NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Contemporary India (Geography) Chapter 4 – Climate

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 – Climate

Chapter 4 of Class 9 Geography is about climate. We experience changes in temperature, humidity, rainfall etc., as a daily weather condition and adjust our lifestyle accordingly. The  change in weather conditions and variations aggregated for a long  period usually over 30 years, is called the climate of that area 

Weather and climate have similar measurement elements: temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, wind etc. A particular climate holds on for some weeks or a few months, with prevailing somewhat similar daily weather conditions. In a year, we find around four different climatic conditions. India is predominantly a monsoon country as the rains bring people together for farming, festivals, and cultural and traditional activities.  

The study material provided byExtramarks helps students score well in their board examinations and many other entrance examinations. Many students struggle due to a lack of clarification of the topics and concepts. As a result, they score low in their examinations. Extramarks’ NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 are prepared by Geography subjects experts with years of teaching experience. Hence, it helps to learn how to compose an answer that meets the question’s requirements. Finally, helping students to boost their scores.

Our NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 is  a solved key to textual questions. By referring to this, a student can accomplish any desired learning goal like – studying a concept/chapter from scratch, revising before examination using the chapter notes, visual diagrams, maps and illustrations, etc  Extramarks’ team have curated their course content based on latest syllabus and following the CBSE guidelines. The language is kept simple, and the sections are well explained for students’ reference. 

Key Topics covered in NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4

Extramarks’ website is a reliable and trusted source for lakhs of students across the country. Our NCERT solutions are prepared for students to quickly learn and comprehend the various topics covered in each chapter. 

 A few of the topics covered in our NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 are given below:. 

 Introduction:

The effects of climate variations are felt mainly in the form of temperature and rainfall. Mostly in summers, the desert area of Rajasthan touches 50°C, but at the same time, it might be only 20°C in parts of Kashmir. 

In winters, we see a dip in temperature to minus 45°C in Drass (Jammu and Kashmir), whereas a city in Kerala may record 22°C. Similar is the case with precipitation, which varies in form, quantity and seasonal distribution, as explained in the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4. While one finds heavy snowfall in the Himalayan regions, there is only rainfall in the rest of India. The annual rainfall also varies from below 100mm in Ladakh and western Rajasthan to over 4000mm in eastern India. Most parts of India receive rainfall between June to September, but the southern coast is known to have winter rains. I.e. during October and November

As we travel from east to west, the precipitation reduces in the northern plains. The extreme variations in the weather in interior India, which gradually tends to become moderate towards the coastal regions is quite noticeable. The clothes, food intake, living style, and, in general, India’s cultural diversity result from these variations. 

Climate influencer:

Natural factors like latitude, altitude, atmospheric pressure and winds, continentality (proximity to the sea), ocean currents and relief features alter the climate of an area. In NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4,  we understand that the equator receives the maximum energy from the sun and therefore is the hottest. Earth’s curvature ensures that the temperature decreases as we move towards the poles. 

Few terms have been discussed in the chapter:

  • Coriolis Force: The force caused due to the earth’s rotation is known as the coriolis force. The winds get deflected towards the right side in the northern hemisphere and towards the left side in the southern hemisphere due to the coriolis force.
  • Jet Streams: The narrow and fast flowing air currents in the atmosphere are known as jet streams. These jet streams flow at very high altitudes of about 12,000 feet in the troposphere.
  • Cyclonic Disturbance: The western cyclonic disturbances are weather phenomena of the winter months brought in by the westerly flow from the Mediterranean region. They usually influence the weather of the north and north-western regions of India.

In India, those regions below the Tropic of Cancer experience a tropical climate and the part above have subtropical conditions. Similarly, as we increase altitude, the air density decreases, and so does the temperature. Hilly areas are more relaxed than the plains. Both latitude and altitude dictate the air pressure and rainfall pattern.

On the other hand, the sea creates a moderating effect on the climate. This influence reduces as we move away from the sea, and extreme weather conditions prevail. 

