Question.
How many distinct seasons are found in India as per the Indian Meteorological Department? Discuss the weather conditions associated with any one season in detail.
(Chapter-4 Climate, Class 11 NCERT geography "India Physical Environment")
Answer.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the following four distinct seasons are found in India-
- the cold weather season
- the hot weather season
- the southwest monsoon season
- the retreating monsoon season.
the cold weather season;
There is no distinct cold weather season in peninsular India as they are near the sea and the equator.
However, northern India has a distinct cold weather season which usually starts in mid-November. December and January are the coldest months in northern India. The average daily temperature remains below 21-degree centigrade in some parts of Punjab and Rajasthan region and the night temperature reaches zero degrees Celsius.
There are three reasons for the distinct cold weather season in North India which are as follows;
- Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana are far away from the moderate influence of the sea.
- Snowfall creates cold wave conditions in the Himalayan region.
- In the months of January and February, cold winds accompanied by frost and fog from Central Asia come to the northwestern part of India and make the entire region cold.
With regard to rainfall, most of India does not receive rainfall in winter due to cyclonic circulation over the land. However, due to the Western Disturbance, rainfall occurs over the northwestern part of India.
During October and November, the northeast monsoon takes moisture from the Bay of Bengal and rains over the southern Andhra coast and Tamil Nadu coast.
The hot weather season ;
The hot weather season begins with the apparent movement of the Sun toward the Tropic of Cancer. The months of April to June are the summer season in India.
Due to the influence of the sea, the hot weather in South India is mild, but due to North India being away from the sea, it is very hot in the summer season.
The southwest monsoon season:
We can also call the season of southwest monsoon the rainy season. The southwest monsoon season begins with the onset of the monsoon season in India on 1 June. July to September is the southwest monsoon season which brings rain all over India.
The retreating monsoon season:
The withdrawal season of monsoon starts in October and lasts till November. Monsoon retreats from western Rajasthan by the first week of September.
The season of withdrawal of monsoon brings clear skies and an increase in temperature.
In the season of withdrawal of monsoon, the weather in North India remains dry but in this season the eastern part of the peninsula (Coromandel Coast) receives rain.
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