Question 1

Question 1(a)Name the type of climate prevailing over India. Mention any two factors responsible for it.

Accepted Answer

India has a tropical monsoon type of climate. Two factors responsible for this type of climate are-The HimalayasVaried Relief

Question 2

Question 1(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i)	Heatwaves in the end of April are experienced in the northern plains.(ii) Tropical cyclones are common in the Bay of Bengal as compared to the Arabian Sea.(iii) The Indo-Gangetic Plain gets some rainfall in the months of December and January.

Accepted Answer

(i) The Northern Plains of India experience heatwaves at the end of April due to several geographical reasons. During this time, the Sun starts moving northward, increasing the intensity of solar radiation over the region. The clear skies, dry land surface, and continental type of climate cause rapid heating. In addition, hot, dry winds called Loo blow across the plains, further raising the temperature and leading to heatwave conditions.(ii) Tropical cyclones are more common in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian Sea because the Bay of Bengal is surrounded by land that traps heat. Due to this, the Bay of Bengal has warmer sea surface temperatures, which provide more moisture and energy for cyclone formation.(iii) The Indo-gangetic plain gets some rainfall in the month of December and January because of the Western Disturbances, which originate in West Asia and in the regions near the Mediterranean sea. These westerly depressions bring winter rainfall over the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Question 3

Question 1(d)(i) What is 'Monsoon'?(ii) Name the place in India which receives the heaviest rainfall.

Accepted Answer

(i) Monsoon are periodic or seasonal reversing winds. They are divided into two wind systems — the Summer Monsoon that blow south-west and the Winter Monsoon that blow north-east.(ii) Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in Meghalaya receive the heaviest rainfall.

Question 4

Question 2(a)Mention the different sources of rain in Punjab and Tamil Nadu during the winter season.

Accepted Answer

During the winter season, Punjab receives rainfall from temperate cyclones that originate from the Mediterranean Sea. These cyclones are not of great intensity. Tamil Nadu receives rainfall from the north east monsoon winds that blow over the Bay of Bengal and bring winter rainfall to the state.

Question 5

Question 2(b)What is meant by 'rain-shadow area'? Give an example and state the mountains which are responsible for the rain-shadow area.

Accepted Answer

A rain shadow area is an area of dry land that lies on the leeward side of a mountain. High mountains act as barriers for cold if they are high enough and lie in the path of rain – bearing winds. The leeward side of the mountains remains dry.The western ghats in India are an example of mountains causing rain shadow area. The moisture laden winds from the Arabian Sea branch shed most of its moisture on the western slopes of the western ghats due to which by the time they reach the eastern slopes of western ghats the winds have less moisture and this side receives very less rainfall. For example, Mahabaleshwar situated on the Western side of western ghats, receives 250 cm of rainfall whereas Pune, only a few km away, receives less than 70 cm of rainfall.

Question 6

Question 2(c)Study the climatic data given below and answer the questions that follow:MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTemperature °C23.124.826.529.33232.833.132.130.529.328.726.1Rainfall cm15.310.10.30.11.34.56.110.210.520.116.819.0(i) Calculate the annual rainfall experienced by the station.(ii) What can you conclude about the climate of this station — is it maritime or continental? How did you come to this conclusion?(iii) Name the season during which rainfall is the heaviest. Name a probable station satisfying this criteria.

Accepted Answer

(i) The annual rainfall experienced by the station is 114.3 cm.(ii) The station experiences Maritime climate. This is because this station experiences moderate climate with not extreme temperature variations between summer and winter.(iii) The season during which rainfall is the heaviest is retreating monsoon. A probable station that satisfies this criteria is Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

Question 7

Question 2(d)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i)	Western Rajasthan receives no rain from the Arabian Sea branch of the South-West Monsoon winds.(ii) Mangalore is not cold even in the month of December.(iii) Even in summer Shimla is cooler than Delhi.

Accepted Answer

(i) Western Rajasthan receives no rain from the Arabian Sea branch of the South-West Monsoon winds because the Arabian Sea branch of the South west monsoon blows parallel to the Aravali hills. Since the moisture-bearing winds do not strike the mountains, they do not cause any rainfall in Western Rajasthan.(ii) Mangalore is situated along the Western Coast of India. Therefore, it experiences moderate impact of land breezes and sea breezes all through the year. This keeps the weather of Mangalore moderate i.e. neither too hot nor too cool. Hence, it is not cold even in the month of December.(iii) Shimla is cooler than Delhi in summer because it is located at a higher altitude than Delhi and the temperature decreases with the height at a rate of 1°C for every 166 m of ascend.

Question 8

Question 3(a)State two points of difference in climate between the northern and the southern zone of India due to latitude.

Accepted Answer

Two points of difference in climate between the northern and the southern zone of India due to latitude are —The northern zone has cold winter season and hot summer season while the southern zone is warmer than the north but does not have a clear-cut winter season.The northern zone doesn't have the mid day sun almost vertically overhead during any part of the year, while the southern zone has the mid day sun almost vertically overhead at least twice a year.

Question 9

Question 3(b)State briefly the impact of water bodies on the climate in coastal areas.

Accepted Answer

The water bodies have a great impact on the climate in coastal areas. Water bodies act as a major source of moisture to the summer monsoons and bring heavy rainfall to the whole area. Such areas experience moderate climate, neither too hot nor too cold.

