Question 1.
“ Despite an overall unity in the gen¬eral 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 tempera¬ture 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 AsiafrQm 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.
• These are affected by different atmospheric conditions prevailing in the region.
• The duration of the monsoon is between 100 – 120 days.

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.
• It brings a remarkable change in rainfall pattern.
• It is responsible for diy and wet spells of monsoon.

Questions.6.
Compare the hot weather season of India with that of cold weather season.
Answer:

Questions.7.
How will you differentiate between the summer and winter monsoons?
Or
Differentiate between South-West and North-East trade winds.
Answer:

Question 8

Answer:

Questions.9.
“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.

Question 10.

Important Link

Quick Revision Notes : Climate

NCERT Solution : Climate

MCQs: Climate

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