CLIMATE OF INDIA

By: Radhesh Shah, 10A

MONSOON
• The term ‘monsoon’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausim’ (Mausam) which means
season.
• Thus monsoon winds are the winds that blow from sea to land in one season and from
landmass towards the sea in the other season.
• The climate of South Asia in general and India in particular is influenced by monsoon.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE CLIMATE OF INDIA:

1. Role of the Himalayas:
a. Himalayas protect the country from the cold & chilly winds coming from the
Arctic Circle.
b. Himalayas act as a barrier for the moisture-laden South-west monsoon winds
during summer and help in bringing the rains to the country.

2. Moderating Influence of the Seas:

• The Indian peninsula is surrounded by water bodies. Therefore it has moderating
influence of the seas and experiences maritime/equable/humid climate.
• Places in the north have continental/extreme climate since they are away from the
water bodies.

3. Impact of the Prevailing Winds:

During the summer season, South West monsoon winds blow from the sea towards the
entire country causing the rains. During winter, Northeast monsoon winds blow from
land to the sea causing rains in the Coromandel coastal plains.

4. Latitudinal Position:
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Tropic of Cancer (23 2 °N) passes through the central part of India. Therefore the
adjacent areas experience tropical climate. The regions above Tropic of Cancer
experience temperate conditions. The Southern region of the country experiences
equatorial type of climate due to its proximity to the equator.

5. Altitude:
For every 1000-meter ascent, there is a drop of 6°C in temperature (lapse rate). Thus
the hill stations like Nainital, Darjeeling etc. remain cold throughout the year. However
the places like Delhi and Jaipur are warmer than the hill station.

6. Upper Air Circulation-Jet Stream:

These are swiftly blowing winds at a height of 3 to 5 Kms above the subtropical high
pressure belt. Himalayas divide them into easterly & westerly jet.
The westerly jet cause western disturbances in North-west India and bring about winter
rainfall.

7. Presence of Relief Features:

• Western Ghats, Himalayas etc. act as barriers and cause heavy rainfall to the
windward side.
• The amount of rainfall is comparatively lesser to the leeward side of the mountains.
• Thus the relief feature is one of the key factors that determine the climate of India.

8. The El Nino Effect:

The cold Peruvian current keeps the western Pacific Ocean colder than the Indian
ocean which causes high pressure there. But, at times a warm current called El Nino
makes Easterly trade winds to change their direction. Hence, the moisture laden winds
move towards Peruvian coast to cause rainfall there thereby depriving Indian
subcontinent the benefits of normal monsoon.

SEASONS
India has four different seasons:
1. The Hot Season - (March to May)
2. Monsoon (Advancing Monsoon) - (June to September)
3. Retreating Monsoon - (October & November)
4. The Cold Season - (December to February)

1. The Hot Season - (March to May)

• Due to the apparent movement of the Sun northwards, Sunrays are vertical near the
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Tropic of Cancer (23 2 °N).Thus,very high temperatures are recorded. The Southern part
has the temperature of about 35°C while the Northern part records 40°C.
North-western part experiences 45°C temperature.

Local Winds:
• Loo is a hot,dry & dusty wind that blows in Summer in North-West India. It causes
fatal heat wave.
• Kalbaisakhi (Norwesters) are the dust storms with heavy rains accompanied by
thunder and lightening in West Bengal. They cause destruction to life & property.
• Norwesters of Assam are called Bardoli Cheerha. However these moisture laden winds
are beneficial for the tea in Assam, jute & rice in Bengal.

Pre-monsoon Showers
• The rains which occur before the arrival of monsoon season are called Pre-monsoon
showers.
• They are beneficial for ripening of mangoes in konkana, therefore they are called
Mango Showers.
• They are also useful for Coffee cultivation in Karnataka & Kerala, therefore they are
called Cherry Blossoms in those states.

2. Monsoon (Advancing Monsoon) - (June to September)

The intense heat present in the region causes a low pressure belt in North India &
attracts the moisture laden winds. Thus, the south-east trade winds from the southern
hemisphere are attracted towards India. On crossing the equator, they are deflected to
their right & blow over the country as South-West monsoon winds. These strong
onshore winds bring torrential downpour accompanied by thunder and lightening. This
is known as the “Burst of the Monsoon” Because of the Peninsular shape of India, the
South-West monsoon winds splits into two branches.

-> Arabian Sea Branch of SW Monsoon Winds

These winds strike the coast of Kerala by the first week of June. The western ghats
make them rise high. Heavy rain (200-250cm) occurs on the windward slopes of the
western ghats. While the leeward side receives only 60cm of rainfall.The rain shadow
area receives still less. Further east Chennai receives only 30 to 40 cm of rains. From
South to north, Thiruvananthpuram(325cms), Goa(300 cms) & Mumbai gets 200 cms
rains. The Aravalli hills, being parallel to SW monsoon winds do not form barrier.
Therefore there is little or no rainfall in Thar Desert.

-> Bay of Bengal Branch of SW Monsoon Winds

• These winds strike against the lower ranges of Himalayas,Chittagong & Assam hills &
rise to give very heavy rainfall in W.Bengal,Sikkim & southern slopes of the Khasi,
Jaintia hills. Cherrapunji, located on the windward slope of Khasi hills receives the
heaviest rainfall in the world (1250 cms).
• (Mawsynram near Cherrapunji has received record rainfall of 1350 cm)
• One branch of these winds is deflected in westerly direction and blows towards
Indo-gangetic plain parallel to the Himalayas. The rainfall decreases from 250 cm in the
Ganga delta region to 100 cm at Patna, 50 cm at Delhi & 25 cm in W. Rajasthan. A small
amount of rainfall is received on the eastern slopes of the Aravallis as they form the
barrier, but THAR on the western side lies in the rain shadow region of the Bay of
Bengal branch of S-W monsoon winds and receives little or no rainfall.

3. Retreating Monsoon - (October & November)

• With the apparent movement of the Sun south of the equator, a low pressure belt over
the north-western India weakens & the S-W monsoon winds start withdrawing from the
country gradually till early November. This is called Retreating monsoon.They are
associated with strong winds,torrential , Cyclonic rainfall in coastal Tamil Nadu &
Andhra Pradesh. The departure of monsoon from the country leads to bright, hot
conditions known as October Heat.

4. The Cold Season - (December to February)

• These winds blow from high pressure area over the land to the low pressure area over
the sea in N-E direction. These are offshore winds & do not bring rain. However, they
pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal & give rains to coastal Tamilnadu. They give
heavy rainfall as they meet with the damp winds of Retreating monsoons.

Western Disturbances: The temperate cyclones coming from the Mediterranean sea
are called Western disturbances.They bring winter rainfall to Punjab,Haryana,J & K,
Western UP & Northern Rajasthan etc.

Characteristics of Monsoon
1. Monsoons are erratic in nature.
2. They are unevenly spread & are sporadic.
3. They are orographic.
4. They bring rain in Summer

Distribution of Rainfall
1. Regions of Heavy Rainfall (More than 200 cm)
Western ghats, Western coastal plains of Western ghats,
S.Kerala,Himalayas,Garo,Khasi, Jaintia etc.

2.Regions of Moderate Rainfall (100-200cm)

Ganga valley,W.Bengal,Maharashtra, UP,Northern AP,Southern TN.

3. Regions of Scanty Rainfall (50-100)

Eastern Rajasthan,Parts of Punjab & Haryana,J&K.

4. Desert & Semi-desert region (less than 50 cm)

N. J&K, S.Punjab,W Rajasthan,Rain shadow regions.

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