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Do it yourself: Table 3.3 shows the average monthly temperatures and rainfall amounts for 10 representative stations. Study these figures on your own and convert them into ‘temperature and rainfall’ graphs. The visual representations will help you grasp their similarities and differences at a glance. One such graph (Fig. 3.14) is already prepared for you. See if you can arrive at some broad generalisations about our diverse climatic conditions.
🔗 Concept: 3.6 Monsoon
| Station | Latitude | Altitude (m) | Hottest Month | Coldest Month | Annual Rainfall (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | 12°58’N | 909 | Apr/May (~27°C) | Dec/Jan (~20°C) | 88.9 |
| Mumbai | 19°N | 11 | May (~32°C) | Jan (~24°C) | 183.4 |
| Kolkata | 22°34’N | 6 | May (~30°C) | Jan (~20°C) | 162.5 |
| Delhi | 29°N | 219 | Jun (~33°C) | Jan (~14°C) | 67.0 |
| Jodhpur | 26°18’N | 224 | Jun (~34°C) | Jan (~15°C) | 36.6 |
| Chennai | 13°4’N | 7 | Jun (~33°C) | Jan (~25°C) | 128.6 |
| Nagpur | 21°9’N | 312 | May (~36°C) | Dec (~21°C) | 124.2 |
| Shillong | 24°34’N | 1461 | Jul (~21°C) | Jan (~10°C) | 225.3 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 8°29’N | 61 | Apr (~29°C) | Jan (~27°C) | 181.2 |
| Leh | 34°N | 3506 | Jul (~17°C) | Jan (~-8.5°C) | 8.5 |
![Question 7 — Do it yourself: Tab - Atmosphere and Climate - [Teachoo] - Questions and activities](https://cdn.teachoo.com/5c6d6b7d-a312-4682-95e7-cfb88f9f40bc/fig.-3.14.-temperature-and-rainfall-of-delhi-a-completed-example-graph-..jpg)
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7.1 — Stations by distance from the equator (nearest first)
- Thiruvananthapuram (8°29’N), Chennai (13°4’N), Bengaluru (12°58’N), Nagpur (21°9’N), Mumbai (19°N), Kolkata (22°34’N), Shillong (24°34’N), Jodhpur (26°18’N), Delhi (29°N), Leh (34°N).
7.2 — Extremes
- Most extreme climate : Leh (huge temperature swing, very low rainfall) and Jodhpur (very hot, very dry).
- Stations influenced by retreating monsoon : Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, which get rain after the main monsoon withdraws elsewhere.
- Hottest in February : Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai. Hottest in June : Jodhpur and Nagpur.
7.3 — Regional rainfall differences
- Shillong gets more rain than Kolkata because its hills force moist winds upward, causing heavy orographic rainfall.
- Delhi gets more rain than Jodhpur because Jodhpur lies in a drier, more arid, rain-shadow-like zone further from the monsoon’s main path.
7.4 — Why these patterns occur
- Thiruvananthapuram is equable because its coastal location and low latitude keep temperatures steady all year.
- Chennai gets more rain after the monsoon’s main fury elsewhere because it depends on the retreating north-east monsoon.
- Leh has low, moderate precipitation because it is a high-altitude cold desert in a rain-shadow region.
7.5 — Monsoon unity
- Despite regional differences, most stations show a rainfall peak during the monsoon months.
- This shows the monsoon gives overall climatic unity to the whole country.
📋 NCERT Activity — Collect pictures of houses
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- In hot, dry regions like Rajasthan, thick mud walls and small windows keep homes cool.
- In heavy rainfall regions like Meghalaya and Kerala, sloped roofs let rain run off quickly.
- In the cold Himalayan region , homes have wooden walls and steep roofs for snow and warmth.
- People wear light cotton clothes in hot regions and heavy woollens in cold ones.
