Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 2. Drawing Conclusions Look at the maps. Which city do you think receives the most rainfall? Why? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Human-Environment Interaction How would a delay in the arrival of the summer monsoon affect the people of India? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 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? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 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? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 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.