Climate

• Climate of India


  Tropical monsoon type
• Monsoon type of climate


  • Hot summers
  • Dry winters
• India's climate


  • Influenced by monsoon winds
  • Tropical belt location
• Himalayas


  Influence on India's climate
• Himalayas protect northern India


  From cold winds blowing from central Asia
• Without the Himalayas


  Indian plains would experience extremely cold climate
• Continental type of climate in northern India

  • Hot summers
  • Cold winters
  • Little rainfall
  • Large diurnal range of temperature
• India has vast latitudinal and longitudinal extent
• Regional variations in climate


  • Kerala (tropical, warm and moist)
  • Punjab (continental, severe heat and cold)
• Regional variations in winter temperature

  • Kerala (20-22°C)
  • Kargil (below -40°C)
• Regional variations in diurnal temperature range

  • Kerala (7-8°C)
  • Thar desert (25-30°C)
• Regional variations in precipitation

  • Mawsynram/Cherrapunji (1100cm)
  • Jaisalmer (9cm)
• Most parts of India receive rainfall during June to September
• Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu receive rainfall during winters
• Himalayas


  • Protect northern India from cold winds
  • Cause rainfall over northern plains by blocking rain-bearing winds
• Central Asia lies in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas and hence hardly receives any precipitation from these winds
• Monsoon winds

  Affect the climate of India
• Southwest monsoon winds


  1. Blowing from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal

  2. Bring rainfall over the entire country during June, July and August
• Northeast monsoon winds


  Bring rain to Tamil Nadu in winters
• Monsoon winds


  Start to retreat from central India by the beginning of October
• Tropic of Cancer


  Divides the country into two parts
• Northern part of the country

  • Lies in the temperate zone
  • Experiences hot summer and cool winters
• Southern part of the country

  • Lies in the tropical zone
  • Experiences hot climate
• Relief features


  Play an important role in shaping the climate of India
• Areas located in the windward side of the Western Ghats


  Receive heavy rainfall
• Deccan region lying on the leeward or rain shadow area of the Western Ghats


  Receives very little rainfall
• Southwest monsoon winds


  1. Blow parallel to the Aravalli Range

  2. The Aravalli Range is not able to stop the moisture-laden winds, making Rajasthan a dry state
• Areas located in southern Assam

  1. Receive heavy rainfall compared to the regions located to their north

  2. The hills in Southern Assam block the winds and force them to shed their moisture

  3. By the time these winds arrive in northern Assam, they are comparatively dry
• Temperature


  Decreases with higher altitude
• There is a decrease of 1°C for every 166 m rise in height
• Mountains


  Are cooler than the plains
• Temperature at Ooty


  Is lower than that at Kochi as the former is located at a higher altitude
• India


  A peninsular country surrounded by seas and oceans on three sides
• Regions close to the sea

  • Experience moderate, equable and maritime climate
• Western disturbances


  Cause rainfall over the northern parts of the country and snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir
• Regions located far away from the Sea and in the interior of the continent


  • Experience a continental type of climate
  • Summers are extremely hot, and the winters are extremely cold
• The Himalayas act as a effective climatic barrie, protecting the northern plains of India from the cold winds that originate near the arctic circle and blow over Central Asia.
• Land breeze and sea breeze help in maintaining moderat temperature conditions
• During summer, The south west monsoon winds bring heavy rainfall to India from June to September
• During the winter, the temperature decreases, that atmospheric pressure is altered and therefore the winds‘ directions is changed and is gradually gets reversed back and blow offshore from land to sea