Maharashtra Board Class 9 Science Chapter 9 Environmental Management PDF Download

Environmental Management

Atmospheric conditions at a specific time at a particular place are referred to as weather. Atmospheric conditions depend upon a variety of factors.

We frequently express our opinion about the weather by making statements like, 'Today, it is too cold' or 'It is very hot today.'

Weather And Climate

Weather depends upon the prevailing conditions of the air. The climate of a particular region is the average of daily readings of various weather-related parameters recorded for several years. Hence, climate is a long term predominant condition of the atmosphere.

Changes In Weather

Climate does not change continuously. Climate is that which remains constant in a region for a long duration. Thus we see that weather is related to a specific location and specific time whereas climate is related to a longer duration and larger area. Changes in the weather may occur for short periods of time whereas changes in the climate take place slowly over a much long duration.

Climate plays a very important role in our day to day life. It influences our basic needs like food, clothing and shelter as well as our occupations. Climate is especially important for an agrarian country like India. Various climatic factors like direction and speed of wind, temperature, atmospheric pressure, etc. are considered during construction of runways, seaports, huge bridges and skyscrapers, etc.

Teacher's Note

In India, the monsoon season is very important for farmers. They plan their crops based on weather forecasts, just like farmers check the rain forecast before planting rice.

Exam Trick

Remember: Weather = short time, Climate = long time. Think of weather as today's rain and climate as the rainy season every year.

Points to Remember

Weather is about air conditions at a specific time and place.
Climate is the average weather over many years in a region.
Climate affects what we eat, wear, and where we live.
Weather changes fast, but climate changes very slowly.
India Meteorological Department predicts weather and climate.

Teacher's Note

When weather scientists make predictions, they help farmers know when to plant crops. This is how weather information affects our daily lives.

Exam Trick

Remember: Weather makes headlines like 'Heavy rain today', but climate says 'It rains heavily during monsoon season'.

Points to Remember

Meteorology is the study of atmosphere and weather.
Weather factors include temperature, rainfall, humidity, and wind.
Observatories record weather data with special instruments.
Climate helps us understand what crops to grow in an area.
Weather forecasts help farmers, ships, and airplanes.

While ascertaining the climate of a particular region, a review of earlier studies of various aspects of climate is very important. Most countries in the world have established meteorology departments for making and recording such observations. These departments have 'observatories' which are equipped with modern instruments and technology.

If present climatic conditions are analysed with reference to the past climatic conditions, we can predict climatic changes of the future. However, as climate is the net result of a complex mixture of various atmospheric factors, forecasting it is very complicated and difficult. Forecasting is easy for places where climatic changes are slow and of a limited nature. However, where climatic changes are complex, interdependent and rapid, making forecasts is very difficult.

Importance Of Weather In The Living World

Daily weather as also long term climatic conditions influence human lifestyle directly or indirectly. Land, water bodies, plants and animals collectively form the natural environment on earth. This environment is responsible for the development of organisms.

The climate of a particular region helps to determine the diet, clothing, housing, occupations and lifestyle of the people of that region. For example, the characteristic lifestyle of Kashmiri and Rajasthani people.

Salinity of marine water, formation of oceanic currents, water cycle, etc. are all related to various weather and climatic factors.

Various climatic factors bring about the weathering of rocks in the earth's crust.

Climate plays a very important role in the formation and enrichment of soil.

Microbes in the soil play an important role in formation of organic materials. This process depends upon various climatic factors.

Thus, it is very clear that the study of meteorology is very important from the view point of human life.

Teacher's Note

In Kashmir, people wear warm clothes and live in houses with thick walls because of the cold climate. In Rajasthan, people wear light clothes and build houses with air spaces because of the hot, dry climate.

Exam Trick

Remember: Climate decides how people live. Cold climate = warm clothes. Hot climate = light clothes. This is always true.

Points to Remember

Climate affects food, clothing, and shelter of people.
Different regions have different climates and different lifestyles.
Salinity of ocean water depends on climate factors.
Weathering of rocks is caused by climate.
Soil formation is helped by climate and microbes.

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