Climate
ICSE · Class 12 · Geography
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Factors Affecting India's Weather and Climate
- India lies between 6°N to 37°N latitudes; the Tropic of Cancer divides it almost equally.
- Southern India, being closer to the Equator, has high temperatures throughout the year. Northern India lies in the warm temperate zone and experiences cold winters.
- Peninsular India is surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean – this gives coastal areas an equable (maritime) climate.
The Concept and Mechanism of Monsoon
- Traditional Theory (Sir Edmund Halley): Monsoon caused by differential heating of land and sea. Land heats faster in summer → low pressure over land → winds blow from sea (high pressure) to land → rai
- Modern Theory (Flohn + Seasonal shift): Seasonal shift of ITCZ under influence of the vertical rays of the sun explains monsoon origin. ITCZ shifts to ~25°N in summer → low pressure over NW India → SE
- Additional factor: Heating of the Tibetan Plateau in summer → clockwise wind circulation → one stream goes equatorward (enters India as easterly jet) → this helps in sudden onset of SW monsoon.
Indian Monsoonal Regime – Onset, Rainfall, Breaks, and Retreat
- SW Monsoon sets in over Kerala coast by 1st June → reaches Mumbai and Kolkata by 10-13 June → spreads all over India by 15 July.
- Monsoon rainfall is never continuous – comes as wet spells followed by dry spells.
- Two currents of SW Monsoon: (i) Arabian Sea Current and (ii) Bay of Bengal Current.
Rhythm of Seasons in India
- India's meteorological seasons: (1) Winter/Cold Weather Season, (2) Summer/Hot Weather Season, (3) Rainy Season (SW Monsoon), (4) Season of Retreating Monsoon.
- WINTER SEASON (Mid-November to March; coldest month = January): Mean daily temp below 21°C in north India; night temp falls below freezing at several places; 'Cold Waves' are common; Southern India st
- SUMMER SEASON (April to June; hottest month = May/June): Temperature starts rising from mid-March; reaches 41-42°C by mid-May; NW India can reach 45-47°C; mean night temp in May rarely below 26°C; Loo
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