Question

What are the factors affecting the climate of India?

Answer 1

There are six major factors which will affect the climate of any place on earth.

1. Pressure and Wind Systems
2. Altitude
3. Relief Features
4. Latitude
5. Ocean Currents
6. Distance from the Sea (Continentality)

The below given information helps one understand in detail the various factors affecting the climate of India.

Pressure and Winds

The following atmospheric conditions govern the associated weather and climate conditions in India. They are Tropical cyclones and Western Cyclonic disturbances, Upper Air Circulation, Pressure and Surface winds.

• North easterly winds are found in the region where India is located.
• These winds move towards the equatorial low-pressure area as it gets deflected to the right by the Coriolos force, when the winds blow from the South.
• In the northern hemisphere, there is a subtropical high-pressure belt and the North Easterly winds originate from the region.
• Over India, the wind and pressure conditions are unique.
• To the north of the Himalayas, there is a high-pressure area during Winter.
• In the South, the low-pressure areas over the oceans receive cold dry winds from the North.
• During summer, the direction of winds reverses completely, as the low pressure area develops over Northwestern India and in the interior of Asia.
• In a south-easterly direction, over the southern Indian Ocean, air moves from the high-pressure area. Over the Indian subcontinent, air turns right towards the low-pressure areas.These are Southwest Monsoon winds.
• Widespread rainfall occurs over the Indian mainland by these winds as they gather moisture while blowing over the warm oceans.

Latitude

• The Tropic of cancer divides into two halves, it passes through India from Mizoram in the East to the Rann of Kuchchh in the West.
• Area of India, lying to the North of the tropic belongs to the Subtropics and the other half of the country which lies south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the Tropical area.
• Hence Indian climatic conditions have the characteristics of both subtropical and tropical climates.

Altitude

• The average height of Mountains which lies in North India, is around 6000 metres.
• The maximum elevation of India’s vast coastal area is around 30 metres.
• Compared to Central Asia India has comparatively milder winters since the cold winds which blows from Central Asia are prevented from entering India by the mighty Himalayan Mountains.