India — Climate

Quick Quiz 1

Question 1

Meghalaya receives more than 500 centimetres of average annual rainfall. True or False?

Answer

True

Question 2

Name the factors which affect the climate of India.

Answer

The factors which affect the climate of India are:

1. Location of India
2. Physical features
3. Distance from the sea

Question 3

(Lucknow / Panaji) experiences extreme climate.

Answer

Lucknow

Question 4

The Western disturbances originate in the ............... Sea.

Answer

Mediterranean

Question 5

Which state experiences Mango Showers?

Answer

Karnataka

Tick the correct answers

Question 1

Which of these cities enjoy equable climate?

1. Chandigarh
2. Jammu
3. Bhopal
4. Kochi

Answer

Kochi

Question 2

Chennai receives most of the rainfall during

1. summer
2. monsoon
3. winter
4. retreating monsoon

Answer

retreating monsoon

Question 3

Pre-monsoon showers are called kalbaisakhi in

1. West Bengal
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Karnataka

Answer

West Bengal

Question 4

The rainy season in many parts of India is from

1. May to July
2. April to August
3. June to September
4. July to November

Answer

June to September

Question 5

The world's highest annual rainfall is recorded in

1. Jaisalmer
2. Mawsynram
3. Mumbai
4. Kanniyakumari

Answer

Mawsynram

Write True or False

Question 1

India experiences tropical monsoon climate.

Answer

True

Question 2

The coastal areas experience extreme climate.

Answer

False

Reason — The coastal areas experience equable climate.

Question 3

During winter the temperature decreases from north to south.

Answer

False

Reason — During winter the temperature decreases from south to north.

Question 4

In summer, loo blows over the coastal plains.

Answer

False

Reason — In summer, loo blows over the northern plains.

Question 5

Cyclones are experienced during the south-west monsoon season.

Answer

False

Reason — Cyclones are experienced during the season of retreating monsoon.

Match the columns

Question 1

Answer

Give reasons for the following

Question 1

Udagamandalam experiences cold climate although it is located close to the equator.

Answer

Udagamandalam experiences cold climate although it is located close to the equator because it is a hill station situated on higher altitude.

Question 2

Tamil Nadu remains dry during the south-west monsoon season.

Answer

Tamil Nadu remains dry during the south-west monsoon season as it falls in the rainshadow area of the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon and is parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch.

Answer these questions

Question 1(a)

Why is our country warm during winter?

Answer

Our country is warm during winter because the Himalayan ranges do not allow the cold winds, which come from Central Asia, to enter India during winter.

Question 1(b)

Why does the Deccan Plateau experience extreme climate?

Answer

The Deccan Plateau experiences extreme climate because it is far away from the sea and thus not affected by the moderating influence of the sea.

Question 2(a)

Name the main seasons in India.

Answer

The main seasons in India are:

1. The cold weather season (winter)
2. The hot weather season (summer)
3. The south-west monsoon season (rainy season)
4. The season of retreating monsoon (autumn)

Question 2(b)

What are western disturbances?

Answer

The cyclones that originate in Mediterranean sea and cause light rainfall in northern plains are called western disturbances.

Question 2(c)

What is the weather condition after a western disturbance?

Answer

After a western disturbance, the weather becomes very cold and there is widespread fog.

Question 3(a)

What is loo?

Answer

Hot, dry and dust-laden strong winds that blow over large part of northern plains during summer, is known as loo.

Question 3(b)

What is bardoichila?

Answer

Towards the end of the summer season, Assam experiences pre-monsoon showers and thunderstorms, which are locally known as bardoichila.

Question 3(c)

In which season do they occur?

Answer

They occur towards the end of the summer season.

Question 4(a)

How does the South-East Trade Winds become the South-West Monsoon Winds?

Answer

The low pressure area over the landmasses is intense enough to attract the South-East Trade Winds from the southern hemisphere. After crossing the equator, these winds get deflected towards their right in the northern hemisphere and blow as the South-West Monsoon Winds or the summer monsoons.

Question 4(b)

Name the branches of south-west monsoon winds.

Answer

The two branches of south-west monsoon winds are:

1. Arabian Sea branch
2. Bay of Bengal branch

Question 5(a)

What is the duration of the season of retreating monsoon?

Answer

The duration of the season of retreating monsoon is about two months, from middle of September and continues up to middle of November.

Question 5(b)

What is October heat?

Answer

The months of October and November are marked by clear skies and a slight rise in temperature. The weather becomes oppressive due to excessive heat and high humidity. This is known as the October heat.

Question 6(a)

Name three areas that receive an average annual rainfall of more than 200 cm.

Answer

Three areas that receive an average annual rainfall of more than 200 cm are:

1. The western coastal plain
2. The western slopes of the Western Ghats
3. Meghalaya

Question 6(b)

Name two areas that receive an average annual rainfall of less than 50 cm.

Answer

Two areas that receive an average annual rainfall of less than 50 cm are:

1. Western Rajasthan
2. Ladakh