Download Geography and History Activity: Monsoons of India

NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
Geography and History Activity
netw rks
The Spread of Civilization
Monsoons of India
The physical characteristics of a place are an important element of its physical
geography. Physical characteristics include climate, landforms, water forms, vegetation, and
animal life. Much of South Asia experiences three distinct seasons—hot (from late February
to June), wet (from July to September), and cool (from October to later February). These
seasons depend on seasonal winds called monsoons.
In India, a summer monsoon blows from July through September and brings a season of
hot, wet weather. Winds blow from the southwest, crossing the tropical waters of the Indian
Ocean and carrying warm, moist air to the subcontinent. Heavy rainfall occurs when the
moisture-laden air crosses the land. A winter monsoon begins in October and blows in
the reverse direction. Winds from the northeast carry cool, dry air from the Himalaya and
the Asian mainland. The winter monsoon causes a dry season for most of India, except
in the southeast where moisture from the Bay of Bengal causes significant rainfall.
Summer Monsoons
0
60°E
400 km
0
Albers Equal-Area
projection
N
75°E
400 miles
Karachi
TH
90°E
0
E
W
Lahore
Winter Monsoons
S
E
New
Delhi
HI
30°N
MA
L AYA
Cherrapunji
TROPIC
OF CANCER
Kolkata
(Calcutta)
Arabian Mumbai
Sea (Bombay)
Bay of
Bengal
60°E
400 miles
400 km
0
Albers Equal-Area
projection
Karachi
Arabian
Sea
I N D IAN O CE AN
Lahore
TH
90°E
E
W
S
E
New
Delhi
HI
30°N
MA
L AYA
Cherrapunji
TROPIC
OF CANCER
Kolkata
(Calcutta)
Mumbai
(Bombay)
Bay of
Bengal
15°N
Chennai
(Madras)
Summer
winds
N
75°E
Chennai
(Madras)
Winter
winds
I N D IAN O CE AN
Caption: The monsoon is one of the most massive and unpredictable weather systems
in the world. Late rains can have far-reaching economic, political, and social
consequences in India.
15°N
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
How does the extreme nature of the monsoons affect the people of India? For farmers in
rural India, the arrival of the monsoon can mean survival itself, because much of India’s
arable land depends on monsoon rains for irrigation. When the summer monsoon is delayed,
drought and famine can affect millions of people throughout the region. On the other hand,
though the monsoon rains are necessary for survival, they can also cause problems. Heavy
downpours can lead to significant flooding and dangerous landslides, which can destroy
crops and damage property.
NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
Geography and History Activity Cont.
netw rks
The Spread of Civilization
Directions: Answer the questions below in the space provided.
Understanding Concepts
1.
Place What are some of the physical characteristics that describe a place?
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2.
Drawing Conclusions Look at the maps. Which city do you think receives the most
rainfall? Why?
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Human-Environment Interaction How would a delay in the arrival of the summer
monsoon affect the people of India?
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Applying Concepts
4.
Predicting Consequences Monsoon forecasts have been called the most important
predictions in the world, yet the onset of the monsoon rains cannot be accurately
predicted more than a few days in advance. Why are these forecasts so crucial?
How do you think these forecasts affect people in India?
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Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
3.
NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
Geography and History Activity Cont.
netw rks
The Spread of Civilization
5.
Making Inferences Why might people in India perceive rain and clouds differently
from people in the West?
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6.
Identifying Cause and Effect Brainstorm a list of seasonal changes in climate in
the United States. Complete the following chart to explain how these changes affect
physical and human environments in different parts of the country during the year.
Causes
Effects
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.