Question 1

Which of the following terms is used for the pre-monsoon showers in Karnataka and Kerala that help in the early ripening of mangoes?

Accepted Answer

Mango Showers. Mango Showers are pre-monsoon rains common in the states of Karnataka and Kerala. They are significant because they assist in the early ripening of the mango crop. These rains generally occur towards the end of the summer season.

Question 2

The intense hot and dry winds blowing in the Northern plains of India during the summer are known as?

Accepted Answer

Loo. Loo refers to the strong, hot, and dry summer afternoons winds in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Direct exposure to these winds can often lead to heatstroke. They are a prominent feature of the weather in North India during May and June.

Question 3

Which mountain range acts as a barrier to the moisture-laden Southwest Monsoon winds, causing heavy rainfall on the Konkan coast?

Accepted Answer

Western Ghats. The Western Ghats intercept the Arabian Sea branch of the Southwest Monsoon. This causes heavy orographic rainfall on the windward side, including the Konkan and Malabar coasts. The leeward side of these mountains remains a rain-shadow area.

Question 4

The 'Kalbaisakhi' or 'Nor'westers' are violent thunderstorms that occur primarily in which state?

Accepted Answer

West Bengal. Kalbaisakhi refers to localized thunderstorms associated with violent winds and heavy rain in West Bengal. The term literally means 'calamity of the month of Baisakh'. These storms are helpful for the cultivation of tea, jute, and rice.

Question 5

Which region in India receives the bulk of its rainfall during the winter months from the North-East monsoon?

Accepted Answer

Coromandel Coast. The Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu receives significant rainfall during October and November. This is caused by the retreating monsoon or the North-East monsoon picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Most of the rest of India remains dry during this period.

Climate & Monsoon — Set 1