Weather, seasons and climate
People say 'the climate changed' when they mean today's weather. Today's rain is weather; the pattern of rain over many years is climate.
Weather changes hour to hour or day to day. Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a region (several decades at least). Seasons recur in a yearly cycle as the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Key points
- Four main seasons worldwide: spring, summer, autumn, winter; India also has the rainy season (monsoon).
- Traditional six ṛitus: vasanta, grīṣhma, varṣhā, śharad, hemanta, śhiśhir, linked to festivals (Vasanta Panchami, Sharad Purnima).
- Crops, food, clothes and animal fur change with seasons.
- Easy : It rains today: weather or climate? → Weather.
- Medium : Link of seasons and weather? → Weather changes with season; the pattern of seasons relates to climate.
- Exam-type : Difference between weather and climate. → Weather is short-term, climate a long-term pattern (decades).
India traditionally has six ṛitus.
Today's weather is not climate.
Weather = days, climate = decades. Memory clue : Weather = 'what to wear today', Climate = 'what to keep in the wardrobe'.
Spot the difference
| Point | Weather | Climate |
|---|---|---|
| Time span | Hours/days | Many decades |
| Change | Keeps changing | Changes rarely |
| Example | Rain today | Heavy rain on the west coast |
Practice questions
- 1What is weather?
- 2Why do seasons occur?
- 3Name three of India's six traditional ṛitus.
- 4What is climate?
- 5It is cold today: weather or climate?
- 6Which extra season does India have besides the four common ones?
- 7Write how one festival of your region links with a season.
- 8Explain the difference between weather and climate with an example.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1State of the atmosphere changing hour to hour or day to day
- 2Earth revolves around the Sun
- 3Vasanta, grīṣhma, varṣhā, śharad, hemanta, śhiśhir (any three)
- 4Long-term pattern of weather of a region
- 5Weather
- 6The rainy season (monsoon)
- 7E.g. Vasanta Panchami with spring
- 8Rain today = weather; the pattern of rain over decades = climate
Types of climate in India
Thick clothes in the Himalaya, dry heat in the desert, damp air on the coast: many climates in one country.
India is diverse and so is its climate: alpine, temperate, subtropical, arid, tropical wet, semi-arid and tropical.
Key points
- Northern Himalaya: alpine (cold snowy winters, cool summers); lower Himalaya and hilly areas: temperate, with hill stations.
- Northern plains: subtropical (very hot summers, cold winters, wheat); Thar: arid (very hot days, cool nights, little rain).
- West coast: tropical wet (heavy monsoon rain, rice and spices); Deccan Plateau: semi-arid; eastern India and southern peninsula: tropical with mild winters.
- Easy : Climate of hill stations? → Temperate.
- Medium : Thar's climate? → Arid: hot days, cool nights, little rain.
- Exam-type : Why are the northern plains good for wheat? → Subtropical pattern: cold winters, hot summers.
Rice and spices grow on the west coast.
It is wrong to think all India is hot; the Himalaya has an alpine climate.
High = cold, Thar = dry, coast = wet. Memory clue : Himalaya = alpine, plains = subtropical, Thar = arid, coast = wet.
Spot the difference
| Region | Climate | Special |
|---|---|---|
| Himalaya | Alpine | Snowy winters |
| Thar Desert | Arid | Little rain |
| West coast | Tropical wet | Rice, spices |
Practice questions
- 1The word 'alpine' comes from which mountain range?
- 2Hill stations lie in which climate?
- 3Which crop is main in the subtropical plains?
- 4What is the climate of the Deccan Plateau?
- 5How is the climate of the west coast?
- 6What skill have Thar people developed because of the climate?
- 7Compare the climates of the Himalaya and the west coast.
- 8Why is India called a land of many climates? Give two examples.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The Alps (Europe)
- 2Temperate
- 3Wheat
- 4Semi-arid
- 5Tropical wet, heavy monsoon rain
- 6Unique ways to collect and save water
- 7Himalaya: cold, snowy; west coast: warm, very wet
- 8Himalaya is alpine, Thar is arid
Factors that decide climate
Ooty and Coimbatore lie at nearly the same latitude but Ooty is cooler: the effect of height.
Climate depends on latitude, altitude, nearness to the sea, winds and topography.
Factors that decide climate
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Open in the appKey points
- Latitude: near the Equator rays fall nearly vertical and heat concentrates; near the poles they are slanted and spread out. So Kanniyakumari is hot, Srinagar cooler.
