Climate (India) — Practice

Question 1

Why does Delhi experience extreme temperatures in both summer and winter while Mumbai has moderate temperatures throughout the year?

Accepted Answer

Delhi is deep in the interior (continental location) — far from the moderating influence of the sea. Oceans heat and cool slowly, keeping coastal cities like Mumbai moderate. Delhi, surrounded by land on all sides, heats intensely in summer (45°C+) and cools sharply in winter (5°C) — a classic example of continentality.

Question 2

Explain the mechanism of the Southwest Monsoon using the concepts of differential heating and the shift of ITCZ.

Accepted Answer

By May-June, the Indian landmass heats up much faster than the surrounding Indian Ocean due to its lower heat capacity. This creates an intense low-pressure area over the Thar Desert and NW India. Simultaneously, the ITCZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) shifts northward over the Gangetic Plains (instead of its normal position over the equatorial ocean). This northward shift draws moist maritime air from the Indian Ocean northward. The moisture-laden winds (SW Monsoon) rush into the low pressure over NW India, are forced to rise over the Western Ghats and Himalayas, cool, condense, and bring the heavy rains that account for 75% of India's annual rainfall.

Question 3

On an outline map of India, show the distribution of rainfall and explain why the Western Ghats' western slopes receive heavy rainfall while areas to their east remain dry.

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats run parallel to the west coast, acting as a barrier to the moisture-laden SW Monsoon winds. When these winds hit the Ghats, they are forced to rise (orographic effect). As air rises, it cools at the lapse rate (~6.5°C/1000m), reaches the dew point, and condenses, causing heavy rainfall on the windward (west-facing) slopes — Mumbai receives ~200cm, Mahabaleshwar over 600cm. Once the winds cross the Ghats, they descend on the leeward (eastern) side. Descending air warms up (adiabatic warming), its relative humidity falls, and it becomes dry — creating the 'rain shadow effect.' Pune (east of the Ghats) receives only ~70cm vs Mahabaleshwar's 600cm, despite being just 100km apart.

Practice — Climate (India)

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