th

Class 9
Social Science
Geography |Climate
Crafted with love
By Digraj Singh Rajput
 Geography |Climate

CLIMATE

CLIMATIC CONTROLS FACTORS AFFECTING

THE SEASONS
INDIA’S CLIMATE
● Latitude ● Latitude ● The Cold Weather Season (Winter)
● Altitude ● Altitude ● The Hot Weather Season (Summer)
● Pressure and wind system ● Pressure and Winds ● Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy
● Distance from the sea Season)
● Ocean currents and ● Retreating/Post Monsoons (The
● Relief features Transition Season)

DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL

MONSOON AS A UNIFYING BOND

 Geography |Climate
Weather State of the atmosphere over an area at any point of time

Climate Sum of total weather condition & Variation over a large area for long period of time (>30y)

The elements of weather and climate Temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation.

● The world is divided into a number of climatic regions

● The climate of India is described as ‘Monsoon’ type

Climatic Controller Six major controllers of the climate

Latitude Influence amount of solar energy received.

Altitude Influence temperature
Pressure and wind system Influence temperature & Rainfall pattern.
Distance from the sea Very hot during summers & very cold during winters.
Ocean currents Influence cooling & warming of sea water
Relief Features Barriers → Cold & hot winds, Precipitation.
 Geography |Climate

State of atmosphere over an area at any point of time is called

A. Weather

B. Humidity

C. Climate

D. Temperature
 Geography |Climate
Factors Affecting Indian Climate

Latitude The Tropic of Cancer divides India, with half the country in the tropical zone and the rest in the
subtropical zone, giving India a mix of tropical and subtropical climates.

India's northern mountains, averaging 6,000 meters, block cold winds from Central Asia,
Altitude
leading to milder winters in the subcontinent compared to Central Asia.

Pressure and wind system ● Pressure and surface winds:

● Upper air circulation;
● Western cyclonic disturbance and tropical cyclones

● India lies in the region of northeast winds that carry little moisture and bring little rain.
● These winds are deflected by the Coriolis force, moving towards the equator.
● During winter, cold, dry winds blow from a high-pressure area north of the Himalayas.
● In summer, a low-pressure area forms over India, causing a reversal of wind direction.
● The Southwest Monsoon winds, blowing from the Indian Ocean, bring moisture and
widespread rainfall to India.
 Geography |Climate
THE SEASONS

Cold weather season (Winter) Hot weather season (Summer)

Cold weather season mid-November to February. The hot weather season March to May
● Temperature decreases from south (Chennai: 24-25°C) ● Influenced by the northward shift of the sun's heat
to north (10-15°C). belt.
● Warm days, cold nights, frost in the north, snowfall in ● Temperatures rise, with March reaching 38°C, April 42°
the Himalayas. C, and May 45°C in northern regions; peninsular India
remains cooler.
● Northeast trade winds make the season dry, with
● Low pressure develops in northern India by May,
some rain in Tamil Nadu. leading to air circulation.
● Western Cyclonic disturbances bring winter rains ● The 'loo' is a hot, dry wind common in the north and
aiding 'rabi' crops. northwest, sometimes fatal.
● Peninsular region has little temperature change due to ● Dust storms and local thunderstorms, like 'Kaal
sea influence. Baisakhi', occur in May, providing temporary relief.
● Pre-monsoon showers, known as 'mango showers', are
common in Kerala and Karnataka.
 Geography |Climate
Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season) Retreating/Post Monsoons(The Transition Season)

The monsoon season begins in early June to September From October to November
● low-pressure conditions attracting south-east trade ● The monsoon weakens and retreats, replaced by a
winds, bringing moisture. high-pressure system.
● These winds, called the southwest monsoon, bring ● The transition period brings clear skies, rising
heavy rainfall, especially to the Western Ghats and temperatures during the day, and cool nights.
northeastern India. ● 'October heat' occurs due to high temperatures and
● The highest rainfall occurs in Mawsynram, while humidity.
regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat receive little ● Cyclonic depressions form over the Bay of Bengal,
rainfall. causing heavy rain and damage, especially in eastern
● Monsoon rains have wet and dry spells, with breaks in coastal areas.
rainfall due to the shifting of the monsoon trough. ● Cyclones are destructive, affecting regions like the
● Tropical depressions in the Bay of Bengal affect Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri deltas, Odisha, West Bengal,
rainfall, sometimes causing floods or droughts. and Bangladesh.
● The monsoon's unpredictability can disrupt farming
schedules due to irregular arrival and retreat.
 Geography |Climate

