Indian Climate: 18 flashcards

Weather is the day-to-day condition (e.g., rain, sunshine, wind) and changes frequently. Climate is the long-term pattern of weather over at least several decades in a region.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Vasanta (spring), grishma (summer), varsha (rainy), sharad (autumn), hemanta (pre-winter), and shishira (winter).

Alpine – Himalayas; Temperate – lower Himalayas and hilly areas; Subtropical – northern plains; Arid – Thar Desert; Tropical wet – western coastal strip; Semi-arid – central Deccan Plateau; Tropical – eastern India and southern peninsula.

At the Equator, the sun's rays are nearly perpendicular, concentrating energy on a smaller area. Near the poles, rays are oblique, spreading energy over a larger area and passing through more atmosphere, which dissipates heat.

1) Atmospheric pressure and air density decrease with altitude, making the air cooler. 2) The sun heats the Earth's surface, so air farther from the surface is less hot.

Coastal areas have a smaller temperature range (moderate summers and winters) because the sea moderates temperature. Inland areas experience more extreme temperatures.

In summer, winds from the west (over deserts) bring dry, hot air causing heat waves in states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. In winter, cold winds from across the Himalayas cause cold waves in the foothills.

A microclimate is a localized climate in a small area that differs from the surrounding region. Examples: enclosed valleys, forests, and urban heat islands (cities with many concrete structures and little vegetation).

It comes from the Arabic word 'mausim', meaning 'season'. It refers to seasonal winds over the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions.

In summer, the Asian landmass heats up, creating a low-pressure system. Winds from the high-pressure ocean flow towards the land, carrying moisture that condenses and falls as heavy rain. The winds come from the southwest, hence the name.

In winter, the land cools faster than the ocean, creating a high-pressure system over land. Winds blow from land to ocean (northeast direction). These dry winds bring cold weather to south India, but a part passing over the Bay of Bengal picks up moisture and brings rainfall to parts of east and south India.

The Western Ghats act as a natural barrier. Their western slopes receive heavy rainfall, while the Deccan plateau to the east receives less rain, often with interruptions.

Mawsynram in Meghalaya, with about 11,000 mm (11 metres) of rain per year.

A cyclone is an intense low-pressure system with high wind speeds. It forms when atmospheric pressure near the sea becomes very low, drawing in moist air from surrounding areas, which rotates inward, forming clouds and heavy rain. The center is cloudless and called the 'eye'.

A glacial burst occurs when a glacial lake's barrier of rocks and ice breaks due to pressure from rapid melting or heavy rain. In 2013, a glacial burst in Uttarakhand caused devastating floods and landslides, destroying areas near Kedarnath temple and killing about 6,000 people.

Cutting down forests (deforestation) and building infrastructure without following approved methods (or constructing too many buildings that block natural water flow).

Climate change is a significant, long-term change in climate patterns. Primary human causes include burning fossil fuels, deforestation, environmentally harmful industrial practices, and excessive consumption.