Question

Describe the climatic conditions which prevail over India during different Seasons.

Answer 1

1. The Cold Season: The cold Season lasts from December to February.
   (a) Temperature: The sun is over head at Tropic of Capricorn. India has winter Season. January is the coldest month. The Southern parts have warm conditions (20°C) while low temperatures (10°C) are found in North-West India.
   (b) Pressure and Winds: High pressure is developed over N.W. part while a low pressure exists over Indian Ocean with the result winds blow from land to Sea. The out-blowing winds are Westerly in Northern plain and North Easterly over the rest of the country.
   (c) Rainfall: The North-east Monsoons are off-shore wind and are dry but these winds pick up some moisture while crossing Bay of Bengal and give rain to South-east coast of India. Some cyclones from Mediterranean Sea also bring a small amount of rain (10 to 20 cm.) to Northern plains. Night frost is common in the North-west parts.
2. The Hot Season: The hot Season lasts from March to May.
   (a) Temperature: As the sun’s rays fall vertical over Tropic of Cancer, the temperature begins to rise. The average temperature is above 30°C, the maximum temperature rises to 50°C in Barmer (Rajasthan). The daily range of temperature rises in inland areas.
   (b) Pressure and Winds: Intense heat results in the development of low pressure over North-West India. A high pressure exists over Indian Ocean. South-West Monsoons begin to blow from Sea to land. ‘Nor-westers’ and ‘Loo’ blow over Northern plains.
   (c) Rainfall: Some areas receive convectional rainfall. The west coast also starts receiving rainfall. Most of the country is dry in title pre-Monsoon period.
3. The Rainy Season: The rainy Season lasts from June to September.
   (a) Temperature: The sun shines vertical over Tropic of Cancer. The temperatures are more than 30°C. With the onset of monsoon there is a drop in temperature (5°C to 10°C) with the result, July is not the hottest month.
   (b) Pressure and Winds: South-West Monsoons blow from Sea to land with a ‘burst’ on the West Coast. It blows in two currents.
   (I) The Arabian Sea Current (II) The Bay of Bengal Current.
   (c) Rainfall: Most of the parts of India receive rainfall in this Season. The Arabian Sea branch gives heavy rainfall on the west coast, but Deccan plateau lies in rain shadow of western Ghats. The Bay of Bengal branch gives heavy rainfall in Eastern Himalayas. The rainfall goes on decreasing up the Ganges Valley with the decrease in moisture. Rajasthan is practically a desert.