Weather
- The weather we experience is shaped by a dynamic interplay of various factors such as temperature, pressure, wind, humidity, and precipitation. These elements team up to create the atmospheric conditions we observe, influencing everything from the direction and speed of the wind to the amount of sunlight, cloud cover, and rainfall.
- Think of these elements as the building blocks of both weather and climate. They work together, but their impact can vary widely depending on where you are and the time of day or year. Sometimes, their effects are confined to a small area and last only for a brief period.
- Next time you hear someone describing the weather as sunny, hot, warm, cold, or fine, they are essentially highlighting the dominant element at that particular place and time. Weather, in essence, refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions, and it’s fascinating to note how even places close to each other can experience different weather simultaneously.
Climate
- The average weather conditions, prevalent from one season to another in the course of a year, over a large area is known as climate.
- The average of these weather conditions is calculated from the data collected for several years (about 35 years) for a larger area.
- Rajasthan, for example, experiences hot and arid climate, Kerala has tropical rainy climate, Greenland has cold desert climate and the climate of Central Asia is temperate continental.
- Climate of a region is considered more or less permanent.
Seasons
- Seasons, those distinctive periods in a year with consistent weather conditions, are a result of the Earth’s axis tilt and its orbit around the sun.
- The cycle of seasons repeats annually, bringing us familiar patterns of weather.
- In temperate regions, like much of the world, four seasons are recognized: spring, summer, autumn, and winter, each lasting around three months.
- However, in our country, we experience three distinct seasons: summer, winter, and monsoons.
- The Indian Meteorological Department identifies four main seasons:
- Cold weather season (December to February)
- Hot weather season (March to May)
- Advancing monsoon season or rainy season (June to September)
- Retreating monsoon season (October to November)
- Equatorial regions near the equator have relatively consistent temperatures year-round, as the sun’s rays are nearly direct throughout the year.
- Coastal areas experience less seasonal variation due to the moderating influence of the ocean.
- In polar regions, there are only two seasons: a long winter and a short summer.
Read Also: Cyclone Season in Indian Climate
