The climate of India is labelled as "Tropical Monsoon Type". Weather conditions vary widely between north and south India – which is why we wear woollen clothes in the north Indian cold season but not in south India. This chapter covers the factors affecting India's climate, the monsoon and the four seasons, the distribution of rainfall, the natural vegetation and the wildlife of India.
1. Weather and Climate
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Weather | The state of the atmosphere of a place at a given point of time |
| Climate | The accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events of a location over a period of 30-35 years |
| Equable climate | Also called the British climate – neither too hot nor too cold |
| Normal lapse rate | Temperature decreases at the rate of 6.5°C for every 1000 metres of ascent |
| Jet streams | Fast moving winds blowing in a narrow zone in the upper atmosphere |