Question

Give reasons for the following:

When the Malabar Coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast is comparatively dry.

Give a geographical reason for the following:

When the Malabar coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast is comparatively dry.

Give reasons why:

When the Malabar coast is receiving heavy rainfall in July, the Tamil Nadu coast is comparatively dry.

Answer 1

• The Malabar Coast (on the western side of India) receives heavy rainfall during the southwest monsoon (in July) because it is on the windward side of the Western Ghats. The moist air from the Arabian Sea is forced to rise as it hits the mountains, cooling and condensing to form heavy rainfall.
• On the other hand, the Tamil Nadu Coast is located on the leeward side of the Western Ghats. As the moist air moves over the Western Ghats, it loses much of its moisture before reaching Tamil Nadu. This makes the region relatively dry during the monsoon season, experiencing only light rainfall or no rainfall at all during this time.