India receives most rains from

A. The southwest monsoon

B. The retreating monsoon

C. Tropical cyclones

D. Western disturbance
 Geography |Climate
DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL
● Western coast and northeastern India get over 400 cm of rainfall.
● Areas like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, and the Deccan plateau
get less than 60 cm of rainfall.
● Leh in Jammu and Kashmir also gets low rainfall.
● Most of India gets moderate rainfall, and snowfall is only in the
Himalayas.
● Rainfall is unpredictable, with dry areas facing droughts and wet areas
facing floods.
MONSOON AS A UNIFYING BOND
● The Himalayas protect northern India from cold winds, keeping
temperatures higher.
● The Peninsular plateau, influenced by the sea, has moderate
temperatures.
● Despite temperature variations, the monsoon provides a unifying cycle of
seasons across India.
● The monsoon influences agriculture, wildlife, and people's lives, including
festivals.
● Monsoons unite the country by providing water for farming and linking
river valleys.
 Geography |Climate
Key Words

Climate:Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a Altitude: Altitude is the height of a place above sea
region, usually over 30 years. It includes things like level. As altitude increases, the air becomes thinner and
temperature, humidity, and rainfall over a large area.. the temperature drops, making hills cooler in summer.

Weather: Weather is the current atmospheric condition Latitude: Latitude refers to how far a place is from the
of a place at a specific time. It includes elements like equator. The amount of sunlight received varies with
temperature, wind, and rain that can change quickly. latitude, causing temperature to decrease as you move
from the equator towards the poles.
Monsoon: The monsoon is a seasonal shift in wind
direction that brings heavy rains. It is common in South Ocean Currents: Ocean currents are large streams of
and Southeast Asia, including India, during specific water moving across the ocean. These currents affect
times of the year. coastal climates by warming or cooling the air, depending
on whether the current is warm or cold.
Precipitation: Precipitation is the process where water
falls from the sky in the form of rain, snow, hail, or Relief:Relief refers to the physical features of the land,
sleet. It occurs when water vapor in the atmosphere such as mountains. Mountains can block winds and
condenses and becomes heavy enough to fall to the cause rainfall, while their leeward side remains dry.
ground.
 Geography |Climate
Key Words

Cyclonic disturbances: A Western Disturbance is an Mango Showers: Mango showers are pre-monsoon
extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean rains in Kerala and Karnataka that help ripen mangoes
region that brings sudden winter rain to the northwestern early in the season.
parts of the Indian subcontinent.

Retreating Monsoon: This is known as the Northeast

Loo: Loo is a strong, hot, dry wind that blows during the Monsoon or Retreating Monsoon. While travelling
day over northern and northwestern India in summer. It towards the Indian Ocean, the dry cold wind picks up
can continue into the evening and be dangerous to some moisture from the Bay of Bengal and pours it
health. over peninsular India and parts of Sri Lanka.

October Heat: October heat refers to the hot and humid

Kaal Baisakhi: Kaal Baisakhi refers to violent weather during the transition from the rainy season to
thunderstorms in West Bengal during the summer, winter. In October, the days are hot and oppressive,
bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and sometimes hail. while the nights are cooler and more pleasant.
 Geography |Climate

What type of climate does India have?

● India has a 'monsoon type' of climate.

● This type of climate is found mainly in South and Southeast Asia.

● It is called 'monsoonal' since India receives pre-monsoon showers in the month of May,
proper monsoon during the hot weather season, winter monsoon due to western
disturbances in winter and a little rain when the monsoons retreat.
 Geography |Climate

What are the six major controls of the climate of the world?

● Latitude: Due to the round shape of the Earth, the amount of solar energy received varies according to
latitude. As a result, air temperature decreases from the equator towards the poles.
● Altitude: As one moves up to the higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature
decreases. Therefore, hills are the cooler during summers.
● Pressure and winds: Pressure and wind system of an area depend on the latitude and altitude of the
place. Thus, it influences the temperature and rainfall pattern.
● Distance from the sea: If the region is close to the sea, it makes the temperature moderate but if it is away
from the sea, it experiences extreme weather conditions.
● Ocean currents: Ocean currents along with the onshore winds affect the climate of a coastal area. Any
coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing fast, it will become warm or cold if the winds are
onshore.
● Relief: High mountains act as barriers for cold and hot winds. They may also cause precipitation if they lie
in the path of rain-bearing winds. The leeward side of mountains remains dry, whereas the windward side
is able to receive rain
 Geography |Climate

What are the main factors affecting India's climate?

