Question

Give reasons for the following.

Delhi experiences extreme temperature conditions.

Answer 1

1. Absence of Natural Barriers to the West: There are no major mountain ranges between Delhi and the dry provinces of Rajasthan and Pakistan, allowing scorching, dusty desert winds like the Loo to blow directly into the city throughout the summer.
2. Low Relative Humidity: For most of the year (save during the monsoon months), Delhi has highly dry air, which heats and cools more quickly than humid air, exacerbating dramatic temperature fluctuations.
3. High Latitude Position: Delhi is located at around 28°N latitude, considerably north of the Tropic of Cancer, and is firmly in the subtropical zone, where the contrast between summer solar radiation and winter solar angles is far more pronounced than in southern India.
4. Impact of Western Disturbances: During the winter, shallow cyclonic storms from the Mediterranean Sea bring cold winds, frost, and infrequent winter showers, lowering the temperature and extending severe cold waves.
5. Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect: During the winter, shallow cyclonic storms from the Mediterranean Sea bring cold winds, frost, and infrequent winter showers, lowering the temperature and extending severe cold waves.