India : Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife

Factors affecting the climate of India

● India has a tropical monsoon type of climate.

● Main characteristics of this type of climate are relatively high
temperatures and dry winters.
● The Himalayas in the North and the Indian Ocean in the south provide
distinctive climatic conditions to India.

Variations in Temperature & Precipitation

● Seasonal variations in temperature occur from place to place and from

region to region.
● Variations of temperature are also found at a single place in a single
day.
● Not only the type of precipitation but the amount and the seasonal
distribution also varies from place to place.

Factors Affecting the Climate of India

The Himalayas: Works as a climatic barrier separating the Indian

Sub-continent from the rest of Asia.

The Monsoon Winds: The monsoon winds have almost a universal effect in
bringing summer rains over the whole South Asia.

Latitudes: The Tropic of Cancer divides the sub-continent into two parts.
Northern India is a part of Sub-Tropical Climate and Southern India is within
the Tropical Climatic zone.

Question- Despite being located at nearly the same latitude, why is there a
significant temperature difference between Darjeeling and New Delhi?

● The Tropic of Cancer plays an important role in the temperature

difference between Darjeeling and New Delhi.
● Darjeeling is situated north of the Tropic of Cancer, which means it
experiences a subtropical climate. This leads to cooler temperatures,
especially in higher altitudes like Darjeeling, because the air is less hot
and humid.
 ● On the other hand, New Delhi is located to the south of the Tropic of
Cancer, falling into the tropical zone. This results in hotter and drier
conditions, especially during summer, as the region receives more
direct sunlight.
● So, the Tropic of Cancer helps explain why these two places at similar
latitudes have different climates.

Altitude- There is a decrease of 1℃ for every 166m rise in height. So the

mountains are cooler than plains.

Altitude affects climate by making higher places colder due to thinner air,
leading to temperature drops. Mountains can cause more precipitation at the
top due to rising moist air, resulting in more rain or snow. Different altitudes
support different plant and animal life adapted to the specific climate
conditions.

Eg : The city of Kathmandu in Nepal, located in a valley of the Himalayas,

experiences milder temperatures compared to higher altitudes. The higher
reaches of the Himalayas are snowy and cold throughout the year, while the
lower foothills have a more temperate climate.

Influence of the Surrounding Seas - The Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal
and the Arabian Sea has profound impact on the climate of the coastal areas.
These water bodies act as a major source of moisture to the summer
monsoons and bring heavy rainfall.

Q- Why does Mumbai receive so much rainfall during the monsoon season,
whereas Marathawada being an area of Maharashtra experiences drought?

● Mumbai receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon season due to its
proximity to the Arabian Sea and its geographical location along the
western coast of India.
● The moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea merge over the region,
leading to substantial rainfall.
● On the other hand, Marathwada, located in the interior parts of
Maharashtra, is farther from the coast and is shielded by the Western
Ghats.
● As a result, it receives significantly less rainfall compared to coastal
areas. This geographical positioning contributes to the drought-prone
conditions in Marathwada.
Seasons of India

The Hot and Dry Summer: March - May

Temperature:
● The vertical rays of the Sun fall directly over the Tropic of Cancer during
this period.
● Length of the day increases along with the northward shift of the
pressure belt.
● In the NW part of India, the temperature is more than 45°C.
● Temperatures in the Southern peninsula and coastal regions are lower
due to the influence of sea.

Pressure Conditions:
● Low pressure prevails between the Thar desert and Chota Nagpur
plateau.
● Surrounding seas are cooler and develop high pressure conditions in
the Indian Ocean.
● By June, the inland low pressure becomes intense and moves
northward.

Rainfall and Local winds during Summer

● The low pressure over the northern plains draws winds from the
surrounding areas and gives rise to thunderstorms with strong dusty
wind in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
● Northern and North Western India experiences ‘LOO’ (temperature
ranges between 45℃ - 50℃).
● Heavy rainfall occurs in Assam and West Bengal due to thunderstorms.
This rainfall is beneficial for growing jute and rice.
● Kerala and Karnataka receive ‘Mango Showers’ during this time.

South West Monsoon: June- September

What is Monsoon?

The term "monsoon" describes a seasonal change in wind patterns that

causes clearly defined rainy and dry seasons in some areas. The main cause
of this phenomena is the differing speeds at which the sea and land surfaces
heat and cool.
Why is the Monsoon in India known as South West Monsoon?
● The South-West Monsoon in India is called so because it arrives in India
from the South-West direction.
● During the summer months, the Indian subcontinent experiences a shift
in wind patterns.
● Warm, moist air from the Indian Ocean is drawn towards the landmass
due to the low-pressure area created by intense heating. This moist air
brings rainfall to the region.
● Because it arrives from the South-West, it is named the "South-West
Monsoon."
● This monsoon is a crucial weather phenomenon for India, as it brings
the majority of the country's annual rainfall, supporting agriculture and
various other aspects of life.

The South West Monsoon Season

● The Burst of Monsoon - The sudden violent onset of rainfall in the first
week of June is termed as the burst of monsoon.
● The Low pressure over the Indian subcontinent attracts the South East
trade winds from the southern hemisphere.
● After crossing the Equator they are deflected towards the right because
of Coriolis force and becomes SW monsoon.
● These winds bring heavy rainfall in the first week of June.
● However, if it fails to bring rainfall for two or more weeks it is known as
Break of Monsoon.

