Geography - Climate Flashcards
Q No-1: Mention the four seasons that prevail in India stating the months for each.
The four seasons are: 1) The Hot and Dry Summers (March to May) 2) The Rainy Season or the Season of South-West Monsoon (June to September) 3) The Season of the Retreating South-West Monsoon (October to November) 4) The Winter Season (December to February)
Q No-2: State the agricultural benefits derived from: 1) The Westerly Depression in Punjab 2) The Kalbaisakhi in Assam
1) The Westerly Depression in Punjab causes rain in winter which is beneficial for crops like wheat and barley. 2) The Kalbaisakhi in Assam brings thunderstorms with strong winds and heavy rainfall
Q No-3: What is the climate given to the climate of India? Mention any two factors responsible for such a type of climate.
India has a Tropical Monsoon type of climate. Two factors affecting the climate of India are: - The Himalayas - The Monsoon Winds
Q No-4: Name the following: 1) The Winds that bring heavy rain to Cherrapunji 2) The Local Wind that brings light rainfall to South India and is good for tea and coffee crops
1) The winds that bring heavy rain to Cherrapunji are the Bay of Bengal branch of the South-West Monsoon. 2) The local wind that brings light rainfall to South India is called Mango Showers.
Q No-5: Explain two factors that affect the climate of India giving a suitable example for each.
1) Altitude: Temperature decreases at the rate of 1°C for every 166m rise in height. Example: Shimla is cooler than Kolkata. 2) Distance from the Sea: Coastal areas have a moderate climate
Q No-6: State two differences between rainfall that occurs from June to September and that from December to February in North India.
Cause – Rainfall from June to September is caused by the Southwest Monsoon, while rainfall from December to February occurs due to Western Disturbances.
Nature – Monsoon rainfall is heavy, widespread, and continuous, whereas winter rainfall is light, scattered, and occasional.
Q No-7: Mention the different sources of rain in Punjab and Tamil Nadu during the Winter season (Dec-Feb).
1) Punjab receives rainfall due to cyclonic disturbances (Western Disturbances) that originate over the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. 2) Tamil Nadu receives rainfall from the North-East Monsoon Winds during the Winter season.
Q No-8: State the benefits that are derived from the local winds that blow in summer in the following states: 1) Kerala 2) West Bengal
Kerala – Mango Showers help in the early ripening of mangoes.
West Bengal – Kalbaisakhi (Nor’westers) provides rainfall, benefiting jute, rice, and tea crops while cooling the region1)
Q No-9: Name two types of cyclonic systems that affect India and two areas that receive rainfall from these systems.
Tropical Cyclones – Form over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.(Odisha & West Bengal)
Western Disturbances – Originate in the Mediterranean region and impact North India. (Punjab & Himachal Pradesh)
Q No-10: Give three important characteristics of South-West Monsoon rainfall.
1) Orographic in nature 2) Uncertain in amount and time 3) The rainfall is erratic and unpredictable
Q No-11: Mention two factors responsible for the climate of India.
1) The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country. 2) The climate is influenced by the South-West and North-East Monsoon winds.
Q No-12: What is the direction of the seasonal Monsoon? Why?
1) The direction of the summer monsoon is South-West. 2) Because the intense heat over India causes the development of low pressure over the northern plains
Q No-13: “Rainfall in India is Orographic in nature.” Give an example with reference to the distribution of rainfall and the effect of relief on its distribution.
Relief plays a very important role in the distribution of rainfall in India. The windward slopes of the Western Ghats obstruct the winds coming from the sea and cause heavy rainfall
Q No-14: Mention two differences in the climatic conditions which prevail over Kerala and Uttar Pradesh in the month of June.
Rainfall – Kerala receives heavy rainfall in June due to the onset of the Southwest Monsoon, while Uttar Pradesh experiences hot and dry weather with occasional pre-monsoon showers.
Temperature – Kerala has a moderate temperature due to monsoon rains, whereas Uttar Pradesh remains very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C before the monsoon arrives
Q No-15: Why does Mumbai receive rainfall in the Summer season while Chennai receives rainfall from October to December?
Mumbai receives rainfall in the summer season (June to September) because it is affected by the Southwest Monsoon winds, which blow from the Arabian Sea and bring heavy rainfall.
Chennai receives rainfall from October to December due to the Northeast Monsoon winds, which pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and bring rain to Tamil Nadu
Q No-16: Name the source of winter rain in Tamil Nadu. How does Tamil Nadu benefit from it?
1) Tamil Nadu gets winter rain from the North-East Monsoon. 2) It helps Tamil Nadu in growing rice.
Q No-17: What type of wind is Monsoon? What is its direction during Summer?
1) Monsoon is a Periodic Wind or a Seasonal Wind. 2) The direction of the Summer Monsoon is South-West.
Q No-18: State the Climatic Significance of the Himalayas to the people of India.
Barrier to Cold Winds – They block icy winds from Central Asia, keeping North India warmer in winter.
Cause of Monsoon Rains – They force the Southwest Monsoon winds to rise, leading to heavy rainfall in northern and northeastern India.
Source of Rivers – Glaciers in the Himalayas feed major rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra, supporting agriculture.
Q No-19: Which type of climate is experienced in the Northern Plains of India? State one main characteristic of this type of climate.
1) The Northern Plains of India have a Continental type of Climate.
2) There is a high range of temperature between summer and winter. Summers are extremely hot (above 40°C), while winters are very cold (below 5°C in some areas).
Q No-20: Describe the climatic conditions that exist in the subcontinent before the South-West Monsoon.
Before the Southwest Monsoon (March to May), the Indian subcontinent experiences:
Intense Heat – High temperatures, especially in North and Central India, often exceeding 40°C. Low Pressure – A low-pressure area forms over North India, attracting moist winds. Pre-Monsoon Showers – Kalbaisakhi in Bengal, Mango Showers in South India, and Loo (hot, dry winds) in North India.
Q No-21: State the agricultural benefits derived from: a) The Westerly Depression in Punjab b) The Kalbaisakhi in Assam.
a) Westerly Depression in Punjab – Brings winter rainfall, which is essential for the growth of Rabi crops like wheat and barley.
b) Kalbaisakhi in Assam – Provides pre-monsoon showers, benefiting crops like tea, which is a major agricultural product of Assam. a) The Westerly Depression in Punjab causes rain in winter
Q No-22: Name two types of cyclonic systems that affect India and two areas that receive rainfall from these systems.
1) Temperate Cyclone - Region: North-west of India (Punjab
Q No-23: Give three features of the Arabian Sea Branch of South-West Monsoon.
1) Heavy relief rainfall (above 200 cm) on the Western coast and windward slope of the Western Ghats. Example: Mangalore
2) The Deccan Plateau receives less than 100 cm of rain as it lies in the rain shadow area. Example: Pune
3) Rajasthan does not get much rain as these winds blow parallel to the Aravalli Hills.
Q No-24: Give three features of the Bay of Bengal Branch of South-West Monsoon.
Features of the Bay of Bengal Branch of the Southwest Monsoon:
Heavy Rainfall in Northeast India – This branch brings intense rainfall to states like Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal, especially in places like Mawsynram and Cherrapunji. Moves Inland Towards North India – After hitting the Eastern Himalayas, the winds deflect westward, bringing rain to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Weaker as It Moves Westward – The monsoon loses moisture as it moves inland, resulting in gradually decreasing rainfall from east to west.
