UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Notes  >  Additional Study Material for UPSC  >  Climate and Vegetation

Climate and Vegetation | Additional Study Material for UPSC PDF Download

Climate

  • The climate of India may be described as tropical monsoon type.
  • There are four seasons in Indian climate: 
    • the cold dry season (December-February); 
    • hot weather season (March-May);
    • The south-west monsoon season (June-September).
    • the retreating south-west monsoon season (October-November).
    • The mean temperature in winter is about 24° to 25°C in southern India and about 10° to 15° C in the northern plains.
    • The light and dry winds from this high pressure centre blow outwards generally in the north-easterly direction. These are north-east monsoons. 
  • Rainfall from north-east monsoons is confined to the coastal region of Tamil Nadu where these winds become moist by absorbing humidity from Bay of Bengal. 
  • Occasionally cyclones from the Mediterranean Sea travel eastward and bring light rainfall in the north-western part of Ganga Plain.
  • The period of hot weather season is characterized by a progressive rise in temperature which from 26° C in mid-March goes as high as 45° C in mid-May particularly in the Northern Plain. 
  • The southern part of India does not experience such a high temperature (mean temperature around 30°C). 
  • The hot air over the northern plain particularly over the north-western part forms a low pressure centre.
  • The amount of rainfall in general declines with the increasing distance from the sea. Thus, the amount of rainfall in Calcutta is 199 cm and in Delhi is 56 cm. 
  • The wettest parts of India, however, lie on the interior plain on the windward slopes of mountains.
  • Thus, the western slope of Western Ghats and southern slope of north-eastern hills receive more than 250 cm of rainfall.
  • During the retreating season of monsoons which commences from October, the south-west monsoons begins to decrease rapidly, particularly in Northern India and by December the winter sets in.
  • The retreating monsoons are generally dry except on the coast of Tamil Nadu where they cause considerable rainfall in November and December.
  • The projecting Indian Peninsula divides the south-west monsoons into two branches: 1. the Arabian Sea branch and 2.  the Bay of Bengal branch. The Arabian Sea branch opens on the East Coast of India about the first week of June and causes rainfall over the western parts of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The Bay of Bengal branch brings rainfall to West Bengal, and the adjoining states, Sub-Himalayan region, and the whole of Northern Plain. 
  • With the sole exception of the east coast of Tamil Nadu, every part of India receives its bulk of the annual rainfall from south-west monsoons.
  • The amount of rainfall especially from Bay of Bengal branch decreases with the increasing distance from the sea.
  • Thus, Calcutta receives a rainfall of 119 cm., Patna 105, Allahabad 76, and Delhi 56.
  • However, the wettest regions are those where mountains intercept the south-west monsoons, e.g., the southern slopes of the Himalayas and the western slopes of the Western Ghats.
  • There are only two regions which receive rainfall in winter: 
    1.  the north-western part of the Great Plains, and 
    2. the Coromandel Coast. 
  • The rainfall in Tamil Nadu or the Coromandel Coast is caused by the north-east monsoons.
  • The most important characteristic of Indian Monsoons is the complete reversal in wind direction with the change of seasons. 
  • Winds become on-shore (i.e., from the sea) during summer and offshore (ie., from the land) during winter.
  • The period of Retreating Monsoons extends between September and November. 
  • The south-west monsoons retreat from Punjab by mid-September, the Ganga Delta by late October, and the southern part of India by early November. 
  • The weather during the season of retreating monsoons is characterised by high day temperature, pleasant nights, and clear sky.
  • North-East Monsoons are the winds blowing out from the land-mass of north-west India into the Indian Ocean from December to February. 
  • The direction of these winds is north-westerly down the Ganga valley, northerly in the delta, and north-easterly over the Bay of Bengal. 
  • Tamil Nadu coast is such an area in India where north-east monsoons reach from the Bay of Bengal.
  • The intermittent rains in April-May, before the monsoon opens in full force in June are called Pre-Monsoon or Mango showers.
  • In the dry north-western part of India, the hot winds known as loo are most frequent. Sometimes the violent dust storms arise. 
  • Winds of the same kind sometimes arise in West Bengal and the adjoining north-eastern area, but, instead of dust, they bring showers of rain. These thunderstorms are called Kalbaisakhi.

 

Highest Waterfalls

Waterfall

Location

River

Height  in metres

Angel

Venezuela

Tributary of Caroni

1,000

Tugela

Natal, South Africa

Tugela

914

Cuquenan

Venezuela

Cuquenan

610

Sutherland

South Island, N.Z.

