Question

Give reasons as to why: Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought-prone.

Answer 1

• Parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan are drought prone due to less rainfall.
• The annual rainfall is over 400 cm in parts of Northeast India and Western Coast.
• In parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana the annual rainfall is less than 60 cm.
• The annual precipitation is less than 10 cm in Western Rajasthan and Ladakh, whereas in Meghalaya the annual precipitation is over 400 cm.
• In the Northern plains, there is generally a decrease in rainfall from East to West.
• This reduction in rainfall is due to reduction in moisture content in the winds.
• Precipitation varies in seasonal distribution, varies in amount, form and types.
• Spatial distribution of rainfall is determined by the southward or northward movement of the trough and its axis, which happens due to diverse reasons.
• When the axis of the trough is closer to the Himalayas, there are good rains in the Himalayas and Northern plains will experience dry spells.
• Rainfall is good in Northern plains when the axis of the trough is over the plains.