FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE CLIMATE OF INDIA

A number of factors control the Climate of the World as well the climate of India. Following are the Factors related to location and relief that affect the Climate of India.

1 Latitude

2 The Himalayan Mountains

3 Distribution of Land and Water

4 Distance from the Sea

5 Altitude

6 Relief

Factors related to location and relief.

1. Latitude

India is a vast country and lies in the Northern hemisphere. 

• India's northern boundary extends upto 37°6'N latitude
• Southern boundary of India's mainland extends upto 8°4'N latitude
• Southern boundary of India, which is Indira Point, extends upto 6°45'N latitude in the Bay of Bengal.

Tropic of cancer passes through the central part of India in east-west direction: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram.

Part lying North of the Tropic of Cancer falls in the sub-tropical and temperate zone and Part lying South of the Tropic of Cancer falls in the tropical zone.

The sub-tropical and temperate zone being away from the equator experiences extreme climate with high daily and annual range of temperature.

The Tropic zone experience high temperatures with small daily and annual range, as the tropic zone is near to the equator.

2 The Himalayan Mountains

The lofty Himalayas and its extension protect the country from the cold northern winds and traps

trap the monsoon winds, forcing them to shed their moisture within the subcontinent.

3 Distribution of Land and Water

Sun heats up the Land and Water on the earth. Lands heats up and cools down fast as compared to the water means water heats up slowly and cools down slowly. 

India is surrounded by water bodies on three sides. Indian peninsula is surrounded by Bay of Bengal on the east, Indian ocean on the south, and Arabian sea on the west

The difference in heating of the land and water creates different air pressure in different seasons in India. 

4 Distance from the Sea

Sea breeze and land breeze helps in maintaining the moderate temperature and as India is surrounded by water bodies on three sides, the coastal areas do not experience extremes of climate but the areas which are far away form the sea experience extremes of climates.

5 Altitude

We all have studies this many times that the Temperature decreases with height. Thus, areas on the higher altitude are cooler than the areas on plains. For example, Agra and Darjiling experience different temperatures beside they are on the same latitude the Darjiling is a much cooler place as compared to the Agra because of its altitude.

6 Relief

The Relief/Physiography affects the climate. Mountains trap winds, change the directions of winds, affects the rainfall and its amount on windward side and on the leeward side. In India Lofty Himalayas traps the monsoon winds in India and the Western Ghats affects the climate of southern part of India.

In addition to this Factors Related to Air Pressure and Wind also affects the Climate of India, such as Distribution of air pressure and winds on the surface. Upper air circulation and the inflow of different air masses and jet streams and Inflow of western cyclones/disturbances.

Also read: India Structure and Physiography and India longitudes, latitudes and Indian Standard Time.