- Altitude: air gets thinner and cooler with height; Ooty's summer temperature is 10-25°, Coimbatore's 25-38°.
- Sea: the sea heats and cools slowly, so coasts stay moderate. Mumbai is about 32°C in summer and 18°C in winter (range about 14°C); Nagpur 44°C and 10°C (range about 34°C).
- Winds: dry hot winds from the west bring summer heat waves; sea winds bring moisture. Topography: the Himalaya shields from cold Central Asian winds; flat Thar has no shield.
- Easy : Why is Kanniyakumari hot? → It is near the Equator.
- Medium : Mumbai's range? → 32 − 18 = 14 °C.
- Exam-type : Why is Nagpur's range larger? → It is far from the sea; 44 − 10 = 34 °C.
A microclimate is a small area's own climate (e.g. an urban heat island).
Coasts are not hotter; the sea keeps temperatures moderate.
Five factors: L-A-S-W-T. Memory clue : Latitude, Altitude, Sea, Winds, Topography = L-A-S-W-T: 'Little Ants Study Weather Trends'.
Spot the difference
| Point | Coast (Mumbai) | Inland (Nagpur) |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | About 32 °C | About 44 °C |
| Winter | About 18 °C | About 10 °C |
| Range | About 14 °C | About 34 °C |
Practice questions
- 1Name any three factors that decide climate.
- 2How does temperature change with height?
- 3How does the sea keep temperature moderate?
- 4What is a microclimate?
- 5What role does the Himalaya play in India's climate?
- 6Mumbai: summer 32 °C, winter 18 °C. What is the range?
- 7Why do Ooty and Coimbatore differ in temperature?
- 8What do winds from the west do in north India in summer?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Latitude, altitude, nearness to sea, winds, topography (any three)
- 2Temperature falls as height rises
- 3The sea heats and cools slowly
- 4A small area's own climate
- 5Shields from cold Central Asian winds
- 632 − 18 = 14 °C
- 7Ooty is at a higher altitude
- 8Bring dry hot air, causing heat waves
Factors that decide climate
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Open in the appThe monsoon
When school reopens in June the first showers arrive; farmers wait for them all year.
Monsoon comes from Arabic 'mausim' (season): seasonal winds around the Indian Ocean. Its root cause is that land heats and cools faster than the sea.
The monsoon
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Open in the appKey points
- Summer: the Asian landmass heats, creating low pressure; moist winds blow from sea to land and give heavy rain. This is the southwest monsoon.
- Winter: land cools quickly and has high pressure; winds blow from land to sea, giving dry weather. Some pick up moisture over the Bay of Bengal and rain on east and south India: the northeast monsoon.
- Rain reaches the southern tip in early June and covers the country by mid-July; the Western Ghats act as a barrier, giving more rain on the west slopes and less on the Deccan. Mawsynram (Meghalaya) gets about 11,000 mm a year, the highest average in the world.
- Easy : From which language is 'monsoon'? → Arabic 'mausim'.
- Medium : Summer winds go where? → From sea to land.
- Exam-type : Why more rain on the western slopes of the Ghats? → The Ghats block moist winds.
Mawsynram has the highest average rainfall in the world.
Monsoon is not only rain; it is seasonal winds.
Summer: sea→land; winter: land→sea. Memory clue : Summer = Southwest (SW = Sea Wet), winter = Northeast.
Spot the difference
| Point | Southwest monsoon | Northeast monsoon |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Winter |
| Wind direction | Sea → land | Land → sea |
| Result | Rain across the country | Dry; some rain in east and south |
Practice questions
- 1From which word does 'monsoon' come?
- 2What is the pressure over Asia in summer?
- 3When does monsoon rain arrive in India?
- 4How do the Western Ghats affect the monsoon?
- 5What is Mawsynram famous for?
- 6How does the northeast monsoon give rain?
- 7Explain the root cause of the monsoon.
- 8What follows a 'monsoon failure'?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Arabic 'mausim' (season)
- 2Low pressure
- 3Early June to mid-July
- 4More rain on west slopes, less on the Deccan
- 5Highest average rainfall in the world
- 6Winds pick moisture over the Bay of Bengal and rain on east and south
- 7Land heats and cools faster than the sea, so pressure differences reverse the winds
- 8Farming suffers, water shortage, migration, costlier food
Climate, life and disasters
Pongal, Onam, Bihu, Baisakhi, Gudi Padwa: these festivals are linked to farming and seasons.
