Weather & Seasons
This word describes short-term atmospheric conditions, like rains or sunshine.
Weather
One climate type found in the Himalayan region (cold, high altitude).
Alpine
This geographic factor means “distance from the equator” and affects how much heat a place gets.
Latitude
The two main directions of monsoon winds in India
southwest
northeast
Who keeps track of coming cyclones and provides information on their formation, evolution, place of landing, etc.?
India Meteorological Department
(IMD)
This word refers to the long-term pattern of weather in a region.
Climate
This climate type is found in the Thar Desert—hot and dry.
arid climate featuring extremely hot days, cool nights, and very little rainfall
Because of this factor (being high above sea level) places like Leh are much cooler.
Altitude
What is summer monsoon?
the monsoon rains typically advance from the southern tip of India in early June, moving northward over several weeks until they cover the entire subcontinent by mid- July. It is not a smooth progression, though the Western Ghats (remember our brief survey of topography) act as a natural barrier; their western slopes receive much rainfall, while the Deccan plateau to the east receive less, and often with interruptions.
Who is specially trained to respond to natural as well as human-made disasters. Where are the battalions located?
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is specially trained to respond to natural as well as human-made disasters. NDRF battalions are located at 12 different locations in India.
Specific rituals and festivals are associated with the six ṛitus
Vasanta Pañchamī or Śharad Pūrṇima
Climate found in many southern states.
tropical climate with a mild winter and distinct wet and dry periods controlled by monsoon winds
Because of this factor (being next to large water bodies) coastal cities have moderate temperatures.
Proximity to the sea
What is winter monsoon?
As winter approaches, the winds reverse and blow from the land to the ocean. These are dry winds that bring cold weather to south India, but a part of them, passing over the Bay of Bengal, collect some moisture and bring rainfall to parts of east and south India.
One natural disaster caused by heavy rainfall and steep slopes in mountainous regions of India.
landslide
When do trees bloom; when do they shed?
Depending on the region, some trees and shrubs bloom with the onset of vasanta or spring, in some places they shed their leaves or change their colour as śharad or autumn approaches
This type of climate is experienced in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands—very heavy rainfall. Which crops can grow here?
tropical wet climate, which is favourable to the growing of rice and spices
What do the west winds do?
Having travelled over the deserts of Arabia to Afghanistan, they bring dry and hot air that causes severe heat waves in summer
Where is the word monsoon derived from?
comes from the Arabic word mausim, meaning ‘season’, refers to seasonal winds over a large area of the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions, including Australia, Africa and South Asia.
How are cyclones formed? What is its center called?
the atmospheric pressure near the sea becomes lower than the surrounding areas, creating a low-pressure system. This is an invitation to the air from surrounding areas to come into the low-pressure area, and the air from the sea moves in, bringing with it moisture and rain. When the lowpressure system is intense and the wind speeds are high, this may result in a cyclone.
centre, which is cloudless, is called ‘the eye of the cyclone’
These “six ritu” are the old Indian seasonal divisions used in the chapter.
vasanta (spring), grīṣhma (summer), varṣhā (rainy season), śharad (autumn), hemanta (pre-winter), śhiśhir (winter).
The climate type found on the Northern plains with distinct summers and winters.
climate is subtropical, with very hot summers
and cold winters.
They protect the Indian subcontinent from the winds of the cold deserts of Central Asia.
Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges
The monsoons have inspired many ragās in both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. Name two.
Meghamalhār and
amruthavarshini
Explain glacial burst
Glacial lakes form a barrier of rocks and ice to hold their water, which often comes from melting glaciers. If the glaciers melt too fast (as is increasingly the case) or if there is too much rainfall, the build-up of pressure can cause the water to break through the barrier — this is called a glacial burst