As explained in the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4, this feature is called continentality, wherein people experience extreme heat and cold during winters. The onshore winds and ocean currents affect the climate in the coastal areas. Additionally, the physical features influence the rain and winds in a region. The windward side of a very high mountain can block the rain-bearing clouds and cause rain in that area. The leeward side, on the other hand, remains relatively dry. 

Monsoon of India and its bonding:

Sailors who came to India in historic times were the first one to notice the phenomenon of monsoon or reversal of winds per season. They depended on the winds for navigation. The term ‘monsoon’ was coined by the Arab traders.  The tropical regions falling between 20° N and 20°S experience monsoon.

North India has a uniformly higher temperature than other areas falling in the same latitude owing to the Himalayas, which block the cold gusty winds from Central Asia. The sea keeps the temperature moderate in the peninsular region. Despite the apparent uniformity, there are still significant temperature variations experienced across India, with only the monsoons acting as a common factor. 

The life of Indians revolves around the seasonal alteration of winds, rainfall, and associated weather conditions, for the agricultural cycle of crops, the celebration of festivals and various other activities. Even the rivers, fed by the rain, act as a single river valley unit across India.

Indian seasons:

Our country has four seasons with distinct patterns. These seasons are identified as winter, summer, rainy and post-monsoon. 

Winter:

Winter is when the dry northeast trade winds prevail across the country, blowing from land to sea, except on the east coast of Tamil Nadu, where they move from sea to land and offer showers. Winter is characterised by low temperature and humidity, feeble winds and a clear sky. 

We also find low-pressure winds from the Mediterranean Sea and Western Asia, causing winter rains in the northern plains and snowfall in the mountains. The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 explains how these low-volume rains are helpful in the production of ‘rabi’ crops in the plains. The cold season lasts from mid-November to February, with temperatures dipping to 10°C in the north, where nights are freezing and days remain warm. The peninsular region does not experience extreme climatic conditions due to the sea influence.

Summer:

The northward shift in the heat belt is caused by the sun’s movement towards the north, experienced during the summer. These months, from March to May, record temperatures as high as 45°C, especially in northwestern India. Dust storms in the north are common, and they sometimes help lower the heat by causing light rains and cool breezes, as mentioned in the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4. 

Another unique feature of the summer season is the phenomenon of ‘loo’ or the blowing of intensely robust, hot and dry winds across north and northwestern India, which can prove fatal on direct exposure. Sometimes there are heavy downpours to the east accompanied by violent winds, thunderstorms, and hailstones, known as ‘Kaal Baisakhi’ in West Bengal. Towards the end of summer, Kerala and Karnataka experience light pre-monsoon rains called ‘mango showers’ since they help rip mangoes.

Rainy:

The rainy season starts typically in early June when the low pressure in the northern plains induces trade winds from the southern hemisphere, crossing the equator and entering the Indian peninsula as the southwest monsoon. En route, these winds gather enough precipitation from the warm ocean to provide abundant rains across India, except in the northwest part. Maximum rainfall is experienced on the windward side of the Western Ghats and northeastern India. 

‘Breaks’ in rains are caused by shifting the monsoon trough and its axis. The trough above the Himalayas brings heavy downpour to the catchment area, leading to devastating floods in the plains. On the other hand, the low-pressure monsoon trough causes tropical depression and droughts. This catastrophe is again harmful to agriculture, disturbing the life cycle of many farmer households. 

Transition:

The sun’s movement towards the south during October-November brings in the high-pressure system. The southwest monsoon winds lose their intensity and start the retreat process. This transitional period of time from hot, rainy to cool, dry winters is called the transition period as elaborated in the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4. 

