Indian Climate and Monsoon – Class 10 Geography Review

Thirty question-and-answer flashcards covering core ideas about India’s climate, monsoons, and related geographic concepts for Grade 10 Geography revision.

A tropical monsoon climate.

1. What type of climate prevails over most of India?

2. State any two factors responsible for India’s tropical monsoon climate.

(i) India’s location in the tropical belt. (ii) Dominant influence of seasonal monsoon winds confined largely to the tropics.

3. Mention two key characteristic features of Indian monsoon rainfall.

It is highly seasonal and unequal in distribution; arrival, intensity, and withdrawal are erratic and unreliable.

4. List two climatic differences between the northern and southern zones of India caused by latitude.

North (temperate zone) has hot summers and cold winters; South (tropical zone) is generally warmer and lacks a clear-cut winter.

5. How do the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea affect coastal climate?

They supply moisture to summer monsoons and moderate temperatures, giving coastal areas an equable climate with heavy rain.

6. What are jet streams?

Fast, cold, high-altitude winds that blow in the upper atmosphere and influence weather patterns.

7. How do jet streams influence India’s climate?

Westerly jet streams bring temperate cyclones to North India in winter; easterly jet streams steer tropical depressions that dictate monsoon rain distribution.

8. What is El Niño and what is its impact on India?

A warm current in the equatorial Pacific that raises sea-surface temperatures and weakens Indian monsoon winds, often causing drought or delayed rains.

9. What is the normal expected onset date of the Southwest Monsoon over Kerala?

Around the first week of June (traditionally 1 June).

10. What is meant by the “burst” of the monsoon?

The sudden, vigorous onset of heavy Southwest Monsoon rainfall, first felt on the Kerala coast in early June.

11. Why do most parts of India receive rainfall mainly from June to September?

Moisture-laden Southwest Monsoon winds blow from sea to land during this period; winter Northeast winds are dry offshore winds.

12. Why does the Southwest Monsoon withdraw from northern India in October?

Southward shift of the sun weakens the Ganga low-pressure trough, which is replaced by high pressure, causing retreat.

13. Why do tropical cyclones bring heavier rain than temperate cyclones?

They form over warm tropical seas, have higher wind speed and moisture content, producing torrential rain on landfall.

14. Why is Mumbai warmer than Kanpur in December?

Mumbai’s coastal location moderates winter temperatures, whereas inland Kanpur experiences continental extremes.

15. What causes winter rainfall in Punjab?

Temperate cyclones (Western Disturbances) originating near the Mediterranean that move eastward into North India.

16. Why is the Malabar Coast wet in July while the Tamil Nadu Coast is dry?

Western Ghats force Arabian Sea branch winds to rise and drop heavy rain on the windward Malabar side; Tamil Nadu lies in the rain-shadow and parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch.

17. Why do the Northern Plains of India have a continental climate?

They are far from maritime influence, causing very hot summers and very cold winters.

18. Why does Central Maharashtra get little rainfall?

It lies on the leeward (rain-shadow) side of the Western Ghats, so the Arabian Sea branch loses moisture before reaching it.

19. Why is Shimla cooler than Delhi even in summer?

Higher altitude (lapse rate ~1 °C per 166 m) makes temperatures fall with elevation.

20. Why does Kochi have a smaller annual temperature range than Agra?

Kochi’s coastal (marine) climate moderates temperatures; inland Agra has continental extremes.

21. Give one reason for the uneven distribution of monsoon rain across India.

Varied relief—mountain barriers like the Western Ghats or Aravallis create windward wet zones and leeward dry zones.

22. Why do the Northern Plains not freeze in winter?

The Himalayas block icy Siberian winds, preventing extreme cold from penetrating southward.

23. Why does Patna receive more monsoon rain than Delhi?

Rainfall of the Bay of Bengal branch decreases from southeast to northwest across the Gangetic Plain; Patna lies farther southeast.

24. Why is Shillong drier than nearby Cherrapunji?

Shillong lies on the leeward side of the Khasi Hills, whereas Cherrapunji is on the windward side facing moisture-laden monsoon winds.

25. State one reason temperate cyclones cause less damage than tropical cyclones in India.

They have lower wind speeds and lighter rainfall because they form over land or cooler seas in winter.

26. Write the formula for Annual Mean Temperature.

Annual Mean Temperature = (Highest monthly mean + Lowest monthly mean) ÷ 2.

27. Write the formula for Annual Range of Temperature.

Annual Range of Temperature = Highest monthly mean − Lowest monthly mean.

28. Which branch of the monsoon brings rain to the Coromandel Coast during October–November?

The Northeast Monsoon winds that pick up moisture over the Bay of Bengal.

29. Why does Rajasthan receive scanty rainfall even with the Aravalli Range present?

The Aravallis run parallel to the Arabian Sea monsoon flow and are too low to block the already exhausted Bay of Bengal branch.

30. What is the normal lapse rate used to explain temperature decrease with altitude?

About 1 °C drop for every 166 m rise in elevation (≈6.5 °C per 1,000 m).