Chapter 4 - Evidences of Climatic and Environmental Changes in India

Summary

According to Köppen's classification (Oliver and Wilson 1987), India mainly experiences four types of climate. The climate of the whole of the peninsula is Tropical Savanna and that of the West Coast is basically Tropical Rain Forest. On the other hand, the climate of the northern part of India is Warm with Dry winds, and that of western India is Dry Steppe. From June to September, the southwest summer monsoon is predominant and from December to February, the northeast winter monsoon controls the weather of the country in general. During the same month or season, different parts of the country experience different ranges of temperature and rainfall. In winter, while the northern part of India shivers with sub zero or nearly zero temperatures, the coastal regions to the south are warm and comfortable. Similarly, during the summer monsoon months, while most of the northeastern states and coastal regions receive heavy rainfall and may even flood, Rajasthan, in the west, may be dry. Also, during May and June when the people of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa suffer from scorching heat, those in Shimla and Mussourie enjoy a cool climate. The mountains in the country add to the wide variation in the climate of places that are located in the same latitudinal and longitudinal belts. The ecosystems in the coastal belts, the rich biodiversity in the mountainous regions, and the tropical rain forests form the lifeline of the climate of India.