CH: 26 Climate of India
I.Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
(1)Which winds bring most of the rain to India?
The south-west monsoon winds bring most rain to India.
(2) Which two areas receive rain in winter?
The north-western regions and the Coromandel Coast of
Tamil Nadu receive rain in winter.
(3) What do you know about the loo?
The loo is a hot wind that blows from Rajasthan to the
neighbouring states in summer.
(4) Why does the south-west monsoon break into two branches?
The south-west monsoon winds break into two branches
because of the peninsular shape of the country.
(5) What are western disturbances?
Western disturbances are cyclones that originate in the
Mediterranean region and enter India from the north-west giving
rain to Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
II. Answer the following questions in four or five sentences.
(6) Discuss the factors that affect the climate of India?
 The main factors that influence the climate of India are
latitudinal position, altitude, distance from the sea,
direction of the mountains and prevailing winds.
 Places away from the equator or situated at higher
altitudes are colder.
 The places in the interior of the country experience
extreme climate while those near the coast experience
equable climate.
 The south-west monsoon winds cause rainfall in most
parts of the country.
(7)Explain the terms ‘kalbaisakhi’ and ‘mango shower’.
 At the onset of south-west monsoons, Kerala has
local thunderstorms called ‘mango showers’.
 These early showers help in ripening the local
mango crop.
 Similar storms in West Bengal and Assam are
called ‘kalbaisakhi’, which means ‘bringing calamity
in April’.
(8)What problems would India face if the Himalayas did not exist as
they do today?
 If the Himalayas were not there the entire climatic
pattern of India would be different.
 They act as a major barrier and stop the cold winds
from Central Asia from coming into India during
winter.
 Thus, the mountains save India from becoming a
cold desert.
 They also do not allow the south-west monsoon
winds to cross over to Central Asia and that is why
we have rains in the entire country.
(9) What do you understand by the term’ retreating monsoon’?
 The term ‘retreating monsoon’ refers to the reversal of
wind pattern over India in September/October.
 The sun begins to shift towards the southern
hemisphere and the Indian landmass begins to cool
forming a high pressure zone.
 The winds now start to blow from land to sea mainly
in a north-easterly direction.
(10) Why do some areas in India receive winter rainfall?
 In January, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana
and Delhi receive rain from cyclones which originate
in theMediterranean region.These cyclones are
called western disturbances.
 The rainfall helps in the growing and ripening of
wheat in winters.
 If our country were situated across the equator, we
would have an equatorial climate. There would not
be a winter season. The temperature would remain
high throughout the year. We would have rainfall
throughout the year and not just in the rainy
season.