The withdrawal raises the temperature and creates the oppressive ‘October heat’ with the existing moist land. The low-pressure shifts towards the Bay of Bengal, causing cyclonic depressions over the Andaman Sea. The cyclonic rains on the east coast are torrential and widespread, destroying life and property. The Coromandel Coast is known to get its quota of rain mainly from such depressions and cyclones.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4: Exercises & Solutions

The subject matter experts from Extramarks have curated the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 with proper emphasis on all essential topics. The syllabus uses multiple maps, and case studies since developing map skills in students will come in handy for the students to solve the question answers (refer below) and prepare them for the CBSE Examinations.

Extramarks also provide the NCERT Solutions for other classes, which can be accessed through the below links:

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Key Features of NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4

The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 have the following features:

  • Weather is a daily phenomenon, and climate is the total of weather measured and analyzed for many years. Both use the same elements for their measurement. 
  • The temperature and rainfall are not uniform across our country, with the climate varying from extreme to moderate. The monsoon is a common bond amongst the Indians, as emphasized in the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4.
  • The climate is controlled by atmospheric pressure, temperature, rainfall, winds etc. The relief features in and around our country also chip in to modify the climate.
  • The yearly calendar is broadly divided into four seasons based on climatic variations: summer, winter, monsoon, and post-monsoon, as given in the Class 9 Geography Chapter 4.

Q.1 Choose the correct answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) Which one of the following places receives the highest rainfall in the world?
(a) Silchar (c) Cherrapunji
(b) Mawsynram (d) Guwahati

(ii) The wind blowing in the northern plains in summers is known as:
(a) Kaal Baisakhi (c) Trade Winds
(b) Loo (d) None of the above

(iii) Which one of the following causes rainfall during winters in north-western part of India.
(a) Cyclonic depression (c) Western disturbances
(b) Retreating monsoon (d) Southwest monsoon

(iv) Monsoon arrives in India approximately in:
(a) Early May (c) Early June
(b) Early July (d) Early August

(v) Which one of the following characterises the cold weather season in India?
(a) Warm days and warm nights
(b) Warm days and cold nights
(c) Cool days and cold nights
(d) Cold days and warm nights

Ans.

(i) (b) Mawsynram
(ii) (b) Loo
(iii) (c) Western disturbances
(iv) (c) Early June
(v) (b) Warm days and cold nights

Q.2 Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) What are the controls affecting the climate of India?
(ii) Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?
(iii) Which part of India does experience the highest diurnal range of temperature and why?
(iv) Which winds account for rainfall along the Malabar coast?
(v) What are Jet streams and how do they affect the climate of India?
(vi) Define monsoons. What do you understand by “break” in monsoon?
(vii) Why is the monsoon considered a unifying bond?

Ans.

(i) Latitude, altitude, air pressure and wind system, distance from the sea, ocean currents, and relief features are the main controls affecting the climate of India.
(ii) The climate of India is a monsoon type because it is highly influenced by the Monsoon Winds. Following are the factors responsible for these monsoons.

  • The differential heating and cooling of land and water.
  • The Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated during summers.
  • The shift of the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
  • Presence of high pressure in the east of Madagascar.
  • Movement of westerly jet streams to the north of Himalayas and the presence of tropical.

(iii) Diurnal range of temperature is high in the deserts like western India especially in the Thar Desert a part of Rajasthan and interior parts of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Being arid and semi-arid climate, it temperature goes upto 50˚C in the daytime, while 15˚C at night. This happens because during the day time, sand absorbs heat very fast and at the same time loses heat very fast at night.

(iv) Southwest monsoon winds are accountable for rainfall along the Malabar Coast. It receives rainfall by the Arabian Sea branch of the south-west monsoon winds. The winds coming from the Arabian Sea is laden with moisture is bound to ascend the Western Ghats and condense there. It results in a heavy downpour in the Malabar Coast.

