India - Climate, vegetation and wildlife Flashcards
What is climate?
It is the long-term weather pattern of a designated area or place.
What are the factors affecting climate of India?
- Latitudinal extent and size:
Distance from the equator. Tropic of cancer divides India into the subtropical zone in the north and the tropical zone in the south. - Distance from sea:
Oceanic winds have a controlling effect on temperature. Coastal areas have moderate climate because of sea breeze and land breeze. - Winds:
Monsoon winds greatly impact the climate. Other local winds like the loo and Nor’westers also influence the climate. - Relief:
As altitude increases temperature decreases and mountains act as climate barriers.
Which place in the world receives the most rainfall?
In India Mawsynram receives the most rainfall as the wind is trapped between the Meghalaya Plateau and the Indo-Burmese Bordering hills.
What are the seasons in India?
The Seasons in India are:
1. Summer
2. Southwest monsoon/rainy season
Includes the Advancing monsoon and retreating monsoon.
3. Winter
Describe the summer season (Its features)
The features of the summer season are:
1. It lasts from March to May
2. High temperatures, average of 30-40 degrees Celsius
3. April is the hottest in the West and the South, May is the hottest in the North and the East
4. The sun crosses the equator in March and starts moving towards the tropic of cancer, resulting in hotter temperatures
5. Heat is more in the north when compared to the south because the south experiences coastal winds and is at a higher climate.
6. Northern plains experience hot, dry and dusty winds called loo blowing from the desert of Rajasthan to other areas.
7. Intense low pressure develops in northwestern and central parts of India whereas higher pressure remains over the oceans.
Describe the features of period of Southwest monsoon or rainy season
Its features are:
1. It extends from June to September
2. The humid monsoon enters various parts of India in the south-west direction from the Indian ocean and causes rainfall
3. Southwest monsoon causes heavy rainfall
4. The southwest monsoon splits into two branches, the Arabian Sea Branch and the Bay of Bengal Branch
Describe the Arabian sea branch of the southwest monsoon
The Arabian sea branch reaches the Malabar Coast by 1 June, from where is shifts northwards and brings rain to the western coastal plain. Western Ghats act as climate barriers. Since the Aravalli’s (Mountain Range) lie parallel to its direction of flow and don’t obstruct it, the Thar region receives scanty rain. Blowing further the winds are obstructed by the Himalayas causing heavy rains along their foothills.
Describe the Bay of Bengal Branch of the southwest monsoon
The Bay of Bengal Branch flows eastward till it is blocked by Arakan Yoma in Myanmar. Then it deflects westward and flows towards the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta. It then enters the Assam Valley and brings a lot of rainfall there. Then it flows westward along the Himalayas and causes a heavy downpour in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Describe the features of the period of retreaing monsoon
Its features are:
1. Prevails from October to November
2. With the change in temperature the monsoon starts to retreat, starting from north to south. Since India is at high pressure and the surrounding areas at low pressure it starts to retreat and the Northeast branch follows.
3. During this season, North India witnesses pleasant weather with low humidity, while the south experiences hot and humid weather
4. Season is characterized by cyclones over the bay of Bengal known as Bay Cyclones
Describe the features of the winter season
Its features are:
1. It extends from November to February
2. January is the coldest month in most parts
3. During this season, the sun is over the tropic of Capricorn, making sunlight fall indirectly in most places resulting in decreasing temperatures.
4. The average temperature is about 10-15 degrees Celsius in North-west India. Temperatures in South-east are 20-25 degrees Celsius.
5. Season is more intense in North because it is further away from equator
6. High pressure in North, low pressure in south, resulting in cold and dry winds from the Indo-Gangetic plains towards the Bay.
7. During this season there are clear skies, low humidity.
8. Northwest receives winter rainfall from depression originating over the Mediterranean Sea.
What is the local wind, loo?
It is a strn hot dry summer wind from the west which blows over the western Indo-Gangetic Plain region of North India and Pakistan.
What is the local wind, nor’westers
Also called the Kalbaishakhi, it is a local thunderstorm which occurs in India and Bangladesh.
What is Natural vegetation?
It is the vegetation that is grown naturally without human aid and is left undisturbed by humans for a long time. 5 types
1. Tropical Evergreen Forest
2. Tropical Deciduous Forest
3. Thorny Forest
4. Tidal forest
5. Mantane Forest.
Describe the tropical Evergreen Forest
These forests are found in regions of average annual rainfall of 200cm. The vegetation region has trees with different leaf shedding periods, making them evergreen forests. The trees in these forests have buttress roots and broad leaves. Three tier vegetation; tall trees reaching height of 60 m, small trees and dense undergrowth. Important trees include ebony, rosewood, mahogany, sandalwood and telsar. Found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Western slopes of the Western Ghats, and some northeast states. Found along the coasts.
Describe the Tropical Deciduous forest
These forests are found in regions with average annual rainfall of 100-200 cm. They are classified into moist deciduous and dry deciduous based on rainfall. Trees in these forest shed leaves in summer. Shorter and more widely spaced forests. Trees are usually available in pure stands. Important trees include are teak, Sal, bamboo and deodar. These forests are found in lower slopes of himalayas, states of Assan, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkand, MP and many more. Dry deciduous forests are found in central deccan plateau, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.
