Question

Consider the following statements regarding "Location and Relief":

1. The Northern part of India lies in the tropical zone.

2. The interior regions of India experience a more extreme climate due to the reduced moderating influence of the sea.

3. The windward side of the Western Ghats receives heavy rainfall from June to September.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2, and 3

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 2 and 3 only

Climate and Geography of India

• Statement 1: The Northern part of India lies in the tropical zone.
  This statement is incorrect. India's mainland extends from approximately 8°4' N to 37°6' N latitude. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N) passes through the central part of the country, dividing it into two zones. The region south of the Tropic of Cancer lies in the Tropical Zone, while the region north of it lies in the Subtropical Zone. Therefore, only the southern part of the Northern plains and a small portion of the peninsula are in the Tropical Zone. A significant portion of North India, including the Himalayas and the northern plains, falls within the Subtropical Zone.
• Statement 2: The interior regions of India experience a more extreme climate due to the reduced moderating influence of the sea.
  This statement is correct. Coastal areas experience a moderate climate because the sea has a moderating effect on temperature. Water heats up and cools down more slowly than land. In interior regions, far from the sea, this moderating influence is absent. Consequently, these areas experience greater variations in temperature between summer and winter, and between day and night, leading to a more extreme continental climate.
• Statement 3: The windward side of the Western Ghats receives heavy rainfall from June to September.
  This statement is correct. The Western Ghats act as a significant barrier to the moisture-laden monsoon winds originating from the Arabian Sea. As these winds are forced to ascend the Ghats, they cool, condense, and precipitate heavily on the western (windward) side of the mountain range. This phenomenon, known as orographic rainfall, is responsible for the heavy monsoon showers received by the western coastal plains and the western slopes of the Western Ghats during the southwest monsoon season (June to September).

Key Geographical Factors Affecting Climate in India

• Latitude: Determines the intensity of solar radiation. India straddles tropical and subtropical zones.
• Altitude: Higher altitudes, like in the Himalayas, experience lower temperatures.
• Distance from the Sea: Interior locations have a continental climate with greater temperature extremes compared to coastal areas with maritime climates.
• Topography: Mountain ranges like the Western Ghats and Himalayas significantly influence rainfall patterns.
• Western Disturbances: Winter rainfall in North and Northwest India is caused by these extratropical storms originating in the Mediterranean region.
• Monsoon Winds: The primary driver of India's climate, bringing summer rainfall.