CLIMATE OF INDIA

Contents

1. Introduction 2

1.1. Salient Features of Indian Climate 2

2. Factors Determining the Climate of India 3

2.1. Factors Related to Location and Relief 3

2.2. Factors Related to Air Pressure and Wind 4

2.3. Weather Conditions in Water 4

2.4. Weather Conditions in the Summer Reason 5

3. Indian Monsoon 7

3.1. Thermal Concept 7

3.2. Recent Concept about the Origin of Indian Monsoon 7

3.2.1. Role of Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau 8

3.2.2. Role of Jet Stream 8

3.2.3. Role of ENSO 8

3.2.4. Walker Cell 9

3.2.5. Indian Ocean Dipole 10

3.3. Nature of Indian Monsoon 10

3.4. Onset and Advance of Monsoon 10

3.5. Rain Bearing Systems and Distribution of Rainfall 11

3.6. Break in the Monsoon 13

3.7. Retreat of Monsoon 13

3.8. Features of Monsoon Rainfall 14

3.9. Monsoons and the Economic Life in India 14

4. Seasons 15

4.1. Traditional Indian Seasons 16

5. Distribution of Annual Rainfall 16

6. Variability of Annual Rainfall 17

7. Climatic Regions of India 18

7.1. Agro Climatic Zones of India 20

8. UPSC Previous Years’ Mains Questions on Climate 21

9. UPSC Previous Years’ Prelims Questions on Climate 22