Question

Match the factor in Column A with its specific impact or characteristic in Column B.

Column A	Column B
1. Altitude	i. Causes moderate temperature in coastal areas
2. Distance from the Sea	ii. Divides India into subtropical and tropical zones
3. Tropic of Cancer	iii. Air is thinner and regions are cooler
4. Surface Pressure (Winter)	iv. High-pressure area develops north of the Himalayas

• A. 1-iii, 2-i, 3-ii, 4-iv
• B. 1-iv, 2-ii, 3-i, 4-iii
• C. 1-ii, 2-iii, 3-iv, 4-i
• D. 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1-iii, 2-i, 3-ii, 4-iv

Factors Influencing Indian Climate

• Altitude: Higher altitudes have thinner air and consequently, lower temperatures. This phenomenon is why mountainous regions like the Himalayas experience cooler climates compared to the plains. For instance, cities at higher elevations in the Western Ghats are considerably cooler than coastal cities at sea level.
• Distance from the Sea (Continentality): Coastal areas experience a more moderate climate due to the moderating effect of the sea. Water heats up and cools down slower than land. This means coastal regions have less extreme temperature variations between summer and winter, and between day and night. Inland areas, far from the sea, experience extreme continental climates with very hot summers and very cold winters.
• Tropic of Cancer: This imaginary line of latitude runs approximately through the middle of India (at about 23.5° N latitude). It divides the country into two main climatic zones: the tropical zone to the south and the subtropical zone to the north. This division significantly influences regional temperature and rainfall patterns. Key states through which it passes include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• Surface Pressure (Winter): During winter, a high-pressure system develops over the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly north of the Himalayas. This results in dry, cold winds blowing from this high-pressure area towards the low-pressure areas over the Indian Ocean, leading to the characteristic dry winter conditions in much of India.