The Interplay of India’s Physiography and Climate: An In-Depth Analysis with Real-World Examples

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PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPERS

How does the physiography of India affect its climate? Explain with examples. (HPAS Mains Question Paper 2022 – GS 1, Q.18)

Physiography refers to the physical characteristics or landforms of a particular region or location. Mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus, rivers, lakes, and coasts are natural characteristics of the Earth’s surface. Physiography is significant in geography because it helps to comprehend the link between the physical characteristics of the Earth and the processes that have formed them. It is also used to investigate the effects of material characteristics on weather patterns, flora and wildlife, and human settlement patterns. Physiography is the study of the physical properties of the Earth and their organization on its surface.

India has diverse physiography consisting of the following features:

1. Himalayas: The Himalayan Range is a mountain range in northern India that runs over 2,500 kilometres from Jammu and Kashmir in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east. The Himalayas have a tremendous influence on India’s climate and weather patterns.

2. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a vast alluvial plain that spans northern and central India. It is a highly populated area renowned as India’s breadbasket due to its rich soil and agricultural production.

3. The Deccan Plateau is a vast plateau in southern India that is bounded to the east by the Eastern Ghats and to the west by the Western Ghats. It is composed of lava flows and has numerous significant rivers.

4. India’s coastline is separated into two central coastal plains: the Western Coastal Plain along the Arabian Sea and the Eastern Coastal Plain along the Bay of Bengal. The humid and tropical environment of these coastal lowlands is home to numerous large ports and towns.

5. The Thar Desert is a vast desert in western India that extends into Pakistan. It is famous for its hot and dry environment, as well as its dunes and salt flats.

6. Islands: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea are two of India’s island groupings.

The diversity of physiographic features in India has an impact on the climate of India:

1. The Himalayas, which define India’s northern boundary, have a considerable influence on the country’s climate. These mountains function as a barrier to chilly winds from Central Asia, helping to temper the environment in India’s northern and northwest. Moreover, the Himalayas are the source of several important rivers in India, which supply water for agriculture and other uses.

2. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a massive alluvial plain that runs over most of northern India. This area has scorching summers and frigid winters, as well as a monsoon season throughout the summer. During the monsoon season, the presence of the Mountains to the north helps to draw in moist air from the Bay of Bengal, providing much-needed rainfall for agriculture.

3. The Western Ghats are a mountain range that extends parallel to India’s western coast. During the monsoon season, this region gets a lot of rain, which helps to sustain the lush woods and wildlife. The Western Ghats also operate as a barrier to the dry winds from the Arabian Sea, helping to modify the climate in western India’s coastal districts.

4. Thar Desert: Located in northwest India, the Thar Desert features a dry environment. High temperatures during the day and cold temperatures at night define this location. Since the desert lacks flora and moisture, it undergoes significant temperature changes.

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