India Geography
India Geography
Essential Question: How does the climate of an area affect how
people live?1What are Monsoons?2MonsoonsA monsoon is a wind system
that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction
seasonally. These seasonal winds blow in from the Indian Ocean
Strong and violentClouds full of heavy moisture Most rain in South
Asia comes from these summer rains
Mumbai, India: Skyline of Monsoon 3How does the climate of
India, including Monsoons, affect the people?4Effects of
ClimateDuring most of the year people wait for rainAverages
temperatures are between 70-110 all year People have to adapt to
hot temperatures during the yearHeavy rain falls only for the
summer months (June, July, August, September) Short growing season
when monsoons provide water for agriculture Global rise in
temperature could have huge effects on this delicate climate and
create deadly storms
5
When monsoons are
strong(2013)http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-22936533
When monsoons are weak
(2012)http://www.bbc.com/news/business-19106967
What is the Orographic Effect? 9Orographic effect The prevailing
wind blows clouds up against mountains, moist air rises up the
slopes and cools, this creates rain or snow on the windward slope.
When the clouds cross over the mountain they have little moisture
left and there is a dry area on the leeward slope or a rain
shadow.
10Western Ghat Mountain Range, creates heavy rain on the west
coast
Himalayan Mountain Range North has snow while the South is
protected from monsoon and is humid not wet/tropicalEffects of
ClimateClimateIndia is a peninsula that projects into the Indian
Ocean
Climate:In general, it has a hot and tropical climateThe Tropic
of Cancer passes through India and its southern tip stretches
towards the EquatorHowever-climatic conditions will varyIn June:
The monsoon season hits.Indians depend on Monsoons!What are the
Climate Zones of India?
Tropical Wet and Dry Humid/SubtropicalSemi-AridTropical
WetAridHow do these climate zones affect the people of India?
Calcutta, India
When the monsoons come the river floodsBuses and taxis cant
drive on flooded roads But farmers need the rain for crops and it
is a nice relief from the heat Garbage can clog up water drainage
systemStanding water allows mosquitoes to breed so diseases such as
malaria spread quickly
Ganges RiverCalcutta, India
Pune, India
Pune, India Mumbai, India West side of Western Ghats Mts., much
rainfall during monsoons
People prepare for monsoons here East side of Western Ghats
Mts., dry all year
Grow crops that need little to no rain Mumbai, India
Pune, IndiaDry farmlandDry Mountain Side
Mountain RangesThe Himalayas-the largest mountain range in the
world-separate India from China
The Himalaya Mountains are called The Roof Top of the World
The tallest mountain in this range (and in the world) is Mount
EverestMount Everest
Some Everest Quick FactsTallest mountain in the world.
Number of people to successfully climb Mt. Everest: about 3,215
(by 2010)
Number of people who have died trying to climb Mt. Everest:
223
Height: 5 miles above sea level- this is equivalent to the size
of almost 20 Empire State Buildings.
Location: part of the Himalaya mountain range; straddles border
of Nepal and Tibet.Khyber PassIndia was also isolated on the west
by the Hindu Kush Mountains
The easiest way through the Hindu Kush is through the Khyber
Pass (located between Afghanistan and Pakistan)The word Khyber
means divide
Khyber PassIndus RiverHimalayan Mountains Ganges RiverDeccan
PlateauRiversThe Ganges, Brahmaputra and the Indus are the three
major rivers in India.
The Indus River is where the ancient civilization in India was
established.
The Brahmaputra River is the most densely populated area in
India today
The Ganges River is the most sacred of the rivers.
Ganges River
Ganges River
Ganges River
The Sacred GangesAccording to Hindu mythology, the Ganges was
once a river of heaven that flowed across the sky. ProblemsAlmost 1
billion liters of untreated raw sewage are dumped into the river
daily.Inadequate cremation proceduresPeople use this river for
everything!
The Sacred GangesThe river also serves as a drinking source,
bathing hole and baptism site.
The river is one of the only sources of water for the some
people of India who cant afford running clean water.
Population Boom!The huge and rapidly growing population of India
is overstraining the natural resources found on the
sub-continent.
The population is about 1.2 billion people (2007
estimate)1-China: about 1.3 billion2-India: about 1.2 billion3-US:
about 300 million (big difference huh?)Global connectionsAll over
the world climates can effect:What type of housing people buildWhat
clothes they wearWhat months they Go to schoolGrow cropsWhat they
do for fun!This is important to think about as we study the
world
