The weather is about day to day changes in the atmosphere.

The major seasons in India are :

• Cold weather season
• Hot weather season
• South-West Monsoon season
• Season of Retreating monsoon

Cold Weather Season or Winter

• During the winter season, cool, dry winds blow from North to the South.
• The sunrays do not fall directly in the region.

Hot Weather Season or Summer

• The sunrays more or less directly fall in this region.
• Hot and dry winds are called loo.

South West Monsoon Season or Rainy Season

• The winds blow from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal toward the land.

Season of Retreating Monsoon or Autumn

• Winds move back from the mainland to the Bay of Bengal.
• Most of the rain is brought by monsoon winds.
• The climate of a place is affected by its location, altitude, distance from the sea and relief.
• Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the world’s highest rainfall.

Natural Vegetation

• The grasses, shrubs and trees, which grow on their own without interference or help from human beings are called natural vegetation.
• The vegetation of India can be divided into five types-
  • Tropical evergreen forest
  • Tropical deciduous forest
  • Thorny bushes
  • Mountain vegetation
  • Mangrove forests.

Tropical Rain Forest

• They are found in the areas which receive heavy rainfall.
• Many species of trees are found in this forest, they shed their leaves at different times of the year. They are called evergreen forests.
• Important trees are mahogany, ebony and rosewood.

Tropical Deciduous Forest

• They are also called monsoon forests.
• Trees of these forests shed their leaves at a particular time of the year.
• Important trees are sal, teak, peepal, neem and shisham.

Thorny Bushes

• They are found in dry areas of the country.
• The leaves are in the form of spines to reduce the loss of water.
• Important trees are cactus, Kaner, babool, keekar, etc.

Mountain Vegetation

• At a height between 1500 metres and 2500 metres, most of the trees are conical in shape. These trees are called coniferous trees.
• Important trees are chir, pine and deodar.

Mangrove Forests

• These forests can survive in saline water.
• Sundari is a well-known species of trees.

Weather is about day to day changes in the atmosphere. It may be hot or cold, Sunny or cloudy, windy or calm.

There are four main seasons in India—cold weather season (winter) December to February, hot weather season (summer) March to May, southwest monsoon season (rainy) June to September and season of retreating monsoon (autumn) October to November.

The hot wind called loo blows during summer.

Climate is about the average weather condition which has been measured over many years.

The climate of India is a monsoon type. It means, most of the rain is brought by monsoon winds.

The climate of a place is affected by its location, attitude, distance from the sea and relief.

Jaisalmer and Bikaner in Rajasthan are very hot, Drass and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir are very cold and coastal places are moderate. Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the world’s highest rainfall.

India has a wide range of natural vegetation—Tropical evergreen forest, Tropical deciduous forest, Thorny bushes, Mountain vegetation and Mangrove forests.

Tropical rain forests occur in the areas which receive heavy rainfall.

Tropical deciduous forests are also called monsoon forests.

Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country.

Mangrove forests are found in Sunderbans in West Bengal and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Forests are very useful for all living beings. They are the natural habitat of wildlife.

Van Mahotsav is a programme which involves more and more people in making the earth green.

The tiger is our national animal. Gir forest of Gujarat is the home of Asiatic lions.

The peacock is our national bird.

There are several hundreds of species of snakes found in India.

The government has started Project Tiger and Project Elephant to protect these animals.

Weather: Weather is about day to day changes in the atmosphere. It includes changes in temperature, rainfall and sunshine etc.

Loo: It is a hot and dry wind that blows during the day in Summer.

Climate: Climate is the average weather condition which has been measured over many years.

Monsoon: The word monsoon has been taken from the Arabic word ‘mansim’ which means seasons.

Wildlife: All the wild animals and birds found in the forests, national parks and Sanctuaries.

Van Mahotsav: It is a special programme organized from time to time to promote people for planting more and more trees.

Natural vegetation: The grasses, shrubs and trees that grow on their own without human interference or help are known as natural vegetation.

Migratory birds: Birds that migrate to our country in the winter season every year. They arrive in December and stay till early March.