GRADE- IX

SOCIAL SCIENCE
SESSION:- 2024-2025
GEOGRAPHY-CH-4-CLIMATE
NOTES

CLIMATE:-It refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of time (more
than 30 years).

WEATHER
It refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point of time.
The elements of weather and climate are same i.e., temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE:-

WEATHER CLIMATE

Climate is statistical weather information that provides

Weather is day-to-day information of the changes in the information about the average weather condition of a
atmospheric condition in any area. particular place over a long period.
The changes in the weather condition can be observed
very frequently. The changes in climate take a longer time to change.

Weather forecasting is observed by the Meteorological Climatology is the scientific study of climate, which is
Department described as the average of weather conditions over time.

Weather is affected by temperature, pressure, humidity, Atmospheric conditions at any location like humidity,
cloudiness temperature, the sunshine, wind, etc. are affected by climate

MONSOON:-
• The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word “mausim” which literally means season.
• “Monsoon” refers to the seasonal reversal in the wind direction during a year.

THE CLIMATE OF INDIA:-

• The climate of India is described as the „monsoon‟ type.
• In Asia, this type of climate is found mainly in the south and the southeast.
• Despite an overall unity in the general pattern, there are perceptible regional variations in climatic conditions within
the country.

TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS – TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION VARY FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND
SEASON TO SEASON.
THE VARIATIONS IN PRECIPITATION IN INDIA:-
• There are variations not only in the form and types of precipitation but also in its amount and seasonal distribution.
• Precipitation is mostly in the form of snowfall in the upper parts of Himalayas and rains over the rest of the country.
• The annual precipitation varies from over 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in Ladakh and western Rajasthan.
• Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September. However, some parts like the Tamil Nadu coast get
most of its rain during October and November.

THE VARIATIONS IN INDIAN TEMPERATURE:-

• In summer, the maximum temperature goes up to 50oC in some parts of Rajasthan.
• Whereas it may be around 20oC in Pehalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The night temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low as minus 45 oC.
• Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand may have a temperature of 22°C.
• In the Thar Desert, the day temperature may rise to 50oC and drop to 15oC the same night.
• On the other hand, there is hardly any difference in the day and night.
• In general, coastal areas experience less contrasts in temperature conditions. Seasonal contrasts are more in the
interior of the country.
THE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE AFFECT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN INDIA IN DIFFERENT WAYS:-

• They affect the food the people eat.

• The clothes the people wear.
• The kind of houses they live in.

THERE ARE SIX MAJOR CONTROLS OF THE CLIMATE OF ANY PLACE:-

They are: latitude, altitude, pressure and wind system, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents and relief
features.

LATITUDE:-
Due to the curvature of the earth, the amount of solar energy received varies according to latitude. As a result, air
temperature generally decreases from the equator towards the poles.

ALTITUDE:-
• As one goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature
decreases.
• The hills are therefore cooler during summers.

PRESSURE AND WIND SYSTEM:-

• The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the latitude and altitude of the place.
• Thus, it influences the temperature and rainfall pattern.

DISTANCE FROM THE SEA:-

• The sea exerts a moderating influence on climate.
• As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating influence decreases and the people experience extreme weather
conditions.
• This condition is known as CONTINENTALITY i.e. very hot during summers and very cold during winters.

OCEAN CURRENTS:-
• Ocean currents along with onshore winds affect the climate of the coastal areas.
• For example, any coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing past it, will be warmed or cooled if the winds are
onshore

RELIEF:-
• relief too plays a major role in determining the climate of a place.
• High mountains act as barriers for cold or hot winds; they may also cause precipitation if they are high enough and lie
in the path of rain-bearing winds.
• The leeward side of mountains remains relatively dry.

FACTORS AFFECTING INDIA’S CLIMATE :-

LATITUDE:-
• Due to the curvature of the Earth, the amount of solar energy received varies according to latitude.
• Air temperature generally decreases from the equator towards the poles.
• The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of Kachchh in the west to Mizoram in
the east.
• Almost half of the country lying south of the Tropic of Cancer belongs to the tropical areas. All the remaining area
north of this lies in the sub-tropics.
• Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.

ALTITUDE:-
• As one goes from the surface of the Earth to higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature
decreases. The hills are therefore cooler during the summers.
• India has mountains to the north, which have an average height of about 6000 metres. The elevation in coastal areas is
a maximum of 30 metres.
• The Himalayas prevent the entry of the cold winds from Central Asia. It is because of these mountains that this sub-
continent experiences comparatively milder winters as compared to Central Asia.

PRESSURE AND WINDS:-

• The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the latitude and altitude of the place.
• These influence the temperature and rainfall pattern.
• The climate and associated weather conditions in India are governed by the following atmosphere
conditions.
✓ Pressure and surface winds.
✓ Upper air circulation.
✓ Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones.
CORIOLIS FORCE:-
• This is an apparent force caused by the Earth’s rotation.
• The Coriolis force is responsible for deflecting winds towards the right in the northern hemisphere and towards the
left in the southern hemisphere.
• This is known as Ferrel’s law.
• Under the effect of Coriolis force, the trade winds moving from sub-tropical high-pressure belts to equational low-
pressure belts become north-east trade winds in the northern hemisphere and south-east trade winds in the
southern hemisphere.
• As a result, they bring heavy rainfall to the east coast and the west coast remains dry.

