Climate of India
Tropical Wet (Humid): It covers the southwest coast, parts of northeast states, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Temperature stays high throughout the year; there is heavy rainfall, too; however, the major shower falls during the monsoon period between June and September.
Tropical Dry: This kind of climate predominates over central and western India and covers the whole of Gujarat. The characteristics are relatively high temperatures and low rainfall, with a big differential gap between the hot summer and cool winter months.
Subtropical Humid: Spreads over northern plains, comprising Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. It is extremely hot during summers with cold winters and receives medium to heavy monsoon rains.
Mountain Climate: The Himalayan region, including other mountain ranges, depicts varied elevations with subtropical lower elevation and temperate or alpine upper elevation concerning temperatures combined with erratic and scanty precipitation.
Desert Climate: This is one of the most extreme climates found in northwestern India. It depicts extreme diurnal temperature differences, very small precipitation, and extremely high temperatures.
The climate along western and eastern coasts, which includes cities such as Mumbai and Chennai, is basically tropical for most of the year, with high humidity and abundant rainfall during monsoon times.
Much of the country’s climate is dictated by the monsoon winds, bringing seasonal rains that have an important role in agriculture and water utilization.
Climate Zone of India
The climate of India constitutes a large geographical area with varied topography. The country represents spans over varying latitudes and altitudes. This has, in turn, made it encompass a wide variation of climatic zones. Let us take each one in detail:
1. Tropical Rainforest (Humid Tropical)
Location and Extent
The Tropical Rainforest climate of India is mainly represented along its southwestern coasts. Most of this zone includes the coastal areas of Kerala, parts of Karnataka, and the Western Ghats. This climate also occurs in the northeastern states, such as in Assam and in parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
Characteristics
Temperature: The Tropical Rainforest regions have a high temperature throughout the year, lying in the range of 25° to 30° C. There is a negligible seasonal variation in temperature.
Vegetation: High rainfall promotes the development of heavy, thick vegetation. The tropical rainforest typically abodes tall, evergreen trees, very heavy canopies, and highly varied flora and fauna. Mahogany, teak, and ebony are some common types of trees in this biome.
2. Tropical Savanna
Location and Extent
The Tropical Savanna climate is found in parts of central and eastern India. It includes regions of Madhya Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of northern Karnataka. It stretches to the south fringes of the Deccan Plateau.
Characteristics
Temperature: The temperatures in the Tropical Savanna zones are high throughout the year, with a range from 25°C to 35°C. The temperature variation is marked between the wet and dry seasons.
3. Desert (Arid)
Location and Extent
The northwestern part of India has the Desert or Arid kind of climate and covers the Thar Desert. As a whole, this zone covers all of Rajasthan and extends into the neighboring areas of Gujarat and Punjab.
Characteristics
Temperature: Under arid conditions, the temperature difference between day and night may be extreme. While during summers, in daytime it might rise above 45°C, the temperature dips substantially during the night, sometimes even below 10°C.
4. Semi-Arid
Location and Extent
The Semi-Arid climate covers the area around the deserts: parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. It also lies in Northern Karnataka and parts of Madhya Pradesh as a fragment.
Characteristics
The temperature can be described as well above 40°C in summers, which are hot, while winters are mild to cool as the temperature ranges between 10°C to 25°C.
5. Subtropical
Location and Extent
It is basically the northern part of India, mostly the Gangetic Plain, with partial parts in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Besides these, it partially extends into Bihar and West Bengal.
Characteristics
Temperature: In Subtropical regions, the summer is very hot, reaching temperatures of 45°C; on the other hand, winters can be very cold, sometimes with temperatures as low as 5°C. There is a lot of variation in temperature between seasons.
6. Temperate
Location and Extent
The Temperate climate mainly prevails in higher elevations of the Himalayan region. It covers areas, at least partially, in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Characteristics
Temperature: Temperate regions are much cooler as compared to the lowlands. The summer temperatures lie between 15°C and 25°C while the winter temperatures lower well below the freezing point. The high-altitude areas receive quite sufficient snowfall in winter.
7. Alpine
Location and Extent
Besides the regions of Ladakh, Sikkim and parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the alpine climate can be seen at the highest elevations of the Himalayan region.
Characteristics
Temperature: Cold by year, summers range from 5°C to 15°C while in winter it is much below freezing, often -20°C or lower.
Summary
.webp "Climate of India, Climate Zones, Jet Streams and How do they affect the climate of India?")
Thus, India’s geographical diversity is well expressed by the existence of tropical rainforests in the southwest and arid deserts in the northwest, besides alpine cold in the Himalayas. These eventually lead to unique ecosystems with distinct climatic characteristics that may alter the local environment, agriculture, and ways of life. Understanding the concept of these zones evokes appreciation for vast natural diversity and an overall delicate balance in India’s environment.
What are Jet Streams and How do they affect the climate of India?
1. Monsoon Onset and Strength: Jet streams at times do have an effect on the time of arrival and strength of the Indian monsoon. During the pre-monsoon period the position of the subtropical jet stream is one of the jet streams in the upper levels of the atmosphere that may affect the onset and strength of the monsoon rains. But when in favorable positions, the jet stream allows the monsoon winds to penetrate deeper into the Indian subcontinent and can give rise to stronger monsoon rains. An unfavorable position of it may delay its onset or weaken the same.
2. Temperature Pattern: Jet streams are believed to influence the temperature patterns, too since they reorganize the normal transportation of high and low-pressure systems. During winter, its position can decide upon the severity and coverage of the northern states of India over cold waves. Its southward dip can bring colder air from the north to the region.
3. Cyclones and Storms: Jet streams have the ability to affect the formation and track of cyclones, among other storm systems. The position may route cyclonic systems towards or away from the country. For instance, the position of the subtropical jet stream concerning its latitude will influence the track and intensity of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
4. Seasonal Variability: The possible variability of the jet stream might have some consequence with regard to seasonal patterns in the weather. For instance, in summer, it may cause differences in the distribution and strength of heat waves; similarly, in winter, the frequency and strength of cold snaps could be influenced.
On the whole, jet streams play a significant role in the regulation of India’s climate and weather through various processes, such as influencing monsoon dynamics, temperature, storm paths, and seasonal weather fluctuations.
What are the controls affecting the Climate of India?
Factors Controlling Climate of India?
Monsoon Winds: Considering the seasonal shift of winds, the Indian monsoon is one of the decisive factors in the distribution of rain.
Distance from the Sea: The coastal regions have a mild temperature with high humidity, while inland areas show great contrasts in temperature.
Geographical Barriers: The Himalayas block the cold winds from the north and disturb the pattern of weather, while the Thar Desert affects the western monsoon.
Pressure Systems: High and low-pressure systems along with a subtropical jet stream are significant in defining regional weather pattern and the dynamics of monsoon airflow.
Taken together, these factors confer upon India its diverse climate. Together they determine the land temperature, rainfall, and seasons.