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Difficulty: HardClimate, Weather Systems, and Monsoon of India

Consider the following statements regarding climatic phenomena and monsoon distribution across India:

1. Kalbaisakhi are violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms originating over the Chota Nagpur Plateau that bring localized rainfall to West Bengal and Assam.
2. The leeward rain-shadow zone of the Western Ghats leads to the development of a semi-arid steppe climate (BShwBShw under Köppen's classification) across parts of interior Karnataka and eastern Maharashtra.
3. The Shillong Plateau receives extraordinarily heavy rainfall during the monsoon season because its funnel-shaped relief traps moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea branch.

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 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect because the Shillong Plateau intercepts the moisture-rich Bay of Bengal branch of the South-West Monsoon.
The statement combination containing only 1 and 2 is correct. Kalbaisakhi are indeed convective pre-monsoon thunderstorms originating over the Chota Nagpur Plateau, and the leeward side of the Western Ghats creates a semi-arid (BShwBShw) climate zone across interior Maharashtra and Karnataka. Statement 3 is false because the Meghalaya/Shillong Plateau receives rainfall from the Bay of Bengal branch, not the Arabian Sea branch.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding pre-monsoon local storms.
Statement 1 is correct.
Kalbaisakhi (or Nor'westers) are localized convective rainstorms generated due to intense surface heating over the Chota Nagpur Plateau during April and May, moving eastward into West Bengal and Bangladesh.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding rain-shadow climatic zones.
Statement 2 is correct.
As moisture-laden Arabian Sea winds cross the Western Ghats, they shed most precipitation on the windward slopes. Desceding dry air on the eastern leeward side produces a semi-arid rain-shadow belt classified as BShwBShw under Köppen's system.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding monsoonal branches affecting Northeast India.
Statement 3 is incorrect.
The Shillong Plateau and Khasi Hills directly face the Bay of Bengal branch of the South-West monsoon. The funneling geometry of the hills forces this moisture-laden air to ascend rapidly, causing world-record rainfall at Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, not the Arabian Sea branch.

Key Concept

Spatial dynamics of Indian monsoon branches, local pre-monsoon disturbances, and rain-shadow climatic classification.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Climate, Weather Systems, and Monsoon of India

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