THE SEASONS IN INDIA

Four main seasons can be identified in India:
• the cold weather season,
• the hot weather season,
• the advancing monsoon and
• the retreating monsoon, with some regional variations.

(I) THE COLD WEATHER SEASON (WINTER):-

• The cold weather season begins from mid-November in northern India and stays till February.
• December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India.
• The temperatures decrease from south to the north.
• The average temperature of Chennai on the East coast is between 24°-25° Celsius, while in the Northern plains it
ranges between 10° – 15° Celsius.
• Days are warm and nights are cold.
• Frost is common in the North and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
• In the northern part of the country, the weather is normally marked by clear sky, low temperature, low humidity
and feeble variable winds.
• The winter rainfall locally known as “Mahawat” is small, but it is of immense importance for the cultivation of Rabi
crops.
• The peninsular region does not have a well-defined cold season. There is hardly any noticeable seasonal change in
temperature pattern, during winter due to moderating influence of the sea.

(II) THE HOT WEATHER SEASON (SUMMER):-

• The summer season occurs from March to May.

• In May, temperatures between 42° to 45° are common.
• In peninsular India, temperatures remain lower due to the moderating influence of the ocean.
• “Loo” these are strong gusty, hot dry winds blowing during the day over the north and north-western India. Direct
exposure to these winds may even prove to be fatal.
• Dust storms are very common during the month of May in northern India.
• This is also the season for localised thunderstorms associated with violent winds and torrential downpours often
accompanied by hail.
• In West Bengal, these storms are known as “Kaal Baisakhi” or calamity of the month of Baisakhi.
• In Kerala and Karnataka, pre monsoon showers are common. They help in the early ripening of mangoes and are
often referred to as “mango showers”.
(III) ADVANCING MONSOON (THE RAINY SEASON):-

• By early June, the trade winds are attracted by the low-pressure condition over the northern plains.
• They cross the equator and blow in a south westerly direction. They enter the Indian peninsula as the south west
monsoon.
• As these winds blow over the warm oceans, they bring abundant moisture to the subcontinent.
• Early in the monsoon season the windward side of the Western Ghats receives very heavy rainfall, more than 250 cm.
• The Deccan plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh also receive some amount of rain in spite of lying in the rain
shadow area.
• The maximum rainfall of this season is received in the north-eastern part of the country.
• Mawsynram in the Southern ranges of the Khasi Hills receives the highest average rainfall in the world.
• Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat get scanty rainfall.
• Another phenomenon associated with the monsoon is its tendency to have “breaks”, i.e., the monsoon rains take place
only for a few days at a time.
• These breaks in monsoon are related to the movement of the monsoon trough.
• When the axis of the monsoon trough lies over the plains, rainfall is good in these parts. Whenever the axis shifts
closer to the Himalayas, there are longer dry spells in the plains.
• Widespread rain occurs in the mountainous catchment areas of the Himalayan rivers. These heavy rains bring in their
wake devastating floods causing damage to life and property in the plains.
• The frequency and intensity of tropical depressions too determine the amount and duration of monsoon rains.

(IV) RETREATING MONSOON (THE TRANSITION SEASON) :-

• During October and November, the south west monsoon winds weaken and start withdrawing gradually. By the
beginning of October, the monsoon withdraws from the northern plains.
• The months of October November form a period of transition from hot rainy season conditions. The retreat of the
monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature.
• Day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant. The land is moist.
• Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes rather oppressive during the day.
This is commonly known as „October Heat.‟ In the second half of October, the mercury begins to fall rapidly in
northern India.
• The low-pressure conditions over north western India, get transferred to the Bay of Bengal by early November. This
shift is associated with the occurrence of cyclonic depressions which originates over the Bay of Bengal. Deltas of
Krishna and Kaveri are struck by cyclones, which are often very destructive and cause damage to life and property.
• Sometimes these cyclones arrive on the coasts of Orrisa, Paschim Banga and Bangladesh.
• The maximum rainfall on the Coromandel coast is derived from depressions and cyclones.

DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL IN INDIA:-

• Parts of the western coast and north-eastern India receive over about 400 cm of rainfall annually.
• It is less than 60 cm in Western Rajasthan adjoining parts of Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab.
• Rainfall is equally low in the interior Deccan plateau and east of Sahyadris.
• A third area of low precipitation is around Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The rest of the country receives moderate rainfall.
• Snowfall is restricted to the Himalayan region.
• Owing to the nature of monsoons, the annual rainfall is highly variable from year to year.