Arthur

580

Takkakaw

British Columbia

Tributary of Yoho

503

Ribbon

California

Creek flowing into Yosemite

491

Upper Yosemite

California

Yosemite Creek, Tributary of Merced

436

Gavarnie

Southwest France

Gava de Pau

422

Vettisfoss
 Widows

Norway

Morkedola

366

Tears (Yosemite)

California

Tributary of Merced

357

Staubbach

Switzerland

Staubbach (Lauterbrunnen Valley)

300

Middle Cascade 
 (Yosemite)

California

Yosemite Creek, tributary of Merced 

277

King Edward VIII

Guyana

Courantyne

259

Gersopa

India

Sharavati

253

Kaieteur

Guyana

Potaro

251

 

Vegetation

  • The major types of forests are: (1) Tropical evergreen forests, (2) Monsoon deciduous forests, (3) Thorny forests, (4) Mountain forests, and (5) Tidal or Mangrove forests.
  • Tropical evergreen forests are found on the Western Ghats and the sub-Himalayan regions in the east where the rainfall is 200-300 cm.
  • Monsoon deciduous forests are found in the larger part of the Deccan Plateau where the rainfall ranges 100 – 200 cm.
  • Thorny forest grow in the desert regions of Rajasthan and South Punjab where rainfall is below 80 cm.
  • Mountain forests occur in the Himalayas above 1000 metres and in South India above 1500 metres elevation.
  • Tidal forests are found in the estuaries of the Ganga and the Mahanadi.

 

Name

Territories

The Sahara

Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, (Includes the  Libyan  Desert and the Nubian Desert)

Australian Desert

Australia (Includes the Great Sandy  or Warburton) Great Victoria, Simpson (Arunta) Gibson and Stuart Deserts

Arabian Desert

Southern Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen (includes the Ar Rab’al Khali or Empty Quarter)

The Gobi

Mongolia and China (Inner Mongolia)

Kalahari Desert

South Africa

Takla Makan

Sinkiang, China

Sonoran

Arizona and California, U.S.A. and

Desert

Mexico

Namib Desert

Namibia

Kara Kum

Turkmenistan

Thar Desert

North Western India and Pakistan

 

 

 

The document Climate and Vegetation | Additional Study Material for UPSC is a part of the UPSC Course Additional Study Material for UPSC.
All you need of UPSC at this link: UPSC
20 videos|561 docs|160 tests

Top Courses for UPSC

FAQs on Climate and Vegetation - Additional Study Material for UPSC

1. What are the major factors that determine climate?
Ans. The major factors that determine climate are latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, ocean currents, prevailing winds, and topography. These factors influence temperature, precipitation, humidity, and other climatic conditions in a region.
2. How does latitude affect climate and vegetation?
Ans. Latitude plays a crucial role in determining climate and vegetation. As one moves away from the equator towards the poles, the average temperature decreases, resulting in colder climates. This variation in temperature affects the type of vegetation that can grow in a particular region. For example, tropical rainforests are found near the equator, while tundra vegetation is found in polar regions.
3. What role do ocean currents play in climate and vegetation patterns?
Ans. Ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio Current, influence climate and vegetation patterns by redistributing heat across the Earth's surface. Warm ocean currents bring warmth and moisture to coastal regions, creating favorable conditions for the growth of vegetation. In contrast, cold ocean currents lead to cooler climates and affect the type of vegetation that can thrive in a particular area.
4. How do prevailing winds impact climate and vegetation?
Ans. Prevailing winds, such as the trade winds and the westerlies, have a significant impact on climate and vegetation. They determine the direction and speed of air masses, which in turn influence temperature, humidity, and precipitation patterns. For example, the trade winds blowing from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere bring moisture to the tropical rainforests, supporting their lush vegetation.
5. What role does topography play in shaping climate and vegetation?
Ans. Topography refers to the physical features of the land, such as mountains, valleys, and plateaus. It plays a crucial role in shaping climate and vegetation. Mountains act as barriers to prevailing winds, causing differences in temperature and precipitation on their windward and leeward sides. This leads to the formation of distinct climate zones and influences the type of vegetation that can grow in different areas.
20 videos|561 docs|160 tests
Download as PDF
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Related Searches

Objective type Questions

,

Sample Paper

,

Summary

,

study material

,

Extra Questions

,

Free

,

MCQs

,

ppt

,

Climate and Vegetation | Additional Study Material for UPSC

,

Climate and Vegetation | Additional Study Material for UPSC

,

Important questions

,

Exam

,

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

practice quizzes

,

past year papers

,

video lectures

,

Climate and Vegetation | Additional Study Material for UPSC

,

pdf

,

mock tests for examination

,

Viva Questions

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

Semester Notes

;