What is the role of ‘western disturbances’ in the Indian climate?
Answer:
- A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over the northern plains is the inflow of cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest.
- These low pressure systems originate over the Mediterranean sea and Western Asia and move into India, alongwith easterly flow.
- They cause the much needed winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains.
- Although the total amount of winter rainfall, locally known as ‘Mahawat’ is small, it is very useful for rabi crops.
- These winds are called western disturbances since they came from the western part of India.