MONSOON AS A UNIFYING BOND:-

• India is a land of diversities. It has diverse food habits, languages, customs and festivals; also, it has diverse climatic
conditions.
• however, the monsoons have a unifying influence on the Indian subcontinent.
• the Indian landscape, its animals and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar and the life of the people including
their festivals revolve around this phenomenon (monsoon).
• Year after year the people of India from north to south and from east to west eagerly await the arrival of the monsoon.
• these monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural activities in motion.
• the river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.
THE MORAL VALUES THAT UNIFYING NATURE OF THE MONSOON INCULCATES:-

• Bringing happiness to all without any bias.

• Service to the mankind without any desire.
• Developing the feelings of integrity and oneness.
• Respect for variations and differences.
• Treating all whether it be a plant, an animal or humans equally to the best.
• Providing life and livelihood to all.
• Promoting equality and uniformity.
• Leading a routine and disciplined life.
• Respecting the value of time.

IF THE MONSOON IS DISTURBED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. IT MAY AFFECT THE COUNTRY IN
THE FOLLOWING WAYS:-

• There will be a change in landscape.

• The fauna and flora will be disturbed.
• Due to change in cycle of season, Indian agricultural cycle will be disturbed.
• Many of the festivals like Baisakhi, Pongal, Onam, Bihu, etc will end.
• Rivers will run short of water so religious rituals will be disturbed.
• Drinking water will go short.
• River navigation and many of the recreational activities will come to halt.

DESCRIBE THE REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF INDIA WITH THE HELP OF
SUITABLE EXAMPLES:-

• There are great variations in the climate of India.

• Certain regions receive very heavy rainfall like the North-east and the Western Coastal plains while others like the
Thar Desert receive scanty rainfall.
• Places like Ladakh and Kashmir are very cold while others like Rajasthan are very hot. Coastal regions have an
equable climate while places in the interior have an extreme climate.
• Areas on the windward slopes of the mountains receive heavy rainfall, while leeward and rain shadow areas receive
less rain.
• Coastal areas with warm currents flowing past it, will be warmer than those areas which have the cold currents
flowing close to it.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COLD WEATHER SEASON AND THE HOT WEATHER SEASON IN INDIA :-
Cold Weather Season Hot Weather Season

Northern India becomes a high-pressure region, Northern India becomes a low-pressure region, causing air
causing winds blowing outward. circulation, around it,

Temperatures are low and decreasing from the South The global heat belt shifts Northwards, causing high
to the North. temperatures in North India.

„KAL BAISAKHI‟ AND „LOO‟ AND PARTS OF INDIA ARE THEY EXPERIENCED:-
• Kal Baisakhi These are local thunderstorms associated with violent winds, torrential downpours, often accompanied
by hail.
• Loo These are strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the day over the North and North-Western India.
Sometimes they even continue until late in the evening.
• Direct exposure to these winds may even prove to be fatal.
• Mango Showers Towards the close of summer season, pre-monsoon showers are common, especially in Kerala and
Karnataka.
• They help in early ripening of mangoes. These are called as mango showers.

GIVE REASON:-
 A] INDIA HAS A MONSOON TYPE OF CLIMATE:-
• Climate of India is strongly governed by the monsoon winds. Monsoon winds are confined to tropical lands between
20o North and 20o South.
• In the India subcontinent, the Himalaya’s guide the flow of the monsoon winds bunging the whole of subcontinent
under the influence of this winds.
• These winds account for 75% to 90% of annual rainfall from June to September.
• It is influenced by South-West monsoons. Retreating monsoon’s and North-East monsoons.

B] “DESPITE AN OVERALL UNITY IN THE GENERAL PATTERN OF CLIMATE OF INDIA, THERE ARE
PERCEPTIBLE REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS WITHIN THE COUNTRY.”

• The mercury occasionally touches 50°C in the western deserts, and it drops down to as low as -45°C in winter around
Leh.
• The annual precipitation is less than 10 cm in the north-west Himalayas and the western desert. It exceeds 400 cm in
Meghalaya.
• Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September, but some parts like the Tamil Nadu coast get most of
its rain during October and November.
C] HOUSES IN ASSAM ARE BUILT ON STILTS:-

• Most of the world’s deserts are located in the Western margins of continents in the subtropics because the prevailing
winds in the tropics are tropical easterly winds.
• The tropical easterly winds become dry by the time they reach the Western margins of the continents and so they bring
no rainfall.
• Thus, the region becomes devoid of moisture which causes dry conditions leading to formation of deserts.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL IS NOT UNIFORM I N INDIA:-

• The reasons for the uneven distribution of rainfall in India are Relief and Topography.
• The windward side of mountains and hills receive more rainfall than leeward side.
• latitudinal and Longitudinal Extent The tropical and coastal regions and plains receive more rainfall than the plateau
and desert regions in the interior.
• Vagaries of Monsoon The unpredictability of the monsoon along with phenomena like monsoon troughs and
depressions lead to uneven distribution of rainfall.

MAP WORK:-
(a) Area receiving rainfall less than 20 cm
(b) Area receiving rainfall more than 400 cm.