(v) Fast flowing and narrow air currents are called jet streams. The streams flow at high altitudes in the troposphere. Over India, these jet streams blow south of the Himalayas, all through the year except in summer. The western cyclonic disturbances experienced in the north and north-western parts of the country are brought in by this westerly flow. In summer, the subtropical westerly jet stream moves north of the Himalayas with the apparent movement of the sun. An easterly jet stream, called the sub-tropical easterly jet stream blows over peninsular India, approximately over 14°N during the summer months. These jet streams are amongst one of the major factors in determining the movement of monsoons winds towards India sub-continent.

(vi) The seasonal reversal in wind direction during a year is called monsoon. They blow from the southwest in summer and from the northeast in winter in India and Indian Subcontinent.

July and August, the principal monsoon months in India, account for nearly 75 percent of the annual rainfall over a major part of the country. In certain years, the monsoonal weather in some regions is interrupted by long periods of sparse rainfall called break-monsoons. This unseasonal weather is disastrous for crops, and it is responsible for severe droughts and famines.

(vii) The Monsoon is considered as a unifying bond in India because its landscape, its flora and fauna, etc., are highly influenced by the monsoon. The entire agricultural calendar in India is governed by the monsoon. Many festivals in India are related to agricultural and monsoon season. These festivals are known by different names in different parts of the country, but their celebration is decided by the monsoon. In spite of having great variation in climatic conditions monsoon unifies the climate in India.

Q.3 Why does the rainfall decrease from the east to the west in Northern India?

Ans. The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon winds moves towards the northeast and return westwards covering the northern plains. While, they move towards the west, their moisture contains tends to reduce with subsequent rains. The high temperature on the land also increases the moisture holding capacity of the winds and makes them dry. So, the amount of rainfall decreases when moving to the west.

Q.4 Give reasons as to why.

(i) Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent?
(ii) The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.
(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.
(iv) The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
(v) Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought-prone.

Ans.

(i) Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent because of the shift in the pressure belts system of the Earth. El Nino has a major role to play in the seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent.

(ii) The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months because of the intensified low-pressure conditions in India attract the moisture-bearing winds coming from the Indian Ocean. The monsoon begins from the first week of June and advances quite rapidly to cover almost the whole country by mid-July. Hence, the bulk of rainfall in India has concentrated mainly from June to August for 100-120 days.

(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall because of the North-East Monsoon winds. When the monsoon winds reverse, they are dry. When they move over the Bay of Bengal, they pick up some moisture. These moist winds are hindered by the Eastern Ghats and give away the rainfall to Tamil Nadu coast during winter.

(iv) The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones because of the shift of the pressure conditions with the change of the seasons. More cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian Sea. As such, the eastern coast is more prone to cyclones and about 80 percent of the total cyclones generated in the Indian Ocean strike the east coast of India. There are two definite seasons of tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean. One is from May to June and the other from mid-September to mid-December.

(v) Rainfall in India is influenced by location as well as relief features. Areas situated in the direction of the monsoon winds receive more rainfall. Rajasthan and Gujarat lie on the leeward side of Aravalli Range, which deflects the Arabian Sea branch, leaving the region rainless. The Arabian Sea branch of the South-West Monsoon winds carries lots of moisture when it strikes with the windward side of the Western Ghats and gives heavy rainfall, but it becomes drier and descends the Western Ghats.

Q.5 Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help of suitable examples.

Ans. The two important elements of climate are temperature and precipitation. They vary from place to place and season to season and decide climate of the place. There is a sharp contrast in the climate of India. For example: In summer, the mercury occasionally touches 50°C in some parts of the Rajasthan desert, whereas it may be around 20°C in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. On a winter night, the temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low as minus 45°C. Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand, may have a temperature of 22°C. The annual precipitation varies from over 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in Ladakh and western Rajasthan. Parts of Jammu and Kashmir receive precipitation in the form of snow and most of the other parts receive rainfall. North India and western India receive rainfall by south-west monsoon winds, but the Eastern Coastal plains receive the rainfall due to the northeast monsoon winds.

Q.6 Discuss the mechanism of monsoons.

