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DGCA Aviation Meteorology · 32 questions

Climatology & Monsoon: DGCA Aviation Meteorology Questions and Answers

32 practice questions on Climatology & Monsoon with answers and explanations, plus the key concepts and formulas, from the TrueHeading question bank.

About this topic

Use this page to revise Climatology & Monsoon for the DGCA Aviation Meteorology paper. Below are the key ideas first, then 12 practice questions with answers and explanations, picked from the 32 questions in the TrueHeading bank for this topic.

In short: Strong summer heating over north-west India creates a heat low. Moist cross-equatorial air is drawn in.

Open the full set in the student zone to answer every question, track your accuracy and take timed mock tests.

Key concepts: Climatology & Monsoon

5 ideas to know cold.

How does the south-west monsoon work over India?

Strong summer heating over north-west India creates a heat low. Moist cross-equatorial air is drawn in.

  • Onset over Kerala about 1 June; covers India by about 15 July
  • Withdrawal begins from north-west India in September
  • Tropical easterly jet and the Tibetan high help drive it

What are western disturbances?

Winter systems from the Mediterranean region that bring rain and snow to north India, carried by the subtropical westerly jet.

Tip: Roughly December to March.

What are nor’westers?

Violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms with squalls, hail and heavy rain over Bengal, Bihar and Assam (March to May). Known locally as Kalbaisakhi.

Four seasons of India (IMD)?

Winter (Dec–Feb), pre-monsoon (Mar–May), south-west monsoon (Jun–Sep), post-monsoon (Oct–Nov).

  • The north-east monsoon brings rain to Tamil Nadu from October to December
  • “Loo”: hot dry westerly wind over north India in April to June

Explain the Indian monsoon.

SW monsoon (June–September) is moist air moving from the Indian Ocean into the heated sub-continent. NE monsoon (October–December) affects the southeast coast.

  • Onset over Kerala about 1 June
  • Western disturbances bring winter rain to the north (December–March)
  • Pre-monsoon: Nor'westers (Kalbaisakhi) in Bengal

Practice questions: Climatology & Monsoon

Tap “Show answer” after you have tried each one.

Q1The south-west monsoon normally reaches Kerala around:

  1. 1 July
  2. 15 August
  3. 1 June
  4. 1 May
Show answer

Answer: C. 1 June

Onset over Kerala is normally about 1 June; it covers all India by about 8 July.

Q2The south-west monsoon is caused by:

  1. the trade winds in winter
  2. the polar front jet
  3. differential heating between land and sea and the northward shift of the ITCZ
  4. a cold front over India
Show answer

Answer: C. differential heating between land and sea and the northward shift of the ITCZ

The heat low over north-west India draws in moist air from the Indian Ocean.

Q3The retreating monsoon begins from north-west India around:

  1. late March
  2. late December
  3. early to mid September
  4. early June
Show answer

Answer: C. early to mid September

The withdrawal is normally complete by mid-October.

Q4Pre-monsoon thunderstorms in north-east India are known as:

  1. Western disturbances
  2. Kalbaishakhi (nor'westers)
  3. Mango showers
  4. loo
Show answer

Answer: B. Kalbaishakhi (nor'westers)

Violent thunderstorms with squalls, hail and tornadoes in April–May.

Q5The hot, dry, gusty westerly wind over north and north-west India in summer is called:

  1. bhoomi
  2. mango shower
  3. loo
  4. monsoon burst
Show answer

Answer: C. loo

Temperatures rise above 45 °C in May and June.

Q6Mango showers are:

  1. pre-monsoon showers in Kerala and Karnataka
  2. monsoon withdrawal rain
  3. winter rain in Punjab
  4. snow in the Himalayas
Show answer

Answer: A. pre-monsoon showers in Kerala and Karnataka

They help the ripening of mangoes.

Q7Which wind pattern is typical over India during the south-west monsoon?

  1. westerlies at all levels
  2. strong north-easterlies
  3. light and variable winds
  4. south-westerly low-level winds, with the monsoon trough over the Gangetic plain
Show answer

Answer: D. south-westerly low-level winds, with the monsoon trough over the Gangetic plain

The cross-equatorial flow (Somali jet) feeds the Arabian Sea branch.

Q8Visibility during the monsoon in Mumbai is commonly reduced by:

  1. dust storms
  2. hail
  3. radiation fog
  4. heavy rain and low cloud
Show answer

Answer: D. heavy rain and low cloud

Heavy showers can reduce visibility below 1 000 m and lower the cloud base.

Q9Dust storms (andhi) in north-west India occur mostly:

  1. during the monsoon
  2. in the pre-monsoon (April–June) season
  3. in winter
  4. in autumn
Show answer

Answer: B. in the pre-monsoon (April–June) season

Hot, dry ground and strong winds raise dust.

Q10The Intertropical Convergence Zone over India in July lies:

  1. over the Gangetic plain (monsoon trough)
  2. over the Arabian Sea
  3. over Sri Lanka
  4. over the Indian Ocean at 20° S
Show answer

Answer: A. over the Gangetic plain (monsoon trough)

The monsoon trough is the continental extension of the ITCZ.

Q11Squall lines in the pre-monsoon season over Bengal are triggered by:

  1. heat, moisture from the Bay of Bengal and a dry westerly
  2. polar air
  3. the jet stream
  4. tropical cyclones
Show answer

Answer: A. heat, moisture from the Bay of Bengal and a dry westerly

Interaction of dry air from the west with moist air from the south.

Q12Which of the following is a cause of aviation hazard during the south-west monsoon?

  1. Cb activity, heavy rain, low cloud and reduced visibility
  2. clear weather
  3. light winds
  4. CAT in the stratosphere
Show answer

Answer: A. Cb activity, heavy rain, low cloud and reduced visibility

Widespread convective cloud, wet runways and bird activity.

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