Chapter 3: Climates of India
From snowy Ladakh to rain-soaked Mawsynram and the scorching Thar, India holds almost every climate. In this chapter we tell weather from climate, meet the six ṛitus, discover the factors that shape climate, understand how the monsoon works, see how climate affects our lives and causes disasters, and learn what climate change means for us.
In this chapter you will
- tell weather, seasons and climate apart
- explain the factors that determine climate
- describe how the monsoons work
- link climate with culture, economy, disasters and climate change
Topics
- Weather, Seasons and Climate NCERT 3.1
Weather is short-term, seasons recur yearly, climate is the long-term pattern.
- Factors Determining the Climate NCERT 3.2
Latitude, altitude, nearness to the sea, winds and topography together shape climate.
- The Monsoons NCERT 3.3
Monsoons are seasonal winds caused by land and sea heating differently.
- Climate, Our Lives and Disasters NCERT 3.4
Climate shapes festivals and the economy; a monsoon failure hurts farmers and raises prices.
- Climate Change NCERT 3.5
Climate change is driven mainly by greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Key words
- Climate
- long-term pattern of weather in a region
- Ṛitu
- a traditional Indian season; there are six
- Monsoon
- seasonal winds that reverse with the seasons, and their rains
- Microclimate
- local climate of a small area
- Cyclone
- a storm of spiralling winds around a low-pressure eye
- Greenhouse gases
- gases like CO₂ that trap heat
- Mitigation
- steps that slow climate change
Summary
- Climate is the long-term weather pattern; India has six ṛitus and many climate types.
- Latitude, altitude, the sea, winds and topography determine climate.
- Monsoons come from land and sea heating differently; they are vital for farming.
- Climate shapes culture and the economy; disasters and climate change call for preparation and mitigation.