Chapter 4 - Climate
1. Write the names of the States/Regions in appropriate columns :
Bihar, Tocantins, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Eastern Maharashtra, Western part of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Rio Grande Do Norte, Paraiba, Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Western Andhra Pradesh, Roroima, Amazonas, West Bengal, Roraima, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Goa
| States /Regions | India | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
High rainfall | . | . |
Moderate rainfall | ||
Low rainfall |
Ans:
| States /Regions | India | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
High rainfall | Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Goa | Tocantins, Rio Grande Do Sul, Roraima |
Moderate rainfall | Bihar, Eastern Maharashtra West Bengal | Santa Catarina, Amazonas, Alagoas |
Low rainfall | Western part of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western Andhra Pradesh | Pernambuco, Paraiba, Rio Grande Do Norte, Alagoas |
Q 2. State whether right or wrong. Rewrite the wrong sentences.
(a) The fact that Brazil lies on the equator affects its climate in a big way.
Ans: Right
(b) India and Brazil have the same seasons at the same time.
Ans: Wrong
Right statement: India and Brazil have different seasons at the same time.
(c) India faces tropical cyclones frequently.
Ans: Right
(d) Brazil gets a lot of rainfall because of the southwest monsoon winds.
Ans: Wrong
Right statement: India gets a lot of rainfall because of the southwest Monsoon Winds.
Q 3. Give geographical reasons:
(a) The northeastern part of Brazilian Highlands receives very less rainfall.
Ans:
(i) Brazil gets rainfall from the South-East Trade Winds and the North-East Trade Winds.
(ii) Parts of the Brazilian Highlands extend upto the northern coast.
(iii) The Escarpments act as an obstruction to the winds coming from the sea and cause orographic type of rainfall in the coastal region.
(iv) Beyond the Highlands, the effect of these winds gets reduced. As a result, the rainfall is minimal.
(v) Thus the North Eastern part of Brazilian highlands receives less rainfall. This rain shadow region is also called the ‘Drought Quadrilateral’.
(b) Snowfall doesn’t always occur in Brazil.
Ans:
(i) Because of the vast latitudinal extent of Brazil, it experiences a wide range of climatic variations. Near the equator it is hot, while a temperate type of climate is found near the Tropic of Capricorn.
(ii) Considering the temperatures in Brazil, the northern part of Brazil is hot while the temperatures in the southern part are comparatively lower.
(iii) It generally snows in those areas lying in the temperate or polar regions or in the mountainous regions of very high altitude.
(iv) Snowfall does occur but is only confined to higher elevations in the southern states of Rio Grande Do Sul, Parana and Santa Catarina.
(v) Most of the country lies in the tropical zone which experiences a hot and humid climate.
(vi) So snowfall doesn’t always occur in Brazil and is considered a rare phenomenon.
(c) Convectional type of rainfall is not prominent in India.
Ans:
(i) Convectional rains are a feature of the equatorial regions.
(ii) Due to the intense heat here the air expands and rises upwards. There is a high proportion of moisture present in the air. As the air goes upwards it cools down, condensation occurs and clouds are formed. This leads to convectional rains every day.
(iii) The equator passes through the northern part of Brazil so the northern part of Brazil lies in the equatorial region and experiences this type of rainfall.
(iv) India is a tropical country and receives orographic rain.
(v) So the convectional type of rainfall is not prominent in India.
(d) Tropical cyclones occur rarely in Brazil.
Ans:
(i) In the coastal regions of Brazil near the equator in Brazil, differences in temperatures are negligible.
(ii) The winds move in the vertical direction in this region.
(iii) Similarly, the convergence zone of the trade winds is weak here. As a result, cyclones are not formed.
(iv) That is why tropical cyclones occur rarely in Brazil.
(e) There is not much difference in the range of temperature in Manaus.
Ans:
(i) Manaus is located to the north of Brazil and lies close to the equator.
(ii) This region receives perpendicular rays of the sun throughout the year.
(iii) It also receives convectional rainfall every day.
(iv) So the climate is hot and humid throughout the year.
(vi) There is not much difference in the maximum and minimum temperatures.
(vi) So there is not much difference in the range of temperature in Manaus.
