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Indian Weather Seasons: Understanding the Annual Climate Cycle

June 21, 2024 1630 0

Introduction to Indian Weather Seasons:

India experiences a rhythmic annual climate cycle with four distinct seasons: cold weather, hot weather, southwest monsoon, and retreating monsoon.

How does the Indian Weather Seasons Shape Winter Climate Dynamics in Northern and Peninsular India?

Temperature Dynamics in Indian weather seasons: 

  • Winter Climate Dynamics in Northern and Peninsular India during the Indian weather seasons: Usually, the cold weather season sets in by mid-November in northern India. 
    • The mean daily temperature remains below 21°C over most parts of northern India. 

Mean Monthly Temperatures of the Day in January

Mean Monthly Temperatures of the Day in January

  • Cold Experiences in Northern India’s:  Especially in regions like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, can be very cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping below freezing. 
  • This cold is attributed to three reasons:
    • Continental Climes: States like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan are far away from the moderating influence of sea and experience continental climate.
    • Himalayan Influence: The snowfall in the nearby Himalayan ranges creates a cold wave situation and
      • Around February, the cold winds coming from the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan bring cold waves along with frost and fog over the north-western parts of India.
    • Moderating Seas in Indian climate: In contrast, the Peninsular region doesn’t experience a sharp cold season due to the sea’s moderating influence and its equatorial proximity. 
      • Thus, coastal regions, like Thiruvanantapuram, maintain a mild temperature range throughout the year.

Pressure and Surface Winds (January)

Pressure and Surface Winds (January)

Pressure and Wind Patterns during the Solstice in India:

  • Winter Solstice: Sun’s Dance Over the Tropic of Capricorn: By the end of December (22nd December), the sun shines vertically over the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. 
  • Winter Pressure Patterns and Wind Dynamics in India: During winter, high-pressure conditions dominate northern India, while the south has slightly lower pressure. 
    • The isobars of 1019 mb and 1013 mb pass through northwest India and the far south, respectively.
    • Winds, driven by these pressure differences, move from the northwestern high-pressure zone to the southern low-pressure areas. (Refer Figure)

Rainfall Exceptions and Northeast Dynamics in India:

  • Winter Monsoons: The Quiet Season in India’s Rainfall Symphony: Generally, winter monsoons don’t bring rain to India, primarily because of their low humidity and the land’s anti-cyclonic circulation
  • However, there are exceptions:
    • Mediterranean Influence: Weak temperate cyclones from the Mediterranean can cause rainfall in northwestern India, 
    • North-eastern regions like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam experience 25-50 mm of rain during the winter.
    • Northeast Monsoon Dynamics: The northeast monsoon, after collecting moisture over the Bay of Bengal, results in heavy rainfall along the Tamil Nadu coast and nearby south-eastern regions in October and November.

India: Mean Monthly Temperature of the Day in July

 India: Mean Monthly Temperature of the Day in July

Indian Weather Seasons: Embracing the Heat in the Hot Weather Season

Temperature Dynamics:

  • Summer’s Arrival: Northern India’s Temperature Surge : As the sun moves northward from March, northern India witnesses rising temperatures, marking the onset of summer, which spans April, May, and June. (Refer Figure)
    • Temperatures typically range between 30°C to 32°C. By May, northwestern regions like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh often experience scorching temperatures up to 48°C.
  • Gentle Summers in Southern Part: In contrast, southern India enjoys a milder summer, with temperatures maintained between 26°C and 32°C, due to its peninsular location and the oceans’ moderating effects. 
  • Consistent Coastal Climes: Coastal regions see minimal temperature variation from north to south, and the mean daily minimum during these summer months rarely falls below 26°C.

Pressure and Wind Patterns in Northern India:

Pressure and Wind Patterns in Northern India

  • Summer’s Grip: Intense Heat and Atmospheric Shifts : Summer brings intense heat and falling air pressure to northern India. 
  • Northward Movement of the ITCZ: Shaping Monsoon Troughs and Low-Pressure Dynamics: The ITCZ, influenced by the subcontinent’s heat, shifts northward by July, centering around 25°N. 
    • This change creates a low-pressure monsoon trough stretching from the Thar desert to the Chotanagpur plateau. 
  • Loo’ Hot Winds and Dust Storms Ballet in Northern India: During summer afternoons, hot winds called ‘Loo’ blow, especially in the ITCZ’s heart. 
    • Dust storms are frequent in May across regions like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, offering brief relief from the intense heat with their accompanying light rains. 
  • Clash of Air Masses: Intense Storms and Weather Turmoil in Northern India: Occasionally, the clash between dry and moist air masses results in intense local storms, characterised by strong winds, heavy rains, and even hailstorms.
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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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