Page 140 - SST Class 06

India : Climate 21

q Climate of India q Factors affecting climate
q Cycle of seasons q Rainfall

Introduction

Climate is the average weather conditions of a given
area over a long period such as 30 to 35 years.
Climate varies from place to place and from season
to season. The lifestyle of the people is largely
determined by the climate of a country.

CLIMATE OF INDIA

Due to a wide variety of land features, the climatic
conditions in India vary from one place to
another. The interior and central parts experience
a continental type of climate, where winters are
very cold and summers are very hot because of
their distance from the sea. This is called extreme
Legend
climate . Along the coastal areas, like in Gujarat Cold
Composite
and Tamil Nadu, the climate is moderate all the Hot-dry
year round; this type of climate is called equable Temperate
climate ; in this there is little variation in Warm-humid
temperature in winter or summer. The southern
part of India lies near the Equator, due to which it
remains warm throughout the year. Meghalaya
India : Climatic zones
receives heavy rainfall, while Rajasthan remains
Info Bits
hot and dry. Info Bits
Despite this variety in climates, India’s climate is The weather reports are prepared by the meteorolo-
described as the tropical monsoon type of climate. gical department.
The Tropic of Cancer passes through the country
almost midway, dividing the country into two Factors Affecting Climate
halves. The southern half lies in the Tropical Zone The climate of a place is affected by four factors—
while the northern half lies in the Temperate location, altitude, distance from the sea and
Zone. The monsoon winds which rise from the direction of winds. A place in a desert is hot and
Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal give a dry, like Jaisalmer. A place located in high altitude
monsoon type of climate to the whole of India. is cold, like Leh or Lahaul Spiti. A place near the
Rain in India is dependent on these monsoon sea is humid, like Mumbai. The direction of winds
winds. makes a place hot or cold, like Delhi becomes
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