Climate of India Climate of India and Regional Variations India has a tropical monsoon type of climate. This is because India lies in the tropical belt and its climate is influenced by the monsoon winds. Hot summers and dry winters are characteristic of the monsoon type of climate. India has many relief features which affect its climate. For example, the Himalayas influence the climate of India in the following ways: ‘+ It protects northern India from the cold winds which blow from central Asia. Without this range, the Indian plains would experience extremely cold climate. «Northern India experiences continental type of climate because of the presence of the Himalayas. Main characteristics of this type of climate are hot summers, cold winters and little rainfall. The diurnal range (difference between maximum and minimum temperature) of temperature is also large. Regional Variations India has a vast latitudinal and longitudinal extent. Thus, it has vast regional variations. Some of these are ‘+ While Barmer in Rajasthan experiences a temperature of 48-50°C in June, Pahalgam in Kashmir ‘experiences 22°C in the same month. ‘+ While Kerala enjoys tropical climate with warm and moist air, Punjab experiences continental type of climate with severe heat during summers and severe cold during winters. ‘+ While the temperature in Kerala remains at about 20-22°C during winters, in Kargil, the temperature may drop below ~40°C. ‘+ While the difference between day and night temperatures in Kerala is hardly 7-8°C, the diurnal range of temperature is extremely high in the Thar desert. The difference between the day and night temperature is between 25°C and 30°C. ‘+ Precipitation also differs in the country. While the precipitation is in the form of snowfall over the Himalayas, it rains over other parts of the country. * While Mawsynram and Cherrapunji receive about 1100 cm of rainfall in Meghalaya, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan receives only about 9 cm of rainfall annually ‘© Most parts of India receive rainfall during June to September, but the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu receive rainfall during winters. Factors Affecting the Climate of India The Himalayas + The Himalayas protect the North Indian Plains from severe cold during winter. ‘+The rain-bearing winds blowing from the Arabian Sea bring in rainfall over the northern plains after striking the Himalayas. Central Asia lies in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas and hence hardly receives any precipitation from these winds. is which blow from Central Asia‘The Monsoon Winds ‘+ The monsoon winds affect the climate of Inia, The southwest monsoon winds blowing from tho ‘Arabian Sea ard the Bay of Bengal bing rainfall verte entire country during June, July and August “+ By the beginning of October, the winds stat ta reteat from central India. The northeast monsoon winds bring rin to Tami Nad in wintore. Latitude “+The topic of Cancer divides the country ito two parts. The northem part fies inthe tamperate zone, while the southern parties inthe tropical zon. “+ While the nore part ofthe county lying in the tomperate zone experiences hot summer and cool inte, the southem pants ofthe country lated inthe tropical zone experiences hot cima, Varied Reliet “+ Polit features play an important role in shaping the climate of india. The areas located in the Windward side of the Western Ghats receive heavy rainfal, while the Deccan region lying on the leeward or ai shadow area ofthe Wester Ghals receves ory ite raa ‘+The southwest monsoon winds blow paral! tothe Aravali Range, The later is notable to stop the moisturedaden winds, making Rajasthan a dry state ‘+ Ae0as located in southom Assam receive heavy rainfall compared tothe regions located to their north, This is because the hil in Southern Assam Bock the winds and free them to shed the moisture. By the time these winds ative in northern Assam, they are comparatively ry Attitude + Temperature decreases with higher alitude, There isa decrease of 1°C for every 166m rge in height. ‘Thus, the mountains are cooler than the plains. Thus, the temperature at Ooty is lower than that at Koch asthe former i located at a higher alude, Influence of the Surrounding Seas + Ingia—a peninsular county—~is surrounded by seas and oceans on tree sides + These water bodies aloct tho climato of the regions which ie close to the sea, These regions ‘xporionce moderate, equable and maritime climate Western Disturbances ‘+ Because ofthe shiing of pressure belts in cenral and west Asia, northern India comes under the Influence of western disturbances. + These western disturbances cause rainfall over the northern parts of the county and snowall over Jammu anc Kashi, Distance from the Sea ‘The regions located faraway from the Sea ang inthe interior of he continent experience a continental ‘ype of climate. ‘+ Tho cummors aro extremely hot and the winters ae extremely cod Phenomena and Mechanism of the Monsoons ‘The monsoon winds are caused by the diferental heating and cooling ofthe land and the sea. They are There ae high-pressure condtions over the northwestern pars of the county. © The northeast trade winds bow from the land tothe sea during this season, and hence, they are ry They pick up moisture when they blow ever the agjoining ocoans and thus bring rainfall over the Coromandel Coast. ‘© Wastern disturbances are experienced inthe nortnem parts of the county during the cold season,Rainfall Most parts of the country do: not receive rainfall during the winter. Some areas which receive rainfall during the winters are + Central and northem parts of the country get occasional rainfall during winter. ‘+ Weak temperate cyclones cause rainfall in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh. This rainfall is beneficial for rabi crops. ‘+ Northeastem parts of the country also receive winter rainfall. * In October and November, northeast monsoon picks up moisture while blowing over the Bay of Bengal and cause torrential rainfall over the coast of Tamil Nadu and the southern tip of Andhra Pradesh. Distribution of Rainfall Distribution of Rainfall in India Regions receiving heavy rainfall (more than 200 cm) + Slopes of the Western Ghats and the Western Coastal Plains ‘+ Meghalaya Hills (Garo, Khasi and Jaintia), the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalayas, Assam, ‘Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal Regions receiving moderate rainfall (100-200 cm) ‘+The southern parts of Tamil Nadu and the northem parts of Andhra Pradesh ‘+ Middle Ganga Valley, some parts of the Western Ghats, Eastem Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha Regions receiving low rainfall (50-100 cm) ‘* Parts of the Deccan plateau comprising the regions of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu + Eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Kashmir Regions receiving scanty rainfall (100-200 cm) ‘+ Northern parts of Kashmir, southern Punjab and western Rajasthan ‘+ The rain shadow regions of the Wester Ghats lying in the Deccan Plateau