M.
krishnamoorthy
Climate
Climate refers to the sum total of
weather conditions and variations
over a large area for a long
period of time (more than thirty
years).
Weather
Weather refers to the state of the
atmosphere over an area at any
point in time.
Elements of
weather
The elements of
weather and climate are
the same, i.e.
1. Temperature,
2. Atmospheric
pressure,
3. Wind,
4. Humidity and
5. Precipitation
On the basis of the
monthly atmospheric
conditions, the year is
divided into seasons
such as:
Winter
Summer
Rainy Seasons
Climatic controls
The climate of any place depends on
the following factors:
1) Latitude
The amount of solar
energy received varies according to
latitude due to the curvature of the
earth. That’s why air temperature
generally decreases from the
equator towards the poles.
2) Altitude
The atmosphere
becomes less dense,
and temperature
decreases when we go
to a higher altitude
from the Earth’s
surface. This is the
reason why hills are
cooler during summer.
3) Pressure and wind
system
The pressure and wind
system of any area
depend on the
latitude and altitude
4) Distance from the sea
The sea exerts a
moderating influence on
the climate. As the distance
from the sea increases, its
moderating influence
decreases and people
experience extreme
weather conditions. This
condition is known as
continentality, i.e. Very hot
during summers and very cold
during winters.
5) Ocean currents
Ocean currents, along with
onshore winds, affect the
climate of the coastal
areas. For example, any
6) Relief features
Relief plays a
major role in
determining the
climate of a place.
High mountains
act as barriers to
cold or hot winds.
They may also
cause
precipitation if
they are high
enough and lie in
the path of rain-
bearing winds.
Precipitation is
The Indian
Monsoon
The climate of India is strongly influenced by monsoon winds. The
seasonal reversal of the wind system is known as “monsoon”. The
monsoons are experienced in the tropical area roughly between 20° N
and 20° S. Go through the following facts to understand the mechanism
of the monsoons in a better way:
[Link] differential heating and cooling of land and water create a low pressure on
the landmass of India while the seas around experience comparatively high
pressure.
[Link] shift of the position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in
summer over the Ganga plain is also known as the monsoon trough during the
monsoon season.
[Link] presence of the high-pressure area east of Madagascar, approximately 20°S
over the Indian Ocean, affects the Indian Monsoon.
Oscillation
The changes in the
pressure conditions
over the southern
oceans also affect
the monsoons. The
irregularly periodic
variation in winds
and sea surface
temperatures over
the tropical eastern
Pacific Ocean that
affects the climate
of the tropics and
subtropics is known
as Southern
Arrival of the Monsoon in Different Parts of India
The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula generally by the 1 st week of June.
Subsequently, it proceeds into two – the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
The Arabian Sea branch reaches Mumbai on approximately the 10 th of June.
The Bay of Bengal branch arrives in Assam in the 1 st week of June.
By mid-June, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon arrives over Saurashtra-Kuchchh and the
central part of the country.
The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal branches of the monsoon merge over the northwestern
part of the Ganga plains.
Delhi receives the monsoon showers from the Bay of Bengal branch by the end of June.
1. By the first week of July, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and eastern Rajasthan
experience the monsoon . By mid-July, the monsoon reaches Himachal Pradesh and the rest of
the country.
2. By mid-July, the monsoon reaches Himachal Pradesh and the rest of the country.
The Seasons
4 main seasons can be
identified in India:
1. The cold weather
season (Winter)
[Link] hot weather season
(Summer)
[Link] advancing monsoon
(Rainy Season)
[Link] retreating monsoon
with some regional
variations (Transition
Season)
The Cold Weather Season
(Winter)
Winter begins in mid-November in northern India and stays till
February.
December and January are the coldest months in the northern part
of India.
The temperature decreases from the south to the north.
Days are warm and nights are cold.
The weather is marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low
The Hot Weather Season
(Summer)
From March to May, a hot weather season is
observed in India. The summer months experience
rising temperatures and falling air pressure in the
northern part of the country. A striking feature of
the hot weather season is the ‘loo’. Loo is the
strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the
day over north and northwestern India.
• Towards the close of the summer season, pre-
monsoon showers come, which help in the early
ripening of mangoes and are often referred to as
Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy
Season)
South-east trade winds originate over the warm subtropical areas
of the southern oceans. They cross the equator and blow in a
southwesterly direction entering the Indian peninsula as the
southwest monsoon. The monsoon winds cover the country for
about a month. Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi
Hills receives the highest average rainfall in the world.
A phenomenon associated with the monsoon is its tendency to
have ‘breaks’ in rainfall. These breaks in monsoon are related to
the movement of the monsoon trough. The trough and its axis
keep on moving northward or southward and determine the
spatial distribution of rainfall. The
• frequency and intensity of tropical depressions also determine
the amount and duration of monsoon rains. The monsoon is
known for its uncertainties. The alternation of dry and wet
spells varies in intensity, frequency and duration.
Season)
The months of October-November form a
period of transition from hot rainy season to
dry winter conditions. The retreat of the
monsoon is marked by clear skies and a rise
in temperature. While day temperatures are
high, nights are cool and pleasant. Owing to
the conditions of high temperature and
humidity, the weather becomes rather
oppressive during the day. This is commonly
known as ‘October heat’. In the second half
of October, the mercury begins to fall rapidly
in northern India.
Distribution of
Rainfall
Parts of the western coast and
northeastern India receive over
about 400 cm of rainfall annually.
Rainfall is less than 60 cm in
western Rajasthan and adjoining
parts of Gujarat, Haryana and
Punjab.
Rainfall is low in the interior of the
Deccan plateau and east of the
Sahyadris.
Snowfall is restricted to the
Himalayan region.
Monsoon as a Unifying
Bond
The unifying influence of the
monsoon on the Indian
subcontinent is quite
noticeable. The seasonal
alteration of the wind systems
and the associated weather
conditions provide a rhythmic
cycle of seasons. The
uncertainties of rain and
uneven distribution are very
much typical of the
monsoons. Year after year, the
people of India, from north to
south and from east to west,
eagerly await the arrival of
the monsoon. These monsoon
winds bind the whole country
by providing water to set
