the winds continue dropping their moisture on the way. The
plains are very hot in the month of June.

b. Equable and Extreme climates.

Answer:
Equable Climate Extreme Climate
1. In this climate summers are
In this climate summers are very
not very hot and winters are not
hot and winters are very cold.
very cold.
2. The annual range of The annual range of temperature
temperature is small. is high.

Question 6. Data based Questions

a. Study the climatic data provided below and answer the questions that follow:
Month J F M A M J J A S O N
Station A
Temp °C 21.0 22.6 26.3 29.2 29.7 27.5 25.1 24.5 24.8 25.5 22.
Rain cm 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.5 2.7 11.4 16.7 9.0 13.4 9.0 2.7
Station B
Temp °C 24.4 24.4 26.7 28.3 30.0 28.9 27.2 27.2 27.2 28.3 27.
Rain cm 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 50.2 61.0 37.0 27.0 4.8 1.4

(i) Calculate the annual range of temperature of Station B.

(ii) Calculate annual rainfall of Station A.
(iii) Presuming that both the stations are located in West India, state giving a
reason as to which of the two lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats.
 Answer: (i) 30°C – 24.4°C = 5.6°C.
(ii) 67.4 cms.
(iii) Station B as it gets more rainfall in the months of June, July, August.

b. Given below is the climatic data of a station. Study the table and answer the
questions that follow:
Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov.
Temperature °C 24.5 25.7 27.7 20.4 30.0 32.5 31.0 30.2 29.8 28.0 25.9
Rainfall cm 4.6 1.3 1.3 1.8 3.8 4.5 8.7 11.3 11.9 30.6 35.0

(i) Calculate the annual rainfall experienced by the station.

(ii) What is the annual range of temperature?
(iii) Name the wettest month.
Answer: (i) Annual rainfall experienced by the station is 128.7 cm.
(iii) The wettest month is November with the highest rainfall 35.0 cm.

c. Study the climatic data provided below and answer the questions that follow:
Ja Ma Jun
Month Feb Mar Apr Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
n y e
Station A (sea level)
24. 28. 20. 29. 30. 29. 29. 27. 26. 26. 25. 24.
Temperature (°C)
4 4 7 3 0 9 8 8 9 3 1 8
26. 29. 30. 26. 11.
Rainfall (cm) 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.6 3.8 1.1 0.2
6 6 5 5 9
Station B (800 m above sea level)
15. 20. 25. 24. 24. 22. 20. 18. 14.
Temperature (°C) 8.1 8.9 9.6
6 1. 2 3 1 7 6 4 1
Rainfall (cm) 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.1 1.3 3.2 7.7 1.3 5.8 0.7 0.4 0.3

(i) Calculate the annual range of temperature of Station A Suggest a reason

why the range is small one.
(ii) Which of the two Stations has the lower temperature? Why?
(iii) Calculate the annual rainfall of Station B.
Answer: (i) The annual range of temperature of Station ‘A’ is 9.3°C. The range
of tempera-ture is small because the Station ‘A’ is situated close to sea.
(ii) Station ‘B’ has the lower temperature because it is situated 800m above sea
level (as we move on the higher altitude the temperature decreases).
(iii) The annual rainfall of station B is = 31.8 cm.
d. Given below is the climatic data of a station. Study the table and answer the
questions that follow:
Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temperature in 13. 16. 21. 25. 33. 33. 30. 29. 29. 25. 19. 15.
Degree C. 7 6 6 5 2 5 8 8 2 5 6 2
17. 18. 12.
Rainfall in cms. 2.5 2.0 1.5 0.9 1.5 7.5 1.0 0.2 1.5
8 5 5

(i) Calculate the annual range of temperature.

(ii) What is the total rainfall experienced by the station?
(iii) Which is the driest month?
Answer: (i) The annual range of temperature = highest temperature of the year
– lowest temperature of the year
= 33.5 – 13.7 = 19.8°C.
The annual range of temperature is 19.8°C.
(ii) The total rainfall experienced by the station = 67.4 cm.
(iii) The driest month is November (0.2 cm rain).

e. Study the climatic data given below and answer the questions that follow:
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Temperature 23. 24. 26. 29. 32. 33. 32. 30. 29. 28. 26.
32
°C 1 8 5 3 8 1 1 5 3 7 1
15. 10. 10. 10. 20. 16. 19.
Rainfall cm 0.3 0.1 1.3 4.5 6.1
3 1 2 5 1 8 0

(i) Calculate the annual rainfall experienced by the station.