The Arabian Sea Branch

● First branch is obstructed by Western ghat and bring rain in the
windward side.
● Second branch strikes the coast North of Mumbai.
● Third branch strikes the Saurashtra Peninsula and the Kutch.

The Bay of Bengal Branch

● This branch bifurcates into two branches - one along the ganga plains,
the other along the Brahmaputra valley.

The Arabian sea branch joins the Bay of Bengal Branch in Punjab and
Haryana.
Retreating Monsoon: October - November

● The retreating monsoon in India marks the end of the rainy season.
After a period of heavy summer rainfall, the monsoon winds reverse
direction due to the faster cooling of the Indian landmass compared to
the ocean, creating a high-pressure system.
● As the monsoon winds retreat, they take the rainy clouds with them,
causing less rain and drier weather.
● This is known as the retreating monsoon phase, signaling the departure
of the wet monsoon influence.
● Coastal areas in the east and south of India may still get some rain, but
overall, rainfall decreases. This period is a crucial transition in India's
seasonal cycle, ushering in cooler and drier weather.

The North East Monsoon

Temperature:
● The cold weather prevails from the end of November - March.
● January is usually the coldest month.
● The excessive cold in North India during this season is due to cold
winds from Caspian sea and Turkmenistan.
● Moreover snowfall in the Himalayan ranges creates a cold wave
situation.
● Peninsular India does not have any effect of cold weather because of
maritime influence.

Pressure Conditions:
● High pressure conditions prevail over the North Western part of the
plains.
● North East trade winds blow from land to sea. So most parts of the
country experience dry weather.
● However, the Coromandel coast receives some amount of rainfall.
Cold & Dry Winter: December- February

Temperature:
● The vertical rays of the Sun fall directly over the Tropic of Cancer during
this period.
● Length of the day increases along with the northward shift of the
pressure belt.
● In the NW part of India the temperature is more than 45°C.
● Temperatures in the Southern peninsula and coastal regions are lower
due to the influence of sea.

Pressure Conditions:
● High Pressure: During the winter months, a high-pressure system
typically prevails over the northern and central parts of India. This
high-pressure area is associated with cooler and drier air.
● Low Pressure: The southern parts of India, particularly near the equator,
may experience lower pressure conditions. This can lead to occasional
cyclonic activity, especially in the Bay of Bengal.

Natural Vegetation & Wildlife

Natural vegetation refers to the plants, which adjust themselves fully to the
climate and soil conditions without any human interference.

Types of Vegetation

India can be divided into 5 major vegetation regions:

1. Tropical Evergreen or Rain Forests

Climatic Conditions:
● Annual rainfall is more than 200cm.
● Average annual temperature 25℃ - 27℃.
● Average annual humidity exceeds 77 %

Characteristics Features
● The region remains warm and wet throughout the year. Multi-layered
structures of trees, shrubs and creepers can be seen.
● Trees reach great heights of more than 60m.
 ● Dense canopy of trees do not allow enough sunlight to reach the
ground.
● The trees of this forest do not have a fixed time to shed their leaves.
That is why these forests appear green all the year round.

Due to the tangled mass of canes, palms, bamboos, ferns, climbers and lack
of transport these forests have not been fully exploited.

Wildlife:
Tiger, Leopard, Black Panther, Langur

Other animals like sloth bears, wild dogs, spotted deer, Gaur, hornbills,
parakeets and sunbirds are common.

Tropical Deciduous Forests or Monsoon Forests

Based on the availability of water, these forests are further categorized into
two types:
Moist deciduous forests
Dry deciduous forests

Wildlife:
● Tiger, Leopard, Wild dog, Deer
● Other animals like sloth bears, antelopes, nilgai, wild boars, flycatchers
and Koels.
Tropical Desert Forest or Thorn Forest

Climatic Conditions:
● Annual rainfall is less than 50cm.
● Average annual temperature 25℃ - 27℃.
● Average annual humidity below 47 %

Characteristics Features
● Xerophytic vegetation, which have adapted themselves to survive in
drought-like conditions.
● Trees have stunted growth due to paucity of rainfall.
● Plants remain leafless for most part of the year.

Economic value:
● Ber fruit is eaten raw. Its timber is used for boat ribs, agricultural
implements, and charcoal.
● Babool bark and gum have medicinal value.
● Date palm is eaten raw and also used as an astringent, Syrup for sore
throat, cold, fever etc.
● Neem bark and roots have medicinal properties.

Wildlife:
● Desert cats, Peacocks, Storks, Flamingos
● The Gir forest in Gujarat is the only forest in the world where Asiatic
lions are found.

Littoral or Tidal Forests (Mangrove)

Characteristics Features:
● Evergreen species of varying height can be seen.
● Tree trunks are supported by a number of stilt-like roots which remain
submerged under water during high tide.
● They have profuse growth with tangles of climbers, which is an
adaptation for survival in soft and shifting mud.
● Breathing roots, also known as pneumatophores are seen.

Important species:
● Sundari- After the name of these trees the forests are known as
‘Sunderbans’ in the Ganges Delta
● Screw pines, Keora, Palms
Wildlife
Mangrove forest in India are rich in wildlife

Mountain Forests

Climatic Conditions:
● Annual rainfall is less than 100 - 300cm.
● Average annual temperature 12℃ - 13℃.
● Average annual humidity below 56 - 65 %
● Altitude between 1000m - 4000m.

Wildlife:
Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black bears, Tahrs, Monals

Other animals like clouded leopards, elephants, vultures, cranes, tigers are
also found.