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How does the altitude of India's geographical features affect its climate? Provide three relevant points.
Answer:
Answer by Student
Some of the effects of altitude on India’s climate are:
-
The Himalayas act as a
barrier
to the cold winds from Central Asia and keep the northern plains warm in winter.
-
As altitude increases, the
temperature decreases
. Therefore, regions at higher altitudes in India experience cooler climates than those at lower altitudes.
-
The Himalayas also prevent the monsoon winds from escaping and cause
heavy rainfall
in the northern and northeastern parts of the country.
Detailed Answer by Teachoo
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Some of the effects of altitude on India’s climate are:
- The Himalayas act as a barrier to the cold winds from Central Asia and keep the northern plains warm in winter. Without the Himalayas, India would experience very cold winters like Siberia.
- As altitude increases, the temperature decreases. This is because the air becomes thinner and less dense as it rises, and therefore it can hold less heat and moisture. This is also known as the lapse rate of temperature, which is the rate at which the temperature changes with altitude. The average lapse rate is about 6.5°C per 1000 meters of altitude.
- The Himalayas also prevent the monsoon winds from escaping and cause heavy rainfall in the northern and northeastern parts of the country. The monsoon winds bring moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and deposit it on the slopes of the Himalayas. This creates lush green forests and fertile valleys in these regions.
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