(ii) Suggest a name of this station, giving a reason for your answer.
(iii) Name the season during which the rainfall is heaviest.
Answer: (i) Annual rainfall is 114.3 cm.
(ii) Suggested name is Chennai. Because the station is receiving most of its rain
in October and November.
(iii) Retreating monsoon season.

f. Study the climatic data given below and answer the questions that follow:
Jun
Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
.
°C 25.0 25.5 26.3 27.1 30.0 36.2 36.0 35.9 30.3 28.4 27.0 24.6
cm 24.5 23.1 15.0 2.4 0.1 11.0 9.3 7.2 4.0 9.4 14.5 20.4
 (i) Calculate the annual temperature range.
(ii) What is the total annual rainfall?
(iii) Presuming that the station is located in India, give a reason for its location
being on the east coast or the west coast of India.
Answer: (i) Annual Range of temperature = 26.2°C – 24.6°C = 11.6°C.
(ii) Total Annual Rainfall = 24.5 + 23.1 + 15.0 + 2.4 + 0.1 + 11.0 + 9.3 + 7.2 +
4.0 + 9.4 + 14.5 + 20.4 = 140.9 cm.
(iii) The station is located on the eastern coast of India, because heavy rainfall
is observed in winter season.

g. (i) Study the table given below and answer the questions that follows:
Stati
Months J F M A M J J A S O N D
on
Temperature 12. 15. 22. 31. 37. 39. 37. 33. 26. 16. 13.
28
in °C 7 1 1 8 2 1 3 4 7 1 6
A
Rainfall in 18. 18. 15.
2.1 2.3 1.0 0.9 1.5 5.6 0.6 0.3 1.8
cms 3 9 1
Temperature 23. 24. 26. 29. 32. 33. 32. 30. 29. 28. 26.
32
in °C 1 8 5 3 8 1 1 5 3 7 1
B
Rainfall in 15. 10. 10. 10. 20. 16. 19.
0.3 0.1 1.3 4.5 6.1
cms 3 1 2 5 1 8 0

(a) Calculate the annual rainfall in station A.

(b) What is the annual range of temperature in station B?
(c) Name the winds that bring most of the rainfall to station B. State one reason
for your answer.
(ii) Give reason why Shillong gets hardly 200 cm., rainfall during the year,
whereas Cherrapunji gets more than 1250 cm, of rainfall although they are
situated very close to each other.
Answer: (i) (a) 68.4 cm
(b) 33.1 – 231 = 10°C
(c) N. E. Monsoon because the maximum rainfall is received in the month of
October, November and December.
(ii) Cherrapunji is located in a funnel shaped depression within the Garo-Khasi
hills, where South-west monsoon wind get entrapped and it continues to rain
in heavy downpours during the rainy Season. On the other hand Shillong is
situated in the rain shadow region.

h. Study the table given below and answer the questions that follow:
Stati
Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
on
 Temperature in 14. 16. 23. 30. 33. 33. 30. 29. 28. 25. 19. 15.
Degree C. 4 7 3 0 3 3 0 4 9 6 4 6
A
19. 17. 11.
Rainfall in cm 2.5 1.5 1.3 10 1.8 7.4 1.3 0.2 1.0
3 8 9
Temperature in 24. 24. 26. 28. 30 28. 27. 27. 27. 27. 27. 25.
Degree C. 4 4 7 3 0 9 2 2 2 8 2 0
B
50. 61. 24. 24. 24.
Rainfall in cm 0.2 0.2 0.3 10 1.8 1.0 0.7
6 0 8 8 8

(i) Calculate the annual rainfall in station A.

(ii) What is the annual range of temperature in station B?
(iii) Which of the two stations has an equable climate?
Answer: (i) 67 cm
(ii) 5.6°C
(iii) Station B.

i. Study the climatic data given below and answer the questions that follow:
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jim Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Temperature 23. 25. 27. 28. 30. 30. 30. 30. 25. 24.
30.2 33.3
°C 8 0 7 3 3 4 0 3 5 2
45. 46. 43. 20.
Rainfall cm 0 0 1.1 1.5 2.1 45.4 3.0 0.1
3 5 3 1

(i) Calculate the mean annual temperature.

(ii) What is the total rainfall during the monsoon season?
(iii) Does the station have a maritime or a continental climate?
Give a reason for your answer.
Answer: (i) 28° C.
(ii) 180.5 cm.
(iii) The station has a maritime climate as the range of temperature is very low
i.e., 6.6° C.

j A cricket match at Chennai (Madras) from October 24 to 28 had to be

abandoned because of bad weather. As a student of geography provide an
explanation and the technical name of this Season in India, the atmospheric
pressure conditions over the Bay of Bengal during this part of the year and the
typical rainfall experienced in Chennai (Madras) city.
Answer: The cricket match had to be abandoned because of the retreating
monsoon. A high pressure centre begins to build up over the southern region
due to the migration of the sun towards the south. By the first week of October
the South-west monsoon begins to withdraw from the country. The monsoon
 moves southwards and causes rain in the southern districts (Chennai) at the
end of October.

Question 7. Name the Following

a. Name two types of cyclonic systems that affect India and two areas that receive
rainfall from these systems.
Answer: Two cyclonic systems that affect India are:
(i) Temperate, cyclones-Region-North west of India (Punjab and Haryana)
(ii) Tropical cyclones – Region – eastern coast of India (A.P., T.N., W.Bengal).

b. Name two important features of the Indian monsoon.