Ans. The Monsoon winds are the seasonal winds. The duration of the monsoon is between 100-120 days from early June to mid-September. It arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula generally by the first week of June. Subsequently, it proceeds into two – the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch. The Arabian Sea branch reaches Mumbai about ten days later on approximately the 10th of June. This is a fairly rapid advance. The Bay of Bengal branch also advances rapidly and arrives in Assam in the first week of June. The northern mountains cause the monsoon winds to deflect towards the west over the Ganga plains. By mid-June, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal branches of the monsoon merge over the northwestern part of the Ganga plains. By mid-July, the monsoon reaches Himachal Pradesh and the rest of the country.

Withdrawal or the retreat of the monsoon is a more gradual process. The withdrawal of the monsoon begins in northwestern states of India by early September. By mid-October, it withdraws completely from the northern half of the peninsula. By early December, the monsoon has withdrawn from the rest of the country. The shift in the low-pressure conditions from north-western plains to the Bay of Bengal causes cyclones and rains in the Coromandel Coast.

Q.7 Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.

Ans. The important characteristics of the winter season are as follows:

  1. The cold weather season begins from mid-November in northern India and stays till February.
  2. January is the coldest months in the northern part of India.
  3. The temperature decreases from south to the north.
  4. Days are warm and nights are cold.
  5. Frost is common in the north and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
  6. The northeast Trade winds prevail over the country. They are dry as they blow from land to sea.
  7. In the northern part of the country, a feeble high-pressure region develops, with light winds moving outwards from this area.
  8. The weather is normally marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity and feeble, variable winds.
  9. A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over the northern plains is the inflow of the Western cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest.
  10. The total amount of winter rainfall locally known as ‘mahawat’ is small and is very important for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.
  11. The peninsular region does not have a well-defined cold season due to the moderating influence of the sea.

Q.8 Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.

Ans. The characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India are as follows:

  1. The monsoon rainfall in India is uneven and uncertain.
  2. The rainy season has a longer spell in the eastern parts of the country whereas the northwest gets rains for barely two months.
  3. The duration of the rainy season is longer in the south than in the north.
  4. Monsoons are not steady. Rainy days are interspersed with rainless days.
  5. Heavy downpour results in the flooded rivers causing heavy damage to life and property.
  6. A dry spell would cause as much misery as the river floods.
  7. The arrival and departure of monsoon is uncertain. So is the extent of rainfall in any given rainy season.
  8. These characteristics of monsoon have a very destabilising effect on the Indian economy that continues to be predominantly agricultural and dependent on rainfed irrigation.

Q.9 On an outline map of India, show the following.

(i) Areas receiving rainfall over 400 cm.
(ii) Areas receiving less than 20 cm of rainfall.
(iii) The direction of the south-west monsoon over India.

Ans.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Some of the crucial questions from the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 are given below:

  • Why is India called a monsoon country?
  • Which elements control the weather and climate?
  • How does proximity to water bodies affect the climate?
  • What are the effects of pressure and winds on climate? 
  • In what way do the Himalayas and the Western Ghats play a role in climatic changes?

Yes, the content of the NCERT Solutions Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 by Extramarks is developed after significant and in-depth research and analysis of the chapter . The solutions prepared by the experienced faculty will help you to learn how to compose an answer that meets the question’s requirements and thereby hit the target. Another key skill you will acquire is conveying your answer clearly and concisely..  Furthermore, all the study materials available on Extramarks are as per the latest CBSE guidelines.

Geography is the study of places and the relation between people and their surroundings. Through this subject, students can learn interesting things about physical properties of Earth and other planets, regions and cultures, etc. In order to excel in these fields, students should create a strong base right from the lower level. This chapter teaches students about different features of Climate including seasons, wind flow, etc. which affects the lives of people living in a particular area. By understanding such topics thoroughly, students aspiring to become geologists can get good guidance.  NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 can be of great help as it provides in-depth answers to the textual questions through which students can comprehend various concepts of this chapter.