Which one of the following characterises the cold weather in India?
(a) Warm days and warm nights 
(b) Warm days and cold nights
(c) Cool days and cold nights
(d) Cold days and warm nights

ANS (b) Warm days and cold nights

The elements affecting the climate are Latitude, Altitude and Pressure & Winds, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents and relief features.

India have a monsoon type of climate because the climate of India is governed by the monsoon winds which are limited between 20° North and 20° South.

The Indian desert located in the north-western part of India experience the highest diurnal range of temperature because of the sand present there quickly becomes hot during day and cools down rapidly during night.

Malabar Coast gets rains from South-West Monsoon Winds.

Jet streams are high velocity westerly winds blowing through a narrow zone in the upper troposphere. The westerly flows are responsible for the western disturbances experienced in the north and north-western parts of the country. The easterly jet streams cause tropical depressions during the monsoon as well as October-November months.

Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal in the wind direction. Monsoon ‘break’ refers to the happening of wet and dry spells during the rainy season. The monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time.

The monsoon is considered a unifying bond because:
→ The Indian landscape, its flora and fauna, etc. are highly influenced by the monsoon.
→ These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water for agricultural activities
→ Most of the festivals in India that are related to agricultural cycle may be known by different names in different parts of the country, but their celebration is decided by the monsoon.
→ Year after year, people of India from north to south and from east to west, eagerly await the arrival of the monsoon.

→ The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.