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Difficulty: HardClimate, Weather Systems, and Monsoon of India

With reference to Köppen's climatic classification of the Indian subcontinent, consider the following statements:

1. The Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu is categorized under the 'As' climate type, where the dry season occurs during the summer months.
2. The rain-shadow zone extending to the east of the Western Ghats is classified under the 'BShw' (semi-arid steppe) climate type.
3. The Gangetic Plain of northern India is designated under the 'Amw' climate type due to severe winter rainlessness and intense summer precipitation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    2 and 3 only
  3. C
    1 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 2 only are correct.
According to Köppen's climatic scheme for India:
- 'As' (Monsoon with dry summer) corresponds to the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, which receives its principal rain during winter from the North-East monsoon.
- 'BShw' (Semi-arid steppe) corresponds to the rain-shadow belt east of the Western Ghats, northern Gujarat, and parts of Rajasthan.
- 'Cwg' (Monsoon with dry winter) corresponds to the Ganga plain, eastern Rajasthan, and northern Madhya Pradesh.
- 'Amw' (Monsoon with short dry season) corresponds to the Western Coastal Plain south of Goa.
Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are accurate, while statement 3 is incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1 regarding the climate of the Coromandel Coast.
Köppen designates 'As' as a tropical monsoon climate with a dry summer. The Coromandel Coast receives most of its rainfall from the retreating North-East monsoon during winter, making summer relatively dry. Statement 1 is correct.
The coastal belt of Tamil Nadu experiences seasonal rainfall reversal characteristic of the 'As' code.
2
Analyze Statement 2 regarding the climate of the Western Ghats rain-shadow area.
The interior leeward side of the Western Ghats receives scanty rainfall and experiences semi-arid conditions, correctly classified under 'BShw' (semi-arid steppe). Statement 2 is correct.
BShw represents low-latitude semi-arid steppe environments created by orographic rain-shadow effects.
3
Analyze Statement 3 regarding the climate classification of the Gangetic Plain.
The Gangetic Plain is classified as 'Cwg' (monsoon type with dry winter), not 'Amw'. 'Amw' represents the tropical monsoon climate with a short dry season along the Malabar Coast. Statement 3 is incorrect.
Confusing the Gangetic Plain's 'Cwg' code with the Western Coast's 'Amw' code is a common taxonomic error.

Key Concept

Köppen's Climate Classification of India
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Topics

Climate, Weather Systems, and Monsoon of India

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