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Karmayogi

Climate, Plants and Animals

Because of the peninsularity, unusual topography, and geographical position of India, climatic conditions are widely diversified, on both a seasonal and regional basis. The diversity ranges from tropical to temperate zonal extremes, with the temperature extremes confined largely to the slopes of the Himalayas. Except in the elevated regions, most of the remainder of India has a uniformly tropical climate. Seasonal variations, resulting from the southwestern and northeastern monsoons, profoundly influence such climatic factors as temperature, humidity, and precipitation throughout the subcontinent.

For general purposes, the seasons of India may be classified as rainy and dry. The rainy season, which extends from June through September, is the season of the southwestern monsoon, a moisture-laden wind blowing off the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Beginning early in June on the western coast of the peninsula, the monsoon gradually affects almost the entire country. During the rainy period, precipitation attains great proportions, often more than 3175 mm (125 in), along the slopes of the Western Ghats. In the northeastern section of the country, at Cherrapunji in the Khasi Hills, the yearly rainfall is about 10,800 mm (about 425 in). Mean annual precipitation along the southern slopes of the Himalayas is about 1500 mm (about 60 in). Failure of the winds to deposit sufficient rain occurs occasionally, causing severe droughts and famines; but the rains breed malaria, and contrasting day and night temperatures encourage pulmonary disorders. Normally, the power of the monsoon diminishes in September.

The cool season of the northeastern monsoon, extending from early in December through February, is usually accompanied by extremely dry weather, although severe storms, attended by slight precipitation on the northern plains and heavy snowfalls in the Himalayas, sometimes traverse the country. The hot season, beginning about the middle of March and extending until the onset of the southwestern monsoon, reaches its most oppressive stage during May, when temperatures as high as 49° C (120° F) are commonly recorded in the northern plains. In Calcutta, the average daily temperature range is 13° to 27° C (55° to 80° F) in January and 26° to 32° C (79° to 89° F) in July. The average daily range in Mumbai, in the west central coastal region of the peninsula, is 19° to 28° C (67° to 83° F) in January and 25° to 29° C (77° to 85° F) in July. In the vicinity of Chennai (formerly known as Madras) in the southeast coastlands the range is 19° to 29° C (67° to 85° F) in January and 26° to 36° C (79° to 96° F) in July.

Natural Resources
India contains more than two-thirds of the entire area of the Indian subcontinent, including a major portion of the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain. Besides extensive cultivable regions, a comprehensive network of irrigation facilities, and valuable stands of timber, India has most of the known mineral deposits of the subcontinent.

Plants
In the arid areas in the North-west, the flora of India is sparse and largely herbaceous. Various thorny species, including representatives of the genera Capparis (caper) and Zizyphus (jujube) are common. Bamboo occurs in some areas, and among the few varieties of trees is the palm. The Gangetic Plain, which has more abundant supplies of moisture, supports many types of plant life. Vegetation is especially luxuriant in the southeastern part of the plains region, where the mangrove and the sal, a hardwood timber tree, flourish. Many varieties of arctic flora are found on the higher slopes of the Himalayas. The lower levels of the chain support numerous families of subtropical plant life, notably the orchidaceae, and are densely forested. Coniferous species, including cedar and pine, predominate in the northwestern portion of the Himalayas region. To the east, slopes of the Himalayas abound with tropical and subtropical types of vegetation. An especially noteworthy genus is the Rhododendron. Among the predominant trees are the oak and magnolia. The Malabar Coast of the southwestern Indian peninsula and the slopes of the Western Ghats, areas of much rainfall, are thickly wooded. Evergreens, bamboo, and several varieties of valuable timber trees, including teak, predominate in this region. Extensive tracts of impenetrable jungle occur in the swampy lowlands and along the lower elevations of the Western Ghats. The vegetation of the peninsular plateau is less luxuriant, but thickets of bamboo, palm, and deciduous trees are found throughout the Deccan.

Animals
The forests, plains, hills, and mountains of India are inhabited by a wide variety of animal life. Tigers and panthers are present in some sections, and the Deccan has, in addition, cheetahs. Among other species of the cat family are snow leopards, jungle cats, and clouded leopards. Elephants are found along the northeastern slopes of the Himalayas and in the remote forests of the Deccan. Other large quadrupeds indigenous to India include rhinoceroses, black bears, wolves, jackals, dholes, wild buffalo, wild hogs, and several species of apes, antelope, and deer. Various species of wild goats and sheep abound in the Himalayas and other mountainous areas. Ibexes and serows, which are related to chamois, are also among the mountain fauna. Pygmy hogs, bandicoot rats, and tree mice are typical of the smaller quadrupeds. Venomous reptiles, including cobras, daboias, and saltwater snakes, are especially numerous in India. Pythons are also present, and usefully consume destructive rodents. The reptilian fauna also includes crocodiles. Among noteworthy examples of the tropical birdlife of India are parrots, peacocks, kingfishers, and herons. The rivers and coastal waters of India teem with fish, including many edible varieties.

Tsunami

In August 2005, India was chosen to chair an international group tasked with implementing an early warning system for Indian Ocean countries after the December 2004 tsunamis killed more than 200,000 people. India was elected to the two-year rotating position at the first meeting of the United Nations-backed Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG). Indonesia and Mauritius were elected to vice-chair the group. The international warning system, expected to be in place by July 2006, brings together 27 nations and aims to give them enough time to alert their citizens to incoming waves and avoid a catastrophe.

Fast Facts:
- India's climate (though tropical) is the most diverse in the world.

- India has most of the world's largest snowy mountains; highest rainfalls; biggest deserts; longest rivers; biggest waterfalls; thickest vegetation; longest coastlines and most fertile land.

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