Climate shapes culture, farming and the economy. Extreme weather brings disasters: cyclones, floods, landslides and forest fires.
Key points
- Monsoon failure: farming suffers, people walk far for water, labourers migrate, food gets costlier (inflation).
- Cyclone: low pressure forms over the sea, moist winds rush in and spiral around the centre; the middle is a cloudless 'eye'. IMD tracks them; NDRF carries out rescue.
- Floods: rain the land cannot absorb or rivers overflow (UP, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra, Assam). In the Himalaya glacial lakes burst; Uttarakhand 2013, about 6,000 deaths.
- Landslides: in hilly areas after heavy rain; deforestation and badly planned buildings raise the risk. Forest fires: dry weather, wind and human carelessness.
- Easy : What is the centre of a cyclone called? → The eye (cloudless).
- Medium : Why do cities flood? → Weak drainage, concrete blocks absorption, building on waterways.
- Exam-type : Name human causes of landslides. → Deforestation, badly planned construction.
NDRF is the disaster response force.
Not every disaster is purely natural; human actions play a part.
Cyclone-Flood-Landslide-Fire: four disasters. Memory clue : 'C-F-L-F' = first letters of the four disasters.
Spot the difference
| Disaster | Main cause | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclone | Intense low pressure over sea | East coast |
| Flood | Excess water, rivers overflow | Assam, Bihar |
| Landslide | Heavy rain, deforestation | Uttarakhand, Sikkim |
Practice questions
- 1What is the centre of a cyclone called?
- 2Which force does rescue work in disasters?
- 3Name two states vulnerable to floods.
- 4What is a landslide?
- 5What makes forest fires spread?
- 6State the effects of monsoon failure.
- 7Write causes of floods in cities.
- 8For one disaster, separate the natural and human causes.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The eye
- 2NDRF
- 3Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam (any two)
- 4Sudden collapse of rock, soil or debris
- 5Dry weather, strong wind, human carelessness
- 6Farming suffers, water shortage, migration, inflation
- 7Weak drainage, concrete, building on waterways
- 8E.g. landslide: natural: heavy rain; human: deforestation, badly planned construction
Climate change
Early in 2025 India's average temperature was 1 to 3 °C above normal and winter was much shorter and milder.
Climate change means significant long-term changes in climate. Since the 19th century it is mainly driven by human actions: burning fossil fuels, deforestation, harmful industry and wasteful consumption.
Key points
- Greenhouse effect: gases like CO₂ trap heat and keep Earth warm enough for life; humans released huge amounts quickly, trapping extra heat and causing global warming.
- Effects: extreme weather such as droughts, floods and cyclones; harm to farming and small industries.
- Mitigation: cut emissions, plant trees, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable lifestyles; but these often clash with the wish for economic growth.
- Easy : Name fossil fuels. → Coal, petroleum oil, natural gas.
- Medium : Effect of deforestation on climate? → Fewer trees, more greenhouse gases remain.
- Exam-type : Why is the greenhouse effect needed yet risky? → Natural level supports life; excess causes warming.
Since the 1800s human activity is the main driver of climate change.
The greenhouse effect is not wholly bad; its excess is harmful.
Fuel burnt → gases up → heat trapped. Memory clue : 'B-D-I': Burning fuels, Deforestation, Industry.
Spot the difference
| Point | Natural greenhouse effect | Enhanced greenhouse effect |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Right level | Excess |
| Result | Earth stays warm enough for life | Global warming |
| Cause | Natural carbon cycle | Burning fuels, deforestation, industry |
Practice questions
- 1What is climate change?
- 2What are fossil fuels?
- 3Give two human causes of climate change.
- 4What is the greenhouse effect?
- 5Give two effects of climate change.
- 6What is mitigation?
- 7Why can climate measures clash with economic growth?
- 8List three daily actions of yours that help reduce climate change.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Significant long-term changes in climate
- 2Coal, oil, gas formed from ancient plants and animals
- 3Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industry (any two)
- 4Gases like CO₂ trap heat
- 5Extreme weather, harm to farming
- 6Steps that slow global warming
- 7Measures need cost and lower consumption
- 8Planting trees, saving electricity, public transport (examples)
Climate change
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