Climate Flashcards
(28 cards)
Why does Rajasthan receive no rainfall?
Relief plays major role in climatic conditions. Aravali range is parallel to direction of south west monsoon winds, unable to stop these moisture laden winds.
Define Jet Streams
Jet Streams are the air currents which determine the arrival and departure of monsoons.
How do Himalayas prevent India from becoming cold and dry?
- Climatic barrier between Indian subcontinent and rest of Asia.
- Prevent cold Siberian winds.
- Force south west monsoon winds to shed rainfall
Why does Tamil Nadu get rains in winter?
- During winter, dry offshore, North-east monsoon winds blow from high pressure to low pressure area.
- When the cold winds flow over the land they do not collect any moisture.
- Pick up moisture when they pass over Bay of Bengal.
Name two important features of Indian monsoon
- High rainfall in short duration.
2. Rainfall is mainly relief origin i.e. orographic
Name any two states that receive rain in Jan-Feb. What causes this rain?
- Punjab and Jammu and kashmir
2. Western disturbances originating over Mediterranean sea
Give two reasons why Jaipur has a higher annual range of temperature than Mumbai
- Far from moderating influence of the sea
2. Aravalli range lies parallel to direction of winds so it does not get much rain from south west monsoon winds
Which winds are responsible for the rainfall experienced over the greater part of the indian subcontinent? During which months of the year is this rainfall experienced?
- South-west monsoon
2. June-July
Give two reasons why the entire subcontinent has the tropical monsoon climate.
- Influenced by presence of Himalayas - prevents cold winds of North Asia from blowing into India
- Monsoon winds are trapped by Himalayas
Name two types of cyclonic systems that affect India and two areas that receive rainfall from these systems.
- Cyclone - temperate - Punjab
2. Cyclone - tropical - Coastal areas of Odisha and Tamil Nadu
State the benefits that are derived from the local winds that blow in summer in the following states: 1. Kerala 2. West Bengal.
- Kerala receives ‘mango-showers’ in April-May. They bring little rain which are important for mango, tea and coffee plantation
- West Bengal receives Kal Baisakhi which bring rainfall in month of April-May and is good for jute and rice.
Shillong gets 200 cm of rainfall in the year while Cherrapunji receives more than 1250 cm of rainfall. Give reasons.
- Cherrapunji lies on the foothills of Khasi hills in Meghalaya.
- Hills are funnel shaped and trap the moisture-laden south-west monsoon winds
- Shillong lies in the rain shadow area of Khasi hills
‘Rainfall in India is orographic in nature’. Explain this and give an example with reference to distribution of rainfall and the effect of relief on its distribution.
Rainfall that occurs when an air mass is forced to rise over a mountain range is known as orographic rainfall.
- Most of the rainfall in India is caused due to the presence of Himalayan ranges
- The western ghats which lie parallel to the western coast are in a suitable direction to check the rain bearing monsoon winds.
What are western disturbances ? Name two areas that receive rains from them. Write any one benefit of these.
Western disturbances are shallow cyclonic depressions originating over Mediterranean sea, distributing fine weather conditions in north-western parts of India during winter season. Punjab and Himachal Pradesh receive rainfalls from this. They are highly beneficial to Rabi crop especially wheat.
What is the name given to climate of India? Mention any two features responsible for such a type of climate.
(Also, same question: How does South west monsoon originate?)
Monsoon type
- Difference in atmospheric pressure: summer season-low pressure over North western plains - trade winds of southern hemisphere
- Difference in temperature: temperature in north-west in summer very high - southern hemisphere not so hot -
- Presence of jet streams
Why are there great variations in the climate of the Indian subcontinent?
(Explain)
- Presence of Himalayas
- Large coastline
- Jet streams
- Vast country
Differentiate between SW monsoon and NE monsoon.
- Months
- Location- heavy vs light
- How they flow - sea to land ; land to sea
Which place in India receives the heaviest rainfall?
Mawsynram in Meghalaya
Give reason: The latitudinal extent of India is responsible for the variation in the climatic conditions which prevail in the country.
- India’s latitudinal extent is from 8 deg 4 min N to 37 deg 6 min N.
- Tropic of cancer passes through centre of country
- The country covers two separate temperature zone: temperate zone (north of country) and tropical zone (south of the country).
Why is Mumbai warmer than kanpur in december ?
Mumbai gets the moderating effect of the sea, which makes it warmer, whereas kanpur is very far from the sea and has a continental type of climate .
Mention the different sources of rain in punjab and tamil nadu during the winter season.
Punjab gets rainfall by temperate cyclones or western disturbances whereas tamil nadu gets rainfall by the nrth east monsoon winds.
Give two important characteristics of south west monsoon rainfall .
The two important characteristics of south west monsoon winds are as follows:
1) it is orographic in nature
2) It is uncertain in amount and time
What is the direction of the summer monsoon ? Why ?
The direction of the summer monsoon is from south west to north east, because after crossing equator, monsoonal winds gets deflected towards their rights in the northern hemisphere.
Give two important characteristics of the summer monsoon rainfall in india
The two important characteristics of the summer monsoon rainfall n india are :
1) It is erratic in nature, meaning that it is liable to sudden and unpredictable changes.
2) It mainly orographic in nature .
