CLIMATE 3. Prevalence of land winds.
Climate refers to a generalized picture of the average
weather conditions spread over a long area for a long
period of time.
Weather refers to the state of atmosphere over an
area at any point in time.
India experiences ​tropical monsoon type of climate
because of:
● Torrid zone / Tropical Zone
● Influence of Monsoon winds between 20​o N
and 20​o​ S of equator.
Main characteristics of tropical monsoon
● Relatively high temperature
● Dry winters
Unique Climatic Conditions of India
1. Due to Himalayas
2. Due to Indian Ocean
20% of Asia’s population lives in Northern Plains of
India – rainy area from Himalayas.
SUBTYPES OF MONSOON CLIMATE
Regional variations, expressed in the pattern of winds,
temperature and rainfall, rhythm of seasons and
degree of wetness or dryness.
TEMPERATURE
Annual Range of Temperature
Difference between mean temperatures of maximum
and minimum months
● Low range ​ ​ maritime/moderate climate.
● High range ​ ​ extreme/continental climate.
Diurnal Range of Temperature
Difference between maximum and
temperature in a day.
RAINFALL
Annual Rainfall = Sum of Rainfall throughout the year.
Annual Rainf all
Average Rainf all = 12
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTINENTAL CLIMATE
1. Large diurnal range of temperature.
2. Dryness of air.
FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE OF INDIA
1. Himalayas
● Protects India from cold dry winds of Siberia
and Central Asia, giving India continental
climate.
● Obstructs South West Monsoons (SWM) and
gives rain to Northern Plains.
● Adds to the cold weather in winter
● It causes the SWM to retreat.
2. Monsoon winds
● SWM gives rainfall to whole of subcontinent.
● Retreating Monsoon gives heavy rainfall to
east coast. It starts at September in Punjab
and UP, October in Central India and
November in South India.
● Northeast Monsoon, which are dry and
originate in Mongolia and NW China join trade
winds, provides rainfall to Tamil Nadu due to
moisture from Bay of Bengal.
● Northeast monsoons cause cyclones.
3. Latitude
● India’s extent – 8​o​ 4’ to 37​o​ 6’.
● Tropic of Cancer (Curved Arc) – 23½​o​ N.
● Torrid – Faces overhead sun twice a year –
Hot throughout the year.
● Temperate – Slant Rays – summers are very
hot, winters are very cold.
4. Relief
● Generally Orographic Rainfall is caused.
● Western Coast and NE Region – Heavy Rainfall
(200 to 250 cm)
Example,
(a) Khasi Hills
Mawsynram – Windward – 1100 cm
Shillong – Leeward – 250 cm
(b) Western Ghats
minimum
Mahabaleshwar – Windward – 250 cm
Mumbai - Windward – 190 cm
Pune - Leeward - 70 cm
5. Altitude
In Troposphere, decrease in temperature with height
(1​o​ C per 166 m) – Normal Lapse Rate.
Example of Hill Stations – Dehra Dun, Ooty, Nainital, Shimla, Darjeeling,
Gangtok, Almora, Srinagar, Leh.
6. Distance from the sea
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 ● In coastal areas, differential rate of heating
and cooling of land and sea cause land and
sea breeze which are responsible for
moderate climate.
● In Peninsula, W. Ghats prevent winds inwards,
so moderate climate limited to coastal areas.
7. Influence of Surrounding Seas
Water Bodies – major source of moisture to
monsoons, bring rainfall to whole area. Gives
India hot monsoon climate in the tropical
zone.
8. Western Disturbances
● Temperate Cyclones in winter.
● Originate in Mediterranean Sea due to shifting
of pressure belts, Westerlies blow from 20​o​ N
to 50​o​ N.
● Rainfall to Punjab, Haryana and Western UP.
● Snowfall to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
9. Jet Stream
● Air currents which determine the arrival and
departure of monsoons.
● High rainfall occurs along the track of these
depressions.
● Develop in upper layers of atmosphere.
● During winter, westerly jet streams prevail
over N plains, while easterly jet streams steer
the tropical depressions over India.
10. El-Nino Effect
● Warm Ocean Currents – increase temperature
in sea – create drought like condition.
● Originate near Peru during December.
● Weakens the monsoon and effects its
movements.
MONSOON AND ITS MECHANISM
● Monsoon - ​Periodic Seasonal Winds
● Develop because of differential heating and
cooling of land and sea.
Southwest Monsoon / Summer Monsoon
Formation
● Land gets more heated in the sea in May,
June, July due to overhead sun. Hence, Low
Pressure (LP) on land.
● Sea is comparatively cool, so high pressure.
● Winds blow from ​sea​ to ​land​ from SW.
