Question 1

Name the factors affecting the climate of a place.

Answer
The factors affecting the climate of a place are:

1.Location — Climate of a place depends on its

location. Places located in tropical region are
hotter than the places located in temperate
region.
2.Altitude — The temperature decreases with
increase in the height at the rate 1°C for every
166 m. Therefore, places situated on height
have temperate climate.
3.Distance from sea — Places situated near sea
have moderate climate while places situated
away from sea have extreme type of climate.
4.Physical features — Presence of mountain
ranges often decide the climate of a place. For
example, the Himalayas act as a barrier to the
incoming cold Siberian winds. They also
intercept the monsoon winds resulting in
heavy rainfall in Indo-Gangetic plain.
Question 2
Name the type of climate of India.
Answer
The climate of India is Tropical Monsoon Type.

Question 3
What is the chief characteristic feature of the
tropical monsoon type of climate?
Answer
The chief characteristic feature of the tropical
monsoon type of climate is alteration of seasons.

Question 4
What are onshore winds and offshore winds?
Answer
Onshore winds — Wind that blows from the sea
towards the land is called onshore winds.
Offshore winds — Winds that blows from the
land towards the Sea is called offshore winds.
Question 5
State the importance of Monsoon season in India.
Answer
The monsoon season is important for a number of
reasons in India:

1.Agriculture — The monsoon season is crucial

for agriculture in India, as it provides the
necessary moisture for crops to grow. Many of
the crops in India, such as rice, wheat, and
sugarcane, rely on the monsoon rains to
provide the necessary water for their growth.
2.Water resources — The monsoon season
replenishes the water resources in India,
including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. This is
especially important in regions that rely on
these sources of water for irrigation, drinking,
and other purposes.
3.Economy — The monsoon season is also
important for the economy of India, as it
supports many sectors of the economy,
including agriculture, forestry, and tourism.
Question 6
Name a few local winds that pass through India.
Answer
Local winds that pass through India are:

1.Kali Baisakhi
2.Loo
3.Mango Showers

Question 7
Which is the more important branch — the
Arabian Sea Branch or the Bay of Bengal Branch?
Why?
Answer
The Arabian Sea Branch is more important branch
because of the following reasons:

1.Arabian Sea Branch is almost thrice the

volume of the Bay of Bengal Branch.
2.Arabian Sea Branch provides rain in the entire
country while the Bay of Bengal branch
provides rain in north-eastern part only.
Question 8
Which is the first state to receive the monsoon
winds and the last to see its retreat in India?
Answer
Kerala is the first state to receive the monsoon
winds and the last to see its retreat in India.

Question 9
State two important characteristic features of the
Indian monsoons.
Answer
Two important characteristic features of the
Indian monsoons are:

1.Indian monsoons are erratic, unpredictable,

irregular and unevenly distributed.
2.Indian monsoons are orographic in nature.
The effects caused due to the Himalayas and
the Western Ghats bring most of the monsoon
rainfall.

Question 10
Name the different seasons of India, stating the
months when they are experienced.
Answer
The different seasons of India are:

1.The Hot Dry Season — March to May

2.The Rainy Season or the season of South-West
Monsoon — June to September.
3.The season of retreating South-West Monsoon
— October to November
4.The Cold season or the season of North-East
Monsoon — December to February

Question 11
What is the meaning of the word 'monsoon'?
Answer
The word Monsoon has been derived from the
Arabic word 'Mausim' which means season.

Question 12
How are monsoon winds different from the land
and sea breezes?
Answer
Monsoon winds are different from the land and
sea breezes in the following ways:

S.
Monsoon Winds Land & S
No.

Monsoon winds are seasonal Land and Sea B

1. winds that occur at specific times local winds tha
of the year. the year.

Monsoon winds are generally

stronger and more persistent Land and Sea B
2. than land and sea breezes, and generally weak
can bring heavy rainfall and in nature.
strong winds.

