Climate

 Climate - Sum totalof weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of
time.
 Weather condition more than thirty years.
 Weather - state of atmosphere over an area at any point of time.
 Day to day phenomenon
Elements remains the same
1.Temperature
2.Atmospheric pressure
3.Wind
4.Humidity
5.Precipitation
 Weather conditions may fluctuate very often even within a day.
 But a common pattern is observed for a period of time [ week, month]
 On the basis of generalized monthly atmospheric conditions. Year is divide into season.
 The word is divided into different climate regions.
 India has the monsoon type of climate.
India's climate: Monsoon type of climate
 We often relate Monsoon with rain.
 The word Monsoon is derived from the Arabic word 'Mausim' which literally means season.
 Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal of the wind direction during a year.
 The parts of the south and southeast Asia observes the monsoon type of climate.
 There are preceptible regional variations in climatic conditions.
 Same is observed for temperature also.
Example
 In summer, temperature at some parts of Rajasthan reaches upto 50°c, whereas it
remains around 20°C in Pahalgam in Kashmir.
 Similarly, during winter nights, temperature atr Drass in Kashmir may be as low as -45°C.
On the temperature of 22°C.
 Similarly, there are variations in the form and type of precipitation.
 Snowfall in the upper parts of Himalayas.
 400 cm in Meghalaya.
 Less than 10 cm in Ladakh and western Rajasthan.
 Rainfall from June to September and on the other hand, some parts receives rainfall
during October and November.[ Tamil Nadu]
 Variations in seasonal impact between coastal areas and interior of the country.
 Decrease in rainfall generally in East to West in the Northern plains
These variations have given rise to variety in lives of people.
Do you know?
 In certain places there is a wide difference between day and night temperatures.
Ex:- Thar and Kerala
Climate controls
- Latitude
 What role does latitude plays in controlling climate?
 How does it controls the climate?
 Due to curvature of the earth, the amount of solar energy received varies according
to latitude.
 Lower latitude = more solar rays
 Higher latitude = less solar rays
 Temperature at equator = tropical, equatorial
 Temperature at poles = temperate, frigid
 Climate also varies accordingly
- Altitude
 Altitude is a distance measurement in vertical or up direction.
 No connection with longitude and latitude.
 As we go up from the surface of the earth to higher altitude, the atmosphere
became less dense and temperature decreases.
 Observe the climate at hill station.
 Climate condition of places at the same latitude of Himalayas.
 The climate conditions at higher altitude varies from lower altitude.

- Pressure and wind

 The pressure and wind system of any area depends on the latitude and altitude of the
place.
 Low pressure and high pressure depends upon latitude [sun rays]
 Low pressure = air masses rises up, high pressure = air masses settle down
 On surface, winds move from high pressure to low .
 The low pressure and high pressure defines the direction of the wind
Example:- in India, during summer wind blows from South-West to North-East .
Carries moisture - causes rainfall - climate influenced
Thus pressure and wind influences the temperature and rainfall.
- Distance from sea
 Recall the story of land breeze and sea breeze
 We can say that sea exerts a moderating influence on climate.
 Coastal area have moderate climate as compared to the interior land. Ex:- Mumbai
and Delhi.
 As the distance from the sea increases, it's moderating influence decreases and the
places experiences extreme weather. This condition is called continentality.
- Ocean Currents
 An ocean current is the continuous movement of ocean water in a pattern, the
pattern may also change. This massive movement of water is influenced by a variety
of different forces such as wind, waves, rotation of earth, slope, etc.
 These ocean currents are either hot or cold
 Ocean Currents along with onshore wind affects the climate of the coastal area.
Ex:- Western margins of continent have deserts in the subtropics have deserts.

- Relief feature

Relief too plays a major role in determining the climate of a place.

Physical features control the climate of an area.
Ex:- High mountain act as barriers for cold or hot winds.
Windward side cause precipitation.
Leeward side of mountains remains dry.

Factors affecting climate

1. Latitude
India's climate depends on its latitudinal extent.
Tropic of cancer divides country into almost two halves
Part lying south of Tropic of Cancer - tropical climate
Part lying north of tropic of cancer - subtropical climate.
2. Altitude

We know that altitude controls the climate of an area

How it affects-

Himalayas in the North which have an average height of about 6000 m.

Prevents the cold winds from Central Asia from entering the subcontinent.
Because of these mountains, the subcontinent experiences comparatively mild
winters.
3. Pressure and surface winds
India's climate and associated weather condition in India are governed by the following
atmospheric conditions
 Pressure surface winds
 Upper air circulations
 Western cyclone disturbances and tropical cyclones.
1. Pressure surface winds
 India lies in the region of North-east winds.
 They blow south, get deflected the right due to the Coriolis force and move on towards the
equatorial low-pressure area.
 According to this, India should be an arid land and low rainfall should be there.
But it is not so?
 - The climatic conditions over India is unique.