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● Blow from Indian Ocean northward and
north-westward into Asia.
Effects:
1. Bring heavy rainfall to some parts of Indian
subcontinent accompanied by violent thunder
and lightning.
2. Bring down the temperature.
3. Causes high Relative Humidity in July-August.
For example, the temperature drops by 10​o​ C in
Mumbai after a week’s rain. Nagpur’s temperature
drops from 45​o​ in May to 31​o​ C in July.
Winter Monsoon / Northeast Monsoon
Formation
● High pressure develops over a big landmass
stretching from Central Asia upto Northwest
Indian plains.
● Low pressure develops over Indian ocean.
● Winds blow from land to the sea.
Effects
1. Bring cold dry weather.
2. Incapable of producing rain. Some rainfall to
Coromandel Coast due to moisture from Bay
of Bengal.
3. They are called North East monsoons since
they blow from North East.
SEASONS
● Monsoon climate had distinct seasonal
pattern marked by significant changes from
one season to another – visible in interior.
● On coastlines, due to moderating effect of
sea, minor variation in temperature, major
variation in pattern of rainfall.
Four Seasons
1. Hot and Dry Summer – March to May
2. Rainy/SWM/Hot and Wet Season – Jun to Sep.
3. Retreating SW Monsoon – Oct to Nov.
4. Cold and Dry Winter, NE Monsoon – Dec – Feb
HOT AND DRY SUMMER
Temperature
● In most parts it ranges from 30​o​ to 32​o​ C.
● Temperature increases are heat belt moves
north ​(Deccan to NW).​ In NW, upto 48​o​ C.
 ● In Peninsula, due to moderating effect of
oceans, temperature – 26​o​ C to 32​o​ C.
● Coasts and high altitude – relatively cooler.
● Diurnal range of temperature is large,
especially in the interior part lying west of
subcontinent. E.g.
1. Rajasthan – Less moisture, faster change
in temperature.
2. Northern Plains – Local winds, fast change
in temperature. (40 to 45​o​ C are common)
Pressure Conditions
● Low Pressure - Between Thar and
Chotanagpur Plateau - due to high temp in
subcontinent.
● Surrounding Seas are cooler– High pressure
Characteristics
● Dry weather and excessive heat.
● Length of day increases due to sun being
below Tropic of Cancer overhead.
● Weak winds and dryness over the area.
● Thunderstorms, strong dusty winds, rainfall in
Punjab, Haryana and U.P. due to low pressure.
[Local Winds – Refer to Differences Table]
THE SOUTHWEST MONSOON SEASON
It is the season of general rainfall.
South west monsoons are ​deflected trade winds.​
Pressure Conditions
High Pressure and Low Pressure intensifies. Kosi river
is known as “Sorrow of Bihar”
Formation of S.W. Monsoon
By end of May, HP area develops near Cape Comorin
extending towards Arabian Sea. By June, the inland LP
intensifies and moves northward centred over Indus
lowland and Baluchistan. S.E. Trade winds from
Southern Hemisphere are attracted towards peninsula
by first week of June as they are deflected towards
right by coriolis force.
The sudden onset of monsoon due to deflection of
trade winds of Southern Hemisphere into the low
pressure area of land in first week of June is known as
Burst of Monsoon​.
First state to receive monsoon showers and the last
state to see its withdrawal - Kerala
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Break of Monsoon
When the SWM fail to bring rainfall for 2 or more
weeks and there is a dry period in the rainy season.
Division of Monsoon
Due to the tapering topography of peninsular India,
the SWM divides into two branches:
1. Arabian Sea Branch
2. Bay of Bengal Branch
Arabian Sea Branch
Divides into 3 branches further:
First Branch
● Stopped by W. Ghats (Sahyadris) and bring
rain to W. Coastal Plain – Orographic.
● After crossing the W. Ghats the winds
descend, heat up, less humidity, cause little
rainfall in the eastern part (Rainshadow)
Second Branch
● Strike North of Mumbai. Move along Narmada
and Tapi valleys, go through Central India.
● Cause rainfall of around 15 cm.
● Enters Ganga plains, mingles with BoB branch.
Bay of Bengal Branch
● Strikes Saurashtra Peninsula and the Kutch.
Passes over Rajastan parallel to Aravallis, causing
scanty rainfall. Thus, Thar is a desert. (The BoB
branch dries up by then)
● The Arabian Sea branch joins the BoB branch
in Punjab and Haryana.
Together they cause rainfall in the W. Himalayas.
Bay of Bengal Branch
● Directed towards coast of Myanmar and SE
Bangladesh.
● Due to Arakan Hills along Myanmar, a large
part of this branch is deflected towards India.
● Enter W. Bengal and Bangladesh from South
and SE direction rather than SW.