India's climate is influenced by various factors like latitude, altitude, winds, and pressure, which together
shape its weather patterns.

● Latitude: India’s climate is influenced by its position. The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into
tropical areas (south) and subtropical areas (north), giving India a mix of both climates.
● Altitude: India has tall mountains like the Himalayas, which block cold winds from Central Asia. This
makes India's winters milder than those in Central Asia.
● Pressure and Winds: The winds in India change with the seasons. In summer, winds bring moisture
from the oceans, creating rainfall (monsoon), while in winter, dry winds blow from the land.

During the summer, the Southwest Monsoon winds blow from the oceans, carrying moisture and bringing
heavy rains to India, which is why the country experiences the monsoon season.
 Geography |Climate

What are the main features of the cold weather season in northern India?

● The cold weather season in northern India starts from mid-November and lasts until February, with
December and January being the coldest months.

● The temperature is cooler in the north (10°C to 15°C) and warmer in the south (around 24°C to 25°C).

● During this season, dry winds blow from land to sea, making most of the country dry, except for some
rain in Tamil Nadu from winds blowing from the sea.

● In northern India, cyclonic disturbances bring some winter rains and snowfall, which are important for
farming. The peninsular region has a mild winter with little temperature change.
 Geography |Climate

State the chief characteristics of the hot weather season in India.

● The hot weather season in India is from March to May.

● In the north of India, the temperature can reach 42° to 45°C, and in the Deccan plateau, it is
between 35° to 38°C.
● By the end of May, a large area of low pressure forms from the Thar Desert to Patna and the Chota
Nagpur plateau.
● In the hot weather season, hot, dry, and strong winds called 'Loo' blow. These winds can be very
dangerous if you are exposed to them for too long.
● Dust storms often happen in northern India in May. These storms give some relief by lowering the
temperature.
● This season also brings local storms with strong winds and heavy rain, called Kaal Baisakhi,
especially in West Bengal.
 Geography |Climate

Give a brief account of how monsoons advance into India.

In early June, low pressure starts to build up over the northern plains of India.

● South-east winds cross the equator and blow towards India, coming in from the south-west. These
are called the south-west monsoons.
● As these winds pass over warm oceans, they pick up a lot of moisture and bring heavy rain to India.
● These winds are very strong and blow at speeds of about 30 km per hour.
● In the beginning, the western side of the Western Ghats gets very heavy rainfall, more than 250 cm.
● The most rainfall in India falls in the northeast, with Mawsynram in the Khasi Hills receiving the
highest rainfall in the world.
● In the Ganges valley, rainfall decreases as you go west. Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat get very little
rain.
 Geography |Climate

Give a brief account of the condition and characteristics of the retreating

monsoons.

● The retreating monsoons occur in October and November, marking a transition from the rainy
season to dry winter.

● As the Sun moves south, the low-pressure area over northern India weakens and is replaced by
high-pressure systems.

● The southwest monsoon winds weaken and gradually start withdrawing by October.

● During this period, the weather becomes hot and humid during the day (known as October Heat),
but the nights remain cool and pleasant. Cyclonic depressions in the Bay of Bengal bring heavy rains
to the eastern coast, causing tropical cyclones, which can be very destructive.
 Geography |Climate

What is the distribution of rainfall in India?

● The western coast and northeastern India receive rainfall of over about 400 cm.

● It is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab.

● Rainfall is equally low in the interiors of the Deccan plateau and east of the Sahyadris. (iv) A third
area of low precipitation is around Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.

● The rest of the country receives moderate rainfall.

● Snowfall is restricted to the Himalayan region.

 Geography |Climate

How do the monsoons act as a unifying bond in India?

● The monsoons bring rainfall that affects all parts of India, from north to south and east to west,
making agriculture possible across the country.

● The change in wind direction and the weather patterns create a cycle of seasons that everyone
experiences, even if the rains are not evenly distributed.

● The monsoon's influence on agriculture, the environment, and people's activities connects the
whole country, from festivals to farming.

● The river valleys, which carry water from the monsoons, unite the land, helping to bring people
together through shared water resources.
 Geography |Climate
Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?

How does the latitude and altitude affect India's climate?

What is the Coriolis force? Describe its effect briefly on the world climate.

What are western cyclonic disturbances?

What do you understand by 'October Heat'?

State how the pressure and wind conditions over India are unique

State the chief characteristics of the cold weather season in India.

Differentiate between South West (S.W.) monsoons and North East (N.E.) monsoons.