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Difficulty: MediumClimate, Weather Systems, and Monsoon of India

Arrange the following geographical regions of India in the correct chronological sequence of the withdrawal (retreat) of the South-West Monsoon, starting from the region where withdrawal begins earliest to the region where it completes latest.

  1. 1North-Western Rajasthan and Punjab Plains
  2. 2Indo-Gangetic Plains of Bihar and West Bengal
  3. 3Coastal Andhra Pradesh
  4. 4Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu

Answer

The correct chronological order of the retreat of the South-West Monsoon from earliest to latest is: North-Western Rajasthan and Punjab Plains, Indo-Gangetic Plains of Bihar and West Bengal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu.
The South-West Monsoon begins its withdrawal from the extreme north-western part of India (Punjab and Rajasthan) in early September. It gradually retreats south-eastward across the Indo-Gangetic Plains (Bengal and Bihar) by mid-October, reaches the central eastern coast (Coastal Andhra Pradesh) by early November, and leaves the southern extremity (Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu) last, by mid-December.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initiating zone of the South-West Monsoon retreat.
Withdrawal begins in extreme North-West India (North-Western Rajasthan and Punjab Plains) around September 1.
Clear skies and declining temperatures cause the thermal low-pressure trough over northern plains to weaken and shift southward.
2
Trace the southward and eastward progression across northern and eastern plains.
The monsoon leaves the Indo-Gangetic Plains of Bihar and West Bengal by early to mid-October.
The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues its southward movement towards the equator.
3
Determine the withdrawal timeline over the eastern peninsular coast.
Monsoon retreats from Coastal Andhra Pradesh by late October/early November.
High pressure establishes over northern India, driving prevailing North-East trade winds across the Bay of Bengal.
4
Identify the final region of complete monsoon withdrawal.
The monsoon completely clears from the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu by mid-December.
By mid-December, the monsoon trough is fully established over the Southern Hemisphere, completing the monsoon retreat cycle over mainland India.

Key Concept

Chronological Progression of the Retreating South-West Monsoon
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Topics

Climate, Weather Systems, and Monsoon of India

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