It bifurcates into two branches:
(1) Along ​Ganga Plains
(2) Along B​ rahmaputra Valley
Effect: Widespread rain in Ganga plains, Brahmaputra
valley, Garo and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
Place with highest rainfall - Cherrapunji and
Mawsynram in Meghalaya on Southern crest of Khasi
Hills.
Rainfall in Each Area
There is a decrease in rainfall from east to west as
moisture content reduces in the BoB branch.
(Example, Kolkata – 120 cm, Allahabad – 91 cm, Delhi
– 56 cm)
TN Coast remains dry during this season because:
● TN Coast is parallel to BoB branch of SWM.
● It lies in rainshadow region of Arabian Sea
branch of SWM.
RETREATING MONSOON
SWM starts retreating from North India in October
and November because of change in pressure which
causes change in wind direction.
Pressure Conditions
High Pressure on land, low pressure on sea. Winds
blow from Land to sea, picking up moisture in Bay of
Bengal and causing moderate rainfall to Coromandel
Coast – Chennai, Nellore, Gopalapatnam,
Bhubaneshwar, etc.
Characteristics
1. Clear Skies, so high day temp, High humidity.
2. Drop in night temperature.
3. Land remains moist.
Tropical Cyclones
Tropical Depression (low pressure systems) originating
in Bay of Bengal caused due to variations of heat and
moisture, in which winds move towards high pressure
at fast velocities (=220 km/h).
Direction –​ Northeast to Southwest
Latitude – ​12 to 17​o​ N.
Effect-​ ​Heavy and widespread rain in TN, AP, parts of
Odisha. Great loss of life and property.
● Interior parts are dry because of rainshadow
area of E. Ghats.
● Sometimes retreating monsoon is as heavy as
Summer Monsoons in east coast.
● Bulk of rainfall of Coromandel coast occur due
to cyclones.
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October Heat
The retreat of monsoon is marked by clear skies and
drop of night temperature, and the combination of
high pressure and humidity give rise to oppressive
weather known as October Heat.
● Retreating monsoon - Transition period
between rainy season and cold dry winter. By
end of October or early November, fine
weather conditions prevail.
NORTHEAST MONSOON SEASON / WINTER SEASON
Characteristics
Clear sky, dry weather, low night temperatures,
pleasant days.
Pressure Conditions
H.P. over NW part of plains due to slant rays of the
sun. L.P. on sea. Northeast trade winds prevail.
Temperature
Temperature decreases from South to North. Coldest
month – January. ​Example - Mean Maximum Temperature
Trivendrum (31​ o​), Calicut (26​o​), Chennai (24​ o​), Varanasi (16​ o​),
Jammu (10​ o ​C)
Mean temperature in N Plains – 20​o​ C. Lower in
Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, HP, Haryana, Punjab.
Night temperature can decrease to 2.5​o​ to 17.5​o ​C.
Lowest in Dras Valley in Kashmir at -45​o​ C. Reasons for
cold temperature in North is due to:
1. Very slant rays of the sun and high altitude in
some parts;
2. Snowfall in nearby Himalayas causes cold
wave situation;
3. Continental Type of Climate in Punjab,
Haryana, Rajasthan due to distance from sea;
4. In Feb, cold winds from Caspian Sea and
Turkmenistan bring cold wave over NW parts
of India.
In Peninsula, temperature lies between 25 and 30​o​ C.
No well-defined cold season.
In coasts, less annual range of temperature. Example,
in Trivendrum, mean maximum temperature in June –
29.5​o​ C and it is 31​o​ C in January.
Rainfall
Most parts are dry because:
 1. Trade winds blow from land to sea.
2. Less humidity
Scanty Rainfall Areas (Less than 50 cm)
3. Anti-cyclonic circulation of land
Rainfall occurs in:
1. TN Coast and southern AP as NEM pick up
moisture from BoB.
2. Western Disturbances in Haryana, Western
UP and Punjab.
3. NE Part gets rainfall between 25 and 50 mm.
4. Central and North India occasionally get
rainfall.
Temperate Cyclones / Western Disturbances
Temperate cyclones (Low Pressure systems)
originating in the Mediterranean Sea, not a part of NE
Monsoon, are called Western Disturbances.
2. Eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana.
1. Kashmir, S. Punjab, W. Rajasthan
2. Rainshadow region of W. Ghats in the Deccan.
FEATURES OF RAINFALL IN INDIA​*
1. Orographic rainfall [relief type]
2. Erratic and sporadic because it is uncertain.
[70% of rain occurs in rainy season]
3. Unevenly distributed.
4. [Only a small portion is received from
non-monsoon sources like cyclonic and
convectional rainfall.]
5. [India has an agrarian economy dependant on
rainfall. As such, rainfall affects the economy
of India.]