Monsoon winds are formed by Land and Sea B

the difference in temperature by the differen
3.
between the land and the sea or between the la
ocean on a large scale. ocean at a loca

4. Monsoon winds can have a Land and Sea B

significant impact on the weather generally more
 S.
Monsoon Winds Land & S
No.

and have a sma

and climate of a region. overall weather
area.

Question 13
Why are there great variations in India's climate?
Answer
There are great variations in India's climate
because of presence of different physical features
and the large extent of the country. Following are
the factors that cause variations in India's climate:

1.The places lying to the north of Tropic of

Cancer experience continental type of climate
while places lying to the south of Tropic of
Cancer experience hot climate with average
temperature of 25°C to 27°C throughout the
year.
2.The places situated on the vast east-west
coastline of India experience equable or
 maritime type of climate with annual
temperature range of about 3°C to 5°C
whereas the places in the interior north have
the annual temperature range upto 20°C.
3.The Monsoon are erratic, unpredictable,
irregular and unevenly distributed. Due to this
the annual rainfall varies from about 1187 cm
at Mawsynram in Cherrapunji, the highest in
the world to less than 25 cm in Thar desert in
Rajasthan.
4.Places situated at higher altitudes are cooler
as compared to places in the plains.
5.Presence of the Himalayan range also
influences the climate of India by obstructing
Siberian winds and intercepting Monsoon
winds.

Question 14
Give reasons to justify that Himalayas act as a
perfect climatic divide.
Answer
The Himalayas act as a perfect climatic divide
because:
 1.The great Himalayan range obstructs the bitter
cold winds from Siberia from entering the
Indian Subcontinent.
2.The Himalayan range intercepts the rain-
bearing south-west monsoon winds, forcing
them to shed their moisture, resulting in
heavy rainfall in the North-East and Indo-
Gangetic Plain.

Question 15
Which winds are responsible for the rain
experienced over the greater part of India?
Answer
The South-West Monsoon winds are responsible
for the rain experienced over the greater part of
India.

Question 16
During which part of the year is the rain
experienced in India?
Answer
India experiences rain in the months from June to
September which is the season of the South-West
Monsoon.

Question 17
How are the sources of rainfall in the north-west
part of India different from the rain experienced
on the eastern coastal areas in winter?
Answer
The winter rainfall in the north-west part of India
occurs due to westerly depressions or temperate
cyclones originating in the Mediterranean sea. On
the contrary the rainfall experienced on the
eastern coastal areas in winter is due to North-
East monsoon winds.

Question 18
Why does Kanyakumari experience an equable
climate?
Answer
Kanyakumari experience an equable climate
because of land breeze and sea breeze as it is
situated on sea coast.

Question 19
Why does central Maharashtra receive scanty
rainfall?
Answer
Maharashtra receives scanty rainfall because it lies
in the rain shadow of Western Ghats.

Question 20
Why is western part of India a desert region?
Answer
The western part of India gets very less rainfall
due to following reasons:

1.The Aravali's alignment is parallel to rain-

bearing South-West Monsoon winds and as
such they do not offer any obstruction.
Furthermore, these hills are very low.
 2.The moisture-laden winds passing over
Rajasthan do not saturate as the heat in the
desert region increases their capacity to hold
moisture. Thus they reach Shivaliks without
shedding their moisture.

Question 21
What are western disturbances?
Answer
Western disturbances are Westerly depressions or
Temperate cyclones originating in the
Mediterranean sea. They cause winter rain in
Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh and
snowfall in Himalayan belts.

Question 22
Name one part of India that receives rainfall in
winter and summer as well.
Answer
Northern India (Punjab, Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh) receives rainfall in winter and summer as
well.
Question 23
Explain how retreating monsoon winds are
different from the north-east trades.
Answer

Sl.
Retreating Monsoon North-E
No.

The retreating south west

North east Mo
monsoon winds blow from N.E. to
1. offshore winds
S.W. during October and
North East to S
November.

North-East Tra
Retreating Monsoon winds are
2. prevalent from
prevalent in October-November.
March.