Question 10

Question 3(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i) Variations in the type of climate in different regions of India.(ii) Most parts of India receive rainfall between June and September.(iii) South-West Monsoon withdraw from northern India in October.

Accepted Answer

(i) India has a varied climate due to the presence of various relief features like mountains, deserts, presence of seas etc. Further the large latitudinal extent, altitude, presence of many mountain ranges and nearness to the oceans results in different climatic conditions in different regions.(ii) Most parts of India receive rainfall between June and September because the differential heating of land and sea during summer season causes the monsoon winds to drift towards the subcontinent.(iii) South-West Monsoon withdraw from northern India in October because the monsoon trough of low pressure over the Ganga plains becomes weaker due to the apparent southward movement of the sun. The low pressure trough is gradually replaced by high pressure.

Question 11

Question 3(d)(i) What are Jet Streams?(ii) How do they influence the climate of India?

Accepted Answer

(i) Jet streams are cold fast blowing winds that develop in the upper layers of the atmosphere.(ii) They influence the climate of India as the westerly jet stream prevails over the North Indian Plains during the winter months, while the easterly jet stream steers the tropical depression over India. These depressions play a significant role in the distribution of monsoon rainfall in the subcontinent. The highest rainfall occurs along the track of these depressions.

Question 12

Question 4(a)How does El-Nino affect the climate of India?

Accepted Answer

El-Nino increases the surface temperature of the sea and affects the movement of monsoon winds in the Indian Ocean and causes weak drought-like situation in the Indian sub continent.

Question 13

Question 4(b)State two characteristic features of North-East Monsoon.

Accepted Answer

Two characteristic features of North-East Monsoon are-These winds blow from December to February.These winds blow from land to sea.

Question 14

Question 4(c)Mention three important features of rainfall in India.

Accepted Answer

Three important features of rainfall in India are-There is rainfall over three months and the rest of the year is mostly dry. Seventy percent of annual rainfall occurs in the rainy season.The rains are mainly of relief type. The windward slopes of the mountains get more rainfall than the leeward side.Only a small portion of the rainfall is received from sources other than the monsoon, like cyclonic rainfall and convectional rainfall.

Question 15

Question 4(d)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i) Pune receives less rainfall than Mumbai.(ii) Tropical cyclones bring heavy rainfall but temperate cyclones bring light rainfall.(iii) Kerala has a tropical climate while Bihar has a continental climate.

Accepted Answer

(i) Pune receives less rainfall than Mumbai because Mumbai lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats while Pune lies on the leeward side. Since places lying on the leeward side receive less rainfall, Pune receives less rainfall than Mumbai.(ii) A tropical cyclone is mainly formed due to the development of a low pressure area over the sea, this results in high humidity and temperature which causes heavy rainfall. However, in a temperate cyclone wind speed is low and all sectors of the cyclone have different temperatures which is followed by continuous light rainfall for many days.(iii) Kerala has a tropical climate while Bihar has a continental climate because Kerala is situated near water bodies while Bihar is situated in the interior of the subcontinent. Influenced by the sea, Kerala experiences maritime climate, neither too hot nor too cold while Bihar experiences continental type of climate, very hot in summer and very cold in winter.

Question 16

Question 5(a)Distinguish between 'Burst of Monsoon' and 'Break of Monsoon'.

Accepted Answer

Burst of MonsoonBreak of MonsoonThe sudden violent onset of rainfall in the first week of June is termed as the burst of monsoon.When the South-west monsoon fails to bring rainfall for two or more weeks and there is a dry period in the rainy season, it is called break of monsoon.

Question 17

Question 5(b)Define:(i) Western Disturbances(ii) Mango Showers

Accepted Answer

(i) Western Disturbances — A characteristic feature of the cold weather season is the inflow of depressions from the west and the north-west. These low pressure systems are called western disturbances. They originate in West Asia and the regions near the Mediterranean Sea. They travel eastwards across Iran and Pakistan and reach India during the winter season. They bring the much needed winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains.(ii) Mango Showers — Mango showers are the pre-monsoon showers in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Konkan and Goa that help in the ripening of mangoes. These showers are also important for tea and coffee plants.

Question 18

Question 5(c)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(i) The monsoon rain is unevenly distributed over India.(ii) Excessive cold in north India during winter season.(iii) Most of the India remains dry during the North-East Monsoon season.

Accepted Answer

(i) The monsoon rain is unevenly distributed over India because most parts of India receive relief rainfall, therefore windward sides always receive more rainfall than the leeward side. Some places like Aravali and Coromandel coast lie parallel to south west monsoon winds, hence, are not able to obstruct these wind and receive very little rainfall.(ii) Excessive cold in north India during winter season because north India is far from the sea and the equator. Hence, it experiences continental type of climate — cold winters and hot summers.(iii) Most of the India remains dry during the North-East Monsoon season because north-east trade winds blow from land to sea and hence, do not carry moisture necessary for rainfall.

Question 19

Question 6(a)What is meant by the season of 'Retreating Monsoon'?

Accepted Answer

During the months of October-November, the south-west monsoon winds become weaker and start to retreat from the skies of North India. This phase of the monsoon is known as the retreating monsoon.

Question 20

Question 6(b)Name the months in which Retreating Monsoon rain is experienced.

Accepted Answer

Retreating Monsoon rain is experienced in the months of October and November.

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