Question

Explain with two examples the role played by mountain ranges in the distribution of rainfall in India during the south-west monsoon period.

Answer 1

During the southwest monsoon period, mountain ranges play a crucial role in the distribution of rainfall in India by forcing moist winds to rise, which leads to orographic rainfall. Here are two examples:

1. Western Ghats: When the moist winds from the Arabian Sea hit the Western Ghats, they are forced to rise. This causes heavy rainfall on the windward (western) side in places like Goa and Mangalore. However, the leeward (eastern) side like Pune and Solapur, gets much less rain, as it lies in the rain shadow area.
2. Himalayas: The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon hits the Himalayas, which act as a barrier, forcing the winds to rise and resulting in heavy rainfall in the foothill regions, such as Assam and Uttarakhand. The Himalayas also prevent the monsoon winds from escaping northward, keeping the rain within the Indian subcontinent.

These examples show how mountains influence where and how much rain different parts of India receive during the monsoon.