● It occurs 4 to 5 times a year on average. *Square bracket marked points are for information only.

● It travels through Iran and Pakistan before SOURCES OF RAINFALL IN SOME AREAS
reaching India.
● Generally between December and February. Punjab and Haryana

Effects-​ ​It brings rainfall to Punjab, Haryana, Western ● Western Disturbances

UP and snowfall to Jammu and Kashmir. ● South West Monsoon – Arabian Sea Branch
● South West Monsoon – Bay of Bengal Branch
​ ainfall ideal for cultivation of Rabi
Economic Benefit- R
crops like Wheat and Barley. Tamil Nadu Coast

DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL ● Northeast Monsoon Winds

● Retreating Monsoon Winds
Factors

1. Pressure Conditions
2. Direction of Relief Features
3. Direction of Moisture Bearing Winds
4. Cyclonic Depressions determined by pressure
gradient.

Heavy Rainfall Areas (>200 cm annually)

1. Windward side of Western Ghats

2. Southern Slope of Eastern Himalayas.
3. Meghalaya Hills – Garo, Khasi and Jantia
4. States of Assam, Arunachal and WB.

Moderate Rainfall Areas (100 cm to 200 cm)

1. Northern Part of AP, Southern TN.

2. Middle Ganga Valley, MP, Odisha
3. Eastern Maharasthra.
4. Portions of Western Ghats

Low Rainfall Areas (50 cm to 100 cm)

1. Deccan Plateau – KN, AP, TN.

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