These winds cause heavy rain in These winds ca

2.
Tamil Nadu. coromandel co

Question 24
Name a place in India which receives the heaviest
rainfall. To which state does this place belong?
Answer
Mawsynram receives the heaviest rainfall in the
world. This place belongs to Meghalaya State of
India.

Question 25
Name the winds that are responsible for causing
heaviest rainfall in the region.
Answer
The Bay of Bengal branch of South-West monsoon
winds is responsible for causing heaviest rainfall in
the region.

Question 26
What is meant by a 'rain shadow' area? Give an
example and state the mountains responsible for
the rain shadow area.
Answer
The leeward side of the mountain that do not
receive or receive very less rainfall is called rain
shadow area. For example, Maharashtra gets very
less rainfall as it is the rain shadow area of the
Western Ghats.

Question 27
Name the winds that bring rain to the Tamil Nadu
coast.
Answer
North-East Monsoon winds bring rains to the
Tamil Nadu coast.

Question 28
Give reasons :

1.In spite of the Aravalis many parts of

Rajasthan do not receive much rain.
2.The Malabar coast has less rainy months but
receives more rain than Coromandal Coast.
3.Punjab has three sources of rain.
4.Mawsynram receives more rain than Shillong.

Answer

1.In spite of the Aravalis many parts of

Rajasthen do not receive much rain because
 the Aravalis do not obstruct the Monsoon
winds due to their parallel alignment to the
winds and low heights of Aravalis.
2.The Malabar coast receive more rainfall
because of the strong Arabian sea branch of
the South-west monsoon while Coromandal
Coast gets its share of rainfall from North-East
Monsoon which is weaker and has less
capacity.
3.Punjab has three sources of rain as it gets its
share from the Arabian sea branch, the Bay of
Bengal branch (deflected from the eastern
parts) and the western disturbances.
4.Mawsynram lies in the windward side while
Shillong lies in the leeward side of Khasi hills.
Therefore, Mawsynram receives more rain
than Shillong.

Question 29
Explain how is the winter rain caused. How is this
rain beneficial?
Answer
The winter rain is caused by Western Disturbances
in North and North-East Monsoon winds in Tamil
Nadu. In northern India, rain is caused by Westerly
depressions or Temperate cyclones originating in
Mediterranean Sea. These rains are beneficial for
rabi crops like wheat and Barley. The winter rains
caused by North-East Monsoon winds brings
rainfall to Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra
Pradesh. This rainfall is heavy, stormy and
destructive for crops.

Question 33
Refer to the Data of Chennai, Pune, New Delhi and
Kolkata to answer this question.
Answer the following questions:

1.Calculate the annual range of temperature.

2.What is the total rainfall experienced by the
station?
3.When does the station receive maximum
rainfall? State a reason for your answer.

Station Altitud J F M A M J J A
e in
 Metre

T° 22 26 29 29 27. 25 24.
21
C .6 .3 .2 .7 5 .1 5
55
Pune R
9
c 0. 0. 0. 1. 2. 11. 16
9.0
m 15 15 15 5 7 4 .7
s

24 24 26 28 30 28. 27 27.
T
.4 .4 .7 .3 .0 9 .2 2
Mumbai
0. 0. 1. 50. 61 37.
R — —
25 25 75 2 .0 0

26 26 28 29 29 26. 26 26.
T
.5 .8 .1 .2 .2 5 .1 1
Mangal
22
uru
0. 0. 0. 2. 15 94. 98 59.
R
28 18 52 89 .7 18 .8 74

Madura 13 T 25 26 28 30 21 20. 20 29.

i 3 .0 .5 .7 .6 .2 08 .2 08
 1. 1. 1. 5. 6. 2.9 4. 16.
R
97 24 77 48 95 8 94 2

24 32. 30
T 26 28 30 32 30
.5 5 .7
Chennai
2. 0. 0. 1. 4. 9. 11.
R 5.1
8 7 7 5 5 5 3

0. 2. 8. 13 17 21. 24 23.
T
3 6 3 .1 .7 9 .4 8
Srinaga 15
r 86
7. 7. 9. 9. 1. 3.5 5. 6.1
R
39 1 17 27 65 6 92 5

13 16 21 27 33 33. 30 29.
T
.8 .6 .6 .8 .2 6 .9 8
New 21
Delhi 6
2. 2. 1. 0. 1. 17 18.
R 7.7
5 1 3 8 3 .9 4

Kolkata 6 19 21 26 29 30 29. 28 28.