(f) India receives precipitation from the North-East Monsoon winds too.
Ans:
(i) The South West Monsoon Winds return from the Himalayan ranges and the retreating monsoon season starts in India.
(ii) While blowing from the north east towards the Indian Ocean these winds bring rainfall to some parts of the peninsula.
(iii) These are the North East Monsoon Winds.
(iv) They pick up moisture from over the Bay of Bengal and thus bring rain to the eastern coast.
(v) Thus India receives precipitation from the North East Monsoon Winds too.
Q 4. Answer the following questions:
(a) Describe in brief the changes occurring in the climatic conditions of India while going from south to north.
Ans:
(i) India’s climate is of the monsoon type. But there is diversity in the climatic conditions of India due to the latitudinal location and altitude of the place.
(ii) As the Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of India, it divides the country into tropical and subtropical regions.
(iii) The tropical region receives nearly vertical rays of the sun, and the temperature increases as we move towards the south.
(iv) In the subtropical region of the north, summers are very hot and winters are very cool and dry.
(v) The Himalayas lie in the northern part of India. They protect us from the cold winds that blow from the north and obstruct the south-west monsoon winds, which result in orographic rainfall on its southern slopes.
(vi) In major parts of India, precipitation is in the form of rainfall, but in the Himalayas, it is in the form of snowfall.
(b) Explain the importance of the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean with respect to the climate of India.
Ans:
(i) The Indian Ocean and the Himalayan ranges exert a great influence on the climate of India and the origin of monsoons.
(ii) Because of high temperatures in summers, a low pressure area develops in Punjab Plains and the Thar Desert of Rajasthan.
(iii) At the same time there is a high pressure region developed over the Indian Ocean.
(iv) This attracts winds and they start blowing from over the Indian Ocean towards mainland India.
(v) These are moisture-laden winds which bring rainfall to India.
(vi) These winds move towards the Himalayas and due to the natural obstruction of the Himalayas, orographic rain occurs.
(vii) Later these winds retreat from the Himalayas and move from the north east towards the Indian Ocean and brings rain to some parts of the Peninsula.
(viii) Also the very cold winds blowing from the north are obstructed by the Himalayas and saves India from severe winters.
(c) Discuss the factors affecting climate of Brazil.
Ans:
(i) Considering the temperatures in Brazil, the northern part of the country is hot, while the temperatures in the southern part are comparatively lower.
(ii) Seasonal variations are found in this pattern.
(iii) The factors affecting Brazil are temperature, rainfall, winds, atmospheric pressure, etc.
(iv) Altitude, latitude, relief characteristics, vegetation, and continentality also affect the climate of Brazil.
(v) Near the equator on the Brazilian coast, the temperature does not vary much.
(vi) The average temperature in the Amazon Valley is 25 °C – 28 °C.
(vii) The climate is cooler in the Highlands.
(viii) Because of their proximity to the sea, the coasts experience a mild and humid climate.
(d) Compare the climates of Brazil and India.
Ans:
| Climate of India | Climate of Brazil |
|---|---|
(i) India has a monsoon type of climate | (i) Brazil has a tropical climate to the north and temperate climate to the south. |
(ii) The southern part of India lies in the Tropics so the temperature is high in the south and comparatively low in the north. i.e. temperature decreases from south to north. | (ii) The northern part of Brazil lies in the tropics so the temperature is high in the north and comparatively low in the south i.e. temperature decreases from north to south. |
(iii) India receives rain from the South West Monsoon Winds and the North East Monsoon Winds. | (iii) Brazil receives rain from the South East and North East Trade Winds. |
(iv) It receives orographic rainfall. | (iv) It receives convectional and orographic types of rainfall. |
(v) The western part of Rajasthan, Gujarat and eastern side of the Western Ghats receive less rain. | (v) The north eastern part of the Brazilian highlands is a rain shadow region. |
(vi) Tropical cyclones are a frequent phenomena. | (vi) Tropical cyclones are a rare phenomena. |
Q 5. With the help of the internet, obtain information regarding annual average temperatures of the continental location of Brasilia and Bhopal and explain it with the help of a graph.
Ans: Students must do this activity on their own.