Climate - Grade 9

​Definition

Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of time (more than thirty years

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​Climate vs Weather

Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of time (more than thirty years) whereas Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point of time.

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​DO you know?

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.

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​CLIMATIC CONTROLS

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.

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​FACTORS AFFECTING INDIA’S CLIMATE - Latitude

The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of Kuchchh in the west to Mizoram in the east. Almost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. All the remaining area, north of the Tropic, lies in the sub-tropics. Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.

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​FACTORS AFFECTING INDIA’S CLIMATE - Altitude

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

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​FACTORS AFFECTING INDIA’S CLIMATE - Pressure and Winds

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

• Pressure and surface winds;

• Upper air circulation; and

• Western cyclonic disturbances and tropical cyclones.

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Multiple Choice

Pick the odd one out regarding the 'FACTORS AFFECTING INDIA’S CLIMATE'

• Latitude

• Population

• Altitude

• Pressure and Winds