Climate Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 Competency-Based Questions and Answers
Climate
Question: "Despite an overall unity in general pattern, there are perceptible regional variations in climatic conditions within the country." - Justify the statement.
Answer:
Yes, this statement is correct in the context of the Indian climate. Although the monsoon type of climate in India shows overall unity, there are many variations due to the following reasons:
1. Temperature variation:
The western part of Rajasthan is experiencing higher temperatures throughout the year, whereas other parts, like Ladakh, are experiencing temperatures below zero.
2. Rainfall variation:
Mousynram is receiving a very high amount of rainfall, whereas the Thar Desert of Rajasthan receives very little amount of rainfall.
3. Coastal and other areas Climatic variation:
The places near the coast have a moderate climate, whereas places far from the ocean experience extreme temperatures.
4. Relief differences:
The western part of the Western Ghats and the southern part of the Himalayas are receiving more rainfall, whereas the eastern part of the Western Ghats is a rainshadow zone.
Thus, despite the wide-ranging variation is observable in India in spite of having overall similar pattern.
Question: "Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September. But some parts, like the Tamil Nadu coast gets a large portion of its rain during October and November." - Why?
Answer:
Maximum part of India receive rainfall from June to September due to the presence of the South-West Monsoon. During this time, two branches of the monsoon cause rainfall in India - The Arabian branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
But the Tamil Nadu coast receives the winter rainfall during the October-November months due to the following reasons:
1. Returning monsoon:
After September, the monsoon starts to return as the northeast monsoon, and during this time wind blows from the sea to the land area.
2. Bay of Bengal Branch:
During this time wind blow from the Bay of Bengal towards the Tamil Nadu coast, which causes huge rainfall in the Coromandel or Tamil Nadu coast area.
3. Cyclonic effect:
The frequent effect of cyclones during the October-November period over the Bay of Bengal causes the rainfall in the Tamil Nadu coastal area.
4. Rain Shadow zone:
The Tamil Nadu coast lies in the rain shadow zone of the Western Ghats and therefore, during the time of on set monsoon, this place receives very little rainfall.
But during the time of the returning monsoon time the Tamil Nadu coast becomes the windward side of the northeast monsoon. On the other hand, this northeast monsoon crosses the Bay of Bengal and collects a huge amount of moisture content, which causes torrential rainfall in Tamil Nadu.
Question: "Climatic conditions of an area are mainly determined by several factors." - Evaluate the sentence. OR
Explain the factors affecting the climate of India.
Answer:
There are many factors affecting the climate of India. These are as follows:
1. Latitude:
Due to the curvature of the earth, the air temperature decreases with the increasing of latitudes - means more temperature near the equator, less temperature near the poles.
2. Altitude:
With the increasing height, the volume of air decreases, and therefore temperature also decreases with increasing height.
3. Pressure and wind:
The temperature and altitude control the air pressure and wind system. Therefore, wind always blows from high pressure area to low pressure area.
4. Distance from the sea:
All the places located near the ocean area experiences moderate type of climate, whereas the places located far from the ocean are experiencing extreme type of climate.
5. Ocean current:
The climatic conditions near the ocean area are mainly controlled by the nature of the ocean current flowing near that area.
Question: "The pressure and wind conditions over India are unique." - Evaluate the sentence.
Answer:
The air pressure and the wind system in India are considered unique because of the seasonal reversal of the wind system, which is known as the Indian monsoon. The nature of wind in relation to the pressure system is as follows:
1. Winter season:
During the winter season, a high-pressure centre develops over the north of the Himalayas, and therefore, wind blows from the land to the ocean.
2. Summer season:
In summer, a low-pressure centre develops over central Asia, including in northern India. This low-pressure centre attracts the wind from the sea.
3. Reversal of wind:
The wind direction completely reverses in summer and winter.
4. Southwest monsoon:
In the summer season, when a low-pressure centre over northern India attracts wind from the Indian Ocean, after crossing the equator, the wind blows from south-west, which is known as the 'South-west monsoon' in India and causes huge rainfall.