T
.4 .7 .7 .4 .6 4 .9 3

R 0. 2. 3. 4. 14 30. 31 32.
 7 8 6 8 .5 2 .8 3

21 23 27 31 33 29 28.
T 33
.7 .3 .9 .7 .9 .8 5
Ahmed
50
abad
0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 20.
R 9.3 31
15 2 13 13 99 4

Answer
Chennai
(a) Annual Range of temperature = 32.5 - 24.5 = 8
(b) Total rainfall = 2.8 + 0.7 + 0.7 + 1.5 + 4.5 + 5.1 +
9.5 + 11.3 + 12.4 + 28.1 + 34.5 + 13.6 = 124.7
(c) Chennai received maximum rainfall in the
month of November. The North-East Monsoon
winds after crossing the Bay of Bengal gather
enough moisture. As they, strike the Coromandal
coast, they bring heavy rainfall to Chennai and
Tamil Nadu in the month of November.
Pune
(a) Annual range of temperature = 29.7 - 20.5 = 9.2
(b) Total rainfall = 0.15 + 0.15 + 0.15 + 1.5 + 2.7 +
11.4 + 16.7 + 9.0 + 13.4 + 9.0 + 2.7 + 0.3 = 67.15
(c) Pune receives maximum rainfall in the month
of July because it gets its rainfall from south-west
monsoon which strikes the western coast in June
but the total rainfall is less because Pune lies in
the rain shadow of western ghats.
New Delhi
(a) Annual range of temperature = 33.6 - 13.8 =
19.8
(b) Total rainfall = 2.5 + 2.1 + 1.3 + 0.8 + 1.3 + 7.7 +
17.9 + 18.4 + 12.3 + 1.0 + 0.2 + 1.0 = 66.5
(c) Delhi receives maximum rainfall in August as it
gets its rainfall from south-west monsoons which
reaches Delhi by that time.
Kolkata
(a) Annual range of temperature = 30.6 - 19.4 =
11.2
(b) Total rainfall = 0.7 + 2.8 + 3.6 + 4.8 + 14.5 + 30.2
+ 31.8 + 32.3 + 25.1 + 10.6 + 1.8 + 0.4 = 158.6
(c) Kolkata receives maximum rainfall in August as
it gets rainfall from the Bay of Bengal Branch of
the monsoon which reaches the eastern coast
(Calcutta) by then.

Question 34
Give reasons for the following:

1.Mumbai gets more rainfall than Pune

2.The moisture laden winds passing over
Rajasthan do not saturate.
3.S.W. monsoon withdraws from India in
October/November.

Answer

1.Mumbai is located on the western coast of

India, while Pune is located further inland. The
Western Ghats obstruct the South West
Monsoon winds. Mumbai lies on the windward
side of Western Ghats and receives heavy
rainfall from South West Monsoon. Pune lies
on the leeward side of Western Ghats and
hence, receives very less rainfall.
 2.The moisture laden winds passing over
Rajasthan do not saturate because the heat in
the desert region increases their capacity to
hold moisture.
3.By 1st September, with the apparent
movement of the sun towards south, the low
pressure in central India starts weakening, and
is no longer able to attract the monsoon winds
towards land. During Autumn equinox when
the sun shines directly over Equator, the high
pressure begins to build over mainland and
subsequently with low pressure over the sea,
S.W. monsoon withdraws from India in
October/November.

Question 35
Answer in one word :

1.Withdrawal of SW monsoon.
2.Low pressure depressions during winter in
North West India.
3.Land and sea breeze on a large scale.

Answer
1.Retreating Monsoon
2.Western disturbance
3.Monsoon Winds