Differences during winter and summer

 Low pressure area over the interior of the Asia.

 High pressure on southern Indian Ocean
 Therefore, south west winds starts moving towards the Indian mainland [HP to LP]
 Moving over the oceans, these winds carry moisture and causes rainfall.

2. Upper Air Circulation

Jet stream - the upper tropospheric circulation flowing with very high velocity (110-184 km/h) in
summers and winters respectively and has a drastic meteorological impact over climate.

 Extension of diversing air masses flowing in the troposphere.

Why subtropical jet streams?
 Located approx over 27° - 30° latitude
 Position of jet stream in summer and winter
 During summer, jet stream are north of the Himalayas because of ITCZ and in winters they
are south of the Himalayas.
 This influence the climate of India force
Coriolis

It is a force responsible for deflection of winds towards the right in the

Northern Hemisphere and towards the lefts in Southern Hemisphere
Western cyclonic disturbances
due to the difference in the linear velocity of earth's rotation and it's
atmosphere.
3. Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones

 The western phenomenon of the winter months occur due to winds (Jet stream) brought in due
to the westerly flow from the Mediterranean region.
How it affects climate?
 Due to western cyclonic disturbances the weather of North and North-west part of the
country is influenced.
Rain showers are brought in the part of the country.
Tropical Cyclones - Cyclones develop in tropical region
How it affects?
- occur during the monsoon as well as in Oct- Nov.
- the sea affect the coastal region of the country ( rainfall, floods etc.)
THE INDIAN MONSOON
Monsoon - seasonal reversal of winds
 Sailor first noticed this phenomenon.
 They were benefitted from the reversal of the wind system.
 Relate with the Arabic origin of the word 'Monsoon'.
 The monsoon are experienced in the tropical area roughly between 20'N and 20°S. The
mechanism of monsoon depends on the following factors:
(a) the differential heating and cooling of land and water.
 Low pressure on landmass
 High pressure around sea
 This results in the movement of wind from HP to LP (South west winds)

(b) the shift of the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

- ITCZ is a broad trough due to convergence of North East and South East trade

winds.

- The ITCZ belts normal position is an equatorial latitude but it moves North to

South with the apparent movement of the sun.

- During summer - ITCZ is over Ganga plains

Low pressure

Creates monsoon trough which attracts the winds from high pressure area created over sea.

(c) the presence of High pressure area on the East of Madagascar

- Due to this, the high pressure intensified and this affects the Indian monsoon.

- high pressure more surface winds more moisture

Monsoon get strengthen.

(d) the Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated during summer.

- this results in strong vertical air current

- low pressure attracts high pressure

 - Results in the creation of geographical phenomenon required for monsoon.

(e) the movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas during

summer.

- Provides a space for the south west winds to come on North India.

- the presence of the tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during

Summer.

- intensifies the subsiding of air masses East to the Madagascar

ENSO - EL Nino SOUTHERN OSCILLATIONS

What is EL Nino ? What is Southern Oscillations?

Both the phenomenon are interrelated and affect the monsoon.

 EL Nino - it is the periodic development of a warm ocean current along the coast of Peru. The
EL Nino replaces the cold Peruvian current.
 Due to EL Nino the sea surface temperature increases and the trade winds in this region
become weak.
 Story of Southern Oscillation (normal situation)

 High pressure at tropical Eastern South Pacific.

 Tropical Eastern Indian Ocean/ Tropical Pacific Ocean experiences low pressure.
 Strong easterlies flows and the ocean current is governed by them, further phenomenon
are followed by this in a cyclic manner.
 But when the pressure conditions got reversed, this is known as Southern Oscillation.

EL Nino

 Reversal of pressure conditions in Pacific Ocean.

 Weak high pressure ( low pressure ) in South Eastern Pacific Ocean.
 High pressure at Western Pacific Ocean.
 Change in the direction of the surface wind, climate and precipitation also changes.
 Connection with El Nino.

The Onset of the Monsoon and withdrawal

  The monsoon winds are pulsating in nature.
 Spread over 100-120 days (June to Mid SEP)
 'Burst' of the monsoon - Normal rainfall increases suddenly and continuous constantly for
several days.
 Let us see the arrival of monsoon in India
 By the first week of June the monsoon arrives at Southern tip of the Indian peninsula
 Divides India into two branches
 Arabian sea branch Bay of Bengal
- Reaches Mumbai 10th June - arrives in Assam in first week
- Move to Saurashtra - kaccha and central - Due to Himalayas, deflect Wes on
part Ganga plains
 Merges over Northwestern part, by first week of July western UP, Punjab,Haryana and
experiences monsoon in Eastern Rajasthan.

On the other hand, the withdrawal of monsoon is a more gradual process.

 Begins from North West states of India early Sep

 By mid Oct it withdraws completely from the Northern half of the peninsular.
 By Dec, the monsoon withdraws from the whole country.