Chapters :
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Introduction :
Growing demands for water from rivers, driven by domestic, municipal, industrial, and agricultural needs, impact water quality.
Increased water extraction diminishes river volume, exacerbating the issue.
Untreated sewage and industrial effluents worsen water quality, diminishing the self-cleansing capacity of rivers.
Urbanization and industrialization contribute to pollution, impeding natural dilution processes.
Various action plans have been initiated to tackle rising river pollution.
River pollution has adverse effects on human health, leading to various illnesses.
Life without access to fresh water can have severe consequences for communities.
A classroom debate can be organized to explore different perspectives and solutions regarding river pollution and its consequences.
Regarding India's climate...
India's climate is primarily characterized as the "monsoon" type, prevalent in South and Southeast Asia.
Despite a general pattern, there are significant regional variations in temperature and precipitation across the country.
Temperature variations range from extreme heat in the Rajasthan desert to milder climates in places like Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
Precipitation also varies greatly, from heavy snowfall in the Himalayas to monsoon rains in other regions.
Annual precipitation ranges from over 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm in Ladakh and western Rajasthan.
Coastal areas generally experience less temperature variation compared to interior regions.
These climate variations influence aspects of people's lives, including their food, clothing, and housing choices.
Climatic Controls:
Six major controls of climate:
Latitude
Altitude
Pressure and wind system
Distance from the sea (continentality)
Ocean currents
Relief features
Solar energy received varies with latitude due to the earth's curvature, leading to temperature variations from equator to poles.
Higher altitudes experience lower air density and temperature, making hills cooler during summers.
Pressure and wind systems are influenced by latitude and altitude, impacting temperature and rainfall patterns.
Proximity to the sea moderates climate, with increasing distance leading to more extreme weather conditions (continentality).
Ocean currents and onshore winds affect coastal climate, with warm or cold currents influencing temperature.
Relief features, such as mountains, act as barriers to winds and can cause precipitation if high enough and in the path of rain-bearing winds.
The leeward side of mountains tends to be drier compared to the windward side.
Factors affecting India’s climate:
Latitude:
Tropic of Cancer divides India, with south experiencing tropical climate and north subtropical.
Altitude:
Himalayas block cold winds, giving India milder winters.
Pressure and Winds:
India's climate is influenced by pressure, winds, and cyclonic disturbances.
Northeast winds bring little rain, while Southwest Monsoon winds bring widespread rainfall in summer.
The seasons :
Monsoon Climate:
Characterized by distinct seasonal changes, particularly noticeable in interior regions.
Coastal areas experience less temperature variation but varied rainfall patterns.
Four Main Seasons in India:
Cold Weather Season (Winter):
Begins mid-November and lasts till February.
North experiences colder temperatures, with frost and snowfall in Himalayas.
Northeast trade winds prevail, bringing dry weather with occasional rains on Tamil Nadu coast.
Hot Weather Season (Summer):
March to May marks hot weather season.
Rising temperatures and falling air pressure in north.
Loo winds bring hot, dry gusts in northwestern India, dust storms, and localized thunderstorms.
Advancing Monsoon (Rainy Season):
Early June sees intensifying low-pressure conditions attracting southwest monsoon winds.
Southwest monsoon brings heavy rainfall, varying across regions with wet and dry spells
Retreating Monsoon (Transition Season):
October-November transition from rainy to dry conditions.
Monsoon withdraws, marked by clear skies, rising temperatures, and occasional cyclonic depressions in the Bay of Bengal.
Distribution of rainfall :
Rainfall Distribution in India:
Parts of western coast and northeastern India receive over 400 cm of rainfall annually.
Conversely, rainfall is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, interior Deccan plateau, and east of Sahyadris.
Low precipitation areas include Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
Factors for Low Rainfall:
These regions receive low rainfall due to various factors such as rain shadow effect, distance from sea, and topographical features.
Variability:
Annual rainfall highly variable, especially in regions of low rainfall like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and leeward side of Western Ghats.
High variability leads to floods in high rainfall areas and droughts in low rainfall regions.
Monsoon as a unifying bond...
Himalayas shield northern India from cold winds, maintaining higher temperatures compared to similar latitudes.
Peninsular plateau, surrounded by sea, enjoys moderate temperatures.
Despite moderating factors, temperature variations exist.
Monsoon brings rhythmic seasons, uncertainties, and uneven rain distribution.
Monsoon is crucial for agriculture, shaping landscape, animal and plant life, and people's lives.
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