Question 1

Question 1Name the factors affecting the climate of a place.

Accepted Answer

The factors affecting the climate of a place are:Location — Climate of a place depends on its location. Places located in tropical region are hotter than the places located in temperate region.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.Distance from sea — Places situated near sea have moderate climate while places situated away from sea have extreme type of climate.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

Question 2Name the type of climate of India.

Accepted Answer

The climate of India is Tropical Monsoon Type.

Question 3

Question 3What is the chief characteristic feature of the tropical monsoon type of climate?

Accepted Answer

The chief characteristic feature of the tropical monsoon type of climate is alteration of seasons.

Question 4

Question 4What are onshore winds and offshore winds?

Accepted 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

Question 5State the importance of Monsoon season in India.

Accepted Answer

The monsoon season is important for a number of reasons in India: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.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.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

Question 6Name a few local winds that pass through India.

Accepted Answer

Local winds that pass through India are:Kali BaisakhiLooMango Showers

Question 7

Question 7Which is the more important branch — the Arabian Sea Branch or the Bay of Bengal Branch? Why?

Accepted Answer

The Arabian Sea Branch is more important branch because of the following reasons:Arabian Sea Branch is almost thrice the volume of the Bay of Bengal Branch.Arabian Sea Branch provides rain in the entire country while the Bay of Bengal branch provides rain in north-eastern part only.

Question 8

Question 8Which is the first state to receive the monsoon winds and the last to see its retreat in India?

Accepted Answer

Kerala is the first state to receive the monsoon winds and the last to see its retreat in India.

Question 9

Question 9State two important characteristic features of the Indian monsoons.

Accepted Answer

Two important characteristic features of the Indian monsoons are:Indian monsoons are erratic, unpredictable, irregular and unevenly distributed.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

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

Accepted Answer

The different seasons of India are:The Hot Dry Season — March to MayThe Rainy Season or the season of South-West Monsoon — June to September.The season of retreating South-West Monsoon — October to NovemberThe Cold season or the season of North-East Monsoon — December to February

Question 11

Question 11What is the meaning of the word 'monsoon'?

Accepted Answer

The word Monsoon has been derived from the Arabic word 'Mausim' which means season.

Question 12

Question 12How are monsoon winds different from the land and sea breezes?

Accepted Answer

Monsoon winds are different from the land and sea breezes in the following ways:S. No.Monsoon WindsLand & Sea Breezes1.Monsoon winds are seasonal winds that occur at specific times of the year.Land and Sea Breezes are daily local winds that occur throughout the year.2.Monsoon winds are generally stronger and more persistent than land and sea breezes, and can bring heavy rainfall and strong winds.Land and Sea Breezes are generally weaker and more local in nature.3.Monsoon winds are formed by the difference in temperature between the land and the sea or ocean on a large scale.Land and Sea Breezes are formed by the difference in temperature between the land and the sea or ocean at a local scale4.Monsoon winds can have a significant impact on the weather and climate of a region.Land and Sea Breezes are generally more local in nature and have a smaller impact on the overall weather and climate of an area.

Question 13

Question 13Why are there great variations in India's climate?

Accepted 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: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.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.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.Places situated at higher altitudes are cooler as compared to places in the plains.Presence of the Himalayan range also influences the climate of India by obstructing Siberian winds and intercepting Monsoon winds.

Question 14

Question 14Give reasons to justify that Himalayas act as a perfect climatic divide.

Accepted Answer

The Himalayas act as a perfect climatic divide because:The great Himalayan range obstructs the bitter cold winds from Siberia from entering the Indian Subcontinent.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

Question 15Which winds are responsible for the rain experienced over the greater part of India?

Accepted Answer

The South-West Monsoon winds are responsible for the rain experienced over the greater part of India.

Question 16

Question 16During which part of the year is the rain experienced in India?

Accepted Answer

India experiences rain in the months from June to September which is the season of the South-West Monsoon.

Question 17

Question 17How are the sources of rainfall in the north-west part of India different from the rain experienced on the eastern coastal areas in winter?

Accepted 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

Question 18Why does Kanyakumari experience an equable climate?

Accepted Answer

Kanyakumari experience an equable climate because of land breeze and sea breeze as it is situated on sea coast.

Question 19

Question 19Why does central Maharashtra receive scanty rainfall?

Accepted Answer

Maharashtra receives scanty rainfall because it lies in the rain shadow of Western Ghats.

Question 20

Question 20Why is western part of India a desert region?

Accepted Answer

The western part of India gets very less rainfall due to following reasons: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.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.

Climate of India