5. Huge rainfall:
Due to the attraction of wind from the Indian Ocean towards the Indian mainland, wind collects moisture from the sea, which causes huge rainfall in India.
Question: 'Although winter rainfall in northern plains is small in amount, it is very important for Indian agriculture.' - Justify the statement with suitable reasons.
Answer:
Yes, the statement is correct, because the winter rainfall is very important for rabi crops in India. During this time, rainfall in India occurs due to the western disturbances.
1. Origin:
The western disturbances originates by the extratropical cyclones over the Mediterranean Sea or Western Asia.
2. Western Disturbance in India:
Though the western disturbance originates over the Mediterranean area, it then moves towards the east, and enter into India with the westerly wind.
3. Local name of Western Disturbance:
The winter rainfall in India due to western disturbance is locally known as 'Mahawat'.
4. Importance of Western Disturbance:
Though the amount of winter rainfall is very low, it is very important for growing several crops during the dry winter season.
5. Effect on Mountain:
Due to the arrival of western disturbances, snowfall occurs in the Himalayan region, which helps to get water by the rivers also.
Question: 'The monsoon is known for its uncertainties.' - Explain the important features and effects of uncertainties of the monsoon in India.
Answer:
The monsoon type of climate prevails in India. This climate is famous for its uncertainties, and its main features and its impact on India are as follows:
1. Uncertain arrival:
Though the standard time of arrival of the monsoon in India is 1st June, the monsoon maximum time does not follow this time.
2. Uneven distribution:
The distribution of rainfall in India is not evenly distributed. Few places are getting much more rainfall than others.
3. Break in Monsoon:
A continuous or regular pattern of rainfall does not follow the monsoon in India.
4. Flood or drought:
Due to the arrival of monsoon floods, drought occurs in any place and at any time.
5. Impact on agriculture:
Due to the uncertainties of the monsoon in India, Indian agriculture is fully affected every year. Some places get more crops due to its on time good behabiour and some places face critical problems due to the presence of these uncertainties.
Question: "The breaks in Monsoon are related to the shift or movement of the monsoon trough." - Explain the concept of breaks in monsoon and mention its impact in India.
Answer:
The breaks in monsoon:
The breaks in the monsoon mean a short dry period during the rainy season, like a dry and short spell, continuously. During these rainy days, it stops for a few days, and then again, rainfall starts.
Impact of breaks in monsoon:
The monsoon trough is a low-pressure zone formed over the northern plain of India during the summer season, and it is playing very vital role in Indian society.
- The monsoon trough in the plain area: When the monsoon trough remains over the plain area, it causes rainfall in the plain.
- Shifting of the Monsoon trough: When the monsoon trough shifts towards the Himalayas in the north, it causes huge rainfall in the hilly areas.
- Impact on agriculture: Due to the movement of the monsoon trough from the plains to the Himalayas and from the Himalayas to the plains, breaks in the monsoon occurred. As a result, these dry and wet spells disturb the Indian agricultural system each and every year.
- Flood and Drought: Due to this type of nature of the monsoon causes sudden drought or flood situation in every year in anywhere.
Question: 'The monsoon is considered as a unifying bond.' - Evaluate the sentence.
Answer:
The monsoon is playing very vital role in India. Due to its special nature, it is considered as a unifying bond; these are as follows:
1. Seasonal cycle:
The monsoon in India follows a systematic rhythmic cycle of seasons.
2. Agricultural unity:
The Indian farmers are growing several crops based on the monsoon rainfall, especially in the case of Kharif crops.
3. Water supports:
Each and every water shades recharge evry year during this monsoon rainfall period.
4. Cultural unity:
Many Indian cultural events depend on the arrival of the Indian monsoon, which shows a cultural unity in India.
5. Economic impact:
The Indian agricultural development depends on the nature of the monsoon situation.
Thus, the monsoon climate connects the people culturally and economically in spite of having regional variation.