Climate

Quickly browse through questions and notes on related topics. You can also download and read this topic offline.

• Questions
• Summary

Factors affecting India's climate:

1. Latitude: Due to curvature the amount of solar energy received varies according to it. 
2. Altitude: As we go higher there is a decrease in temperature of 16’ 
3. Pressure and Wind system: As per latitude and altitude temperature and rainfall also influence the climate. 
4. Distance from sea: The sea exerts moderating influence on climate, regions near sea experiences moderate climate. 
5. Ocean Currents: It leads continentality which means very hot during summers and very cold during winters. 

1. India has mountains to the north, which have an average height of about 6,000 metres.
2. India also has a vast coastal area where the maximum elevation is about 30 metres.
3. The Himalayas prevent the cold winds from Central Asia from entering the subcontinent.
4. It is because of these mountains that this subcontinent experiences comparatively milder winters as compared to central Asia.

1. Tropic of cancer almost divides the country in two equal parts running from Rann of Kuchh to Mizoram. 
2. The region lying in the south of tropic of cancer is tropical whereas the region in the north is in subtropical. 
3. Therefore India receives both tropical as well as sub-tropical climate. 

The climate and associated weather conditions in India are governed by the following atmospheric conditions:

1. Pressure and surface winds
2. Upper air circulation
3. Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones

Pressure and surface winds: India lies in the region of north-easterly winds which originate from the northern hemisphere and blow towards south but deflected to right due to corollis force. These winds carry small silts that’s why don’t affect India’s rain. 

Upper air circulation: Winds travel from a low-pressure area to high-pressure area. Air moves from Indian ocean to south-east direction crossing equator and turns right towards Indian subcontinent giving rain to it. The upper air circulation over warm oceans is called jet stream.

Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones: During the time of winters in India cyclone formation take place in ‘mediterranean sea whose winds are very powerful that after crossing Pakistan, Afghanistan they finally reach Jammu and Kashmir leads to rainfall in winters there.