C LIMATE C H A P T E R Now, let us see the regional variations in precipitation. While snowfall occurs in the Himalayas, it only rains over the rest of the country. Similarly, variations are noticeable not only in the type of precipitation but also in its amount. While Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya receive rainfall over , cm in a year, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan rarely gets more than cm of rainfall during the same period.
Tura situated in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya may receive an amount of rainfall in a single day which is equal to years of rainfall at Jaisalmer. While the annual precipitation is less than cm in the north- west Himalayas and the western deserts, it exceeds cm in Meghalaya. The Ganga delta and the coastal plains of Orissa are hit by strong rain-bearing storms almost every third or fifth day in July and August while the Coromandal coast, a thousand km to the south, goes generally dry during these months. Most parts of the country get rainfall during June-September, but on the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, it rains in the beginning of the winter season.
In spite of these differences and variations, the climate of India is monsoonal in rhythm and character. F ACTORS D ETERMINING THE C LIMATE OF I NDIA India’s climate is controlled by a number of factors which can be broadly divided into two groups — factors related to location and relief, and factors related to air pressure and winds. Factors related to Location and Relief Latitude : You already know the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the land of India. You also know that the Tropic of Cancer passes through the central part of India in east-west direction.
Thus, northern part of the India lies in sub-tropical and temperate zone and the part lying south of the Tropic of Cancer falls in the tropical zone. The tropical zone being nearer to the equator, experiences high temperatures throughout the year with small daily and annual range. Area north of