Answer: (i) Seasonal reversal Of wind system.
(ii) Rainfall by the monsoon winds is mainly induced by the relief (mountains)
features of the country (orographic rainfall).

c. Name the source from where Western Himalayas gets its rainfall.
Answer: Western Himalayas gets its rainfall from the South-west monsoon

d. Name the areas receiving very heavy rainfall on account of favorable situation
of a mountain
Answer: The west coast region of the southern Peninsula and the north-eastern
part of India receive very heavy rainfall on account of favourable situation of
the mountain ranges.

e. Name the state in India where there is highest rainfall.

Answer: Meghalaya.

f. Name the winds which are responsible for heavy rainfall in India.
Answer: South-West Monsoon winds and North-East Monsoon winds.

g. Name the winds which provide relief rainfall to the Tamil Nadu coast?
Answer: Tamil Nadu coast gets relief rainfall when the South-west monsoon
retreats.

h. The source of the winter rain to Tamil Nadu.

Answer: North-East Monsoon.

i. Name the state of Indian Union where the rainy season is very short?
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India which has a very short
rainy season.
 j. Name the regions of moderate rainfall in India.
Answer: Madhya Pradesh, Eastern parts of U. P., coastal plains of Tamil Nadu,
Bihar, Orissa and West- Bengal in India get moderate rainfall.

Question 8. Multiple Choice Questuiond.

1 Which part of India receives rainfall from both the South-West and
North-West monsoons?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Orissa
C. Lakshadweep Islands
D. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Answer D

2 Which of the following characteristics are associated with the dry monsoon
forest of India?,1. Annual rainfall is below 50 cm,2. The trees are short
rooted,3. Thorny shrubs and grassland,4. Mango, Mahua, Sisam and Keeker
are the prominent trees.
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 4
C. 3 and 4
D. 1 2 and 3
Answer C

3 The reason for Rajasthan being deficient in rainfall is ________

A. The monsoon fail to reach this area
B. It is too hot
C. There is no water available and thus the winds remain dry
D. The winds do not come across any barrier to cause necessary uplift
to be cooled
Answer D

4 The extreme of temperature between summer and winter is quite low in

southern part of peninsular India mainly because ________
A. The adjoining oceans moderate the temperature
B. The sky is generally cloudy
C. The sun’s rays are almost vertical throughout the year
D. Strong winds flow throughout the year
Answer A
5 For short-term climatic predictions, which one of the following events, detected
in the last decade, is associated with occasional weak monsoon rains in the
Indian subcontinent?
A. La Nina
B. Movement of jet streams
C. El Nino and southern oscillations
D. Green-house effect on global level
Answer C

6. Taking into account the amount of rainfall occurring from June to September,
which one of the following is the correct order of cities in terms of rainfall?
A. Kolkata > Ahmedabad > Allahabad
B. Kolkata > Allahabad > Ahmedabad
C. Allahabad > Kolkata > Ahmedabad
D. Ahmedabad > Kolkata > Allahabad
Answer B

7. The amount and intensity of monsoon rainfall is determined by the frequency

of
A. Western disturbances
B. Dust storms
C. Cyclones
D. Tropical depressions
Answer D

8. Why does Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats both receive sufficient rainfall but
Deccan Plateau receives scanty rainfall?
A. It is a rain shadow area
B. It is located parallel to wind direction
C. It is away from the coast
D. Rain bearing clouds are absent
Answer A

9. Monsoon retreat is marked by: ,1. clear sky,2. high pressure conditions at the
Bay of Bengal,3. rise in temperature on land
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2
C. 2 and 3
D. 1 2 and 3
Answer A
 1 Why does the west coast of India receive more rainfall from south-west
0 monsoon than the east coast?
A. Unlike the east coast this coast is straight
B. The Western Ghats obstruct the winds causing rainfall
C. The east coast is broader than the west coast
D. The Eastern Ghats extend parallel to wind direction
Answer B

11 During the monsoon season rainfall decreases from the Ganga delta to the
Punjab plains. It is because ________
A. Monsoon current moves westward along the Ganga plain and becomes
drier
B. Western regions are warmer than the eastern region
C. Hills do not form barriers for winds
D. The area is far away from the sea
Answer A

12 The western disturbances which cause winter rain in India originate in

A. Pakistan
B. Bay of Bengal
C. West Asia
D. Himalayas
Answer B

13 Which one of the following states receives the highest rainfall during winter
months?
A. Punjab
B. Kerala
C. Meghalaya
D. Tamil Nadu
Answer D

14 Mumbai receives more rainfall than Pune because ________

A. Mumbai is on the windward side
B. Pune is at a-greater elevation
C. Mumbai is a coastal city
D. Pune has greater vegetation than Mumbai
Answer A