NATURAL VEGETATION & CLIMATE

NATURAL VEGETATION & CLIMATE.

Introduction. Natural vegetation refers to the plant life that grows in a particular region without any human intervention. It encompasses a diverse range of flora, including trees, shrubs, grasses, and other vegetation types, which have adapted to the climate, soil, and other environmental conditions of their habitat over time. Natural vegetation plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting wildlife habitats, conserving soil and water, and influencing local climates. Understanding natural vegetation is essential for environmental conservation, sustainable land management, and biodiversity preservation. By gaining a deeper understanding of natural vegetation, we can appreciate its beauty, value, and importance in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems..

TYPES OF NATURAL VEGETATION. NATURAL VEGETATION. 3.

Moist Tropical Forest. Floral leaf accent. Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests: Also known as tropical rainforests, these forests experience high rainfall (over 2500 mm annually) and maintain green foliage throughout the year. They are typically found in the Western Ghats, parts of northeastern India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests: These forests have slightly less rainfall compared to wet evergreen forests, usually between 2000 to 2500 mm annually. They are characterized by a mix of evergreen and deciduous tree species and are found in regions with a slightly drier climate, such as parts of the Western Ghats and northeastern India. Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests: These forests experience distinct wet and dry seasons, with annual rainfall ranging from 1000 to 2000 mm. They are characterized by a mix of deciduous trees that shed their leaves during the dry season. Tropical moist deciduous forests are widespread in central India, parts of the Eastern Ghats, and parts of the northeastern states. Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests: These forests occur in regions with a pronounced dry season and receive annual rainfall between 700 to 1000 mm. The vegetation consists of deciduous trees adapted to seasonal drought conditions. They are found in areas such as the Deccan Plateau, parts of Rajasthan, and parts of central India. Littoral and Swamp Forests: Found along the coastal areas and in swampy regions, these forests are influenced by tidal fluctuations and are characterized by mangrove species, palms, and other halophytic (salt-tolerant) vegetation. They are vital for coastal protection, biodiversity, and fisheries. Important examples include the Sundarbans in West Bengal and mangrove forests along the coasts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands..

NATURAL VEGETATION. 5. Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests: These forests are characterized by a mix of deciduous trees that shed their leaves during the dry season to conserve moisture. They are found in regions with a pronounced dry season and receive annual rainfall between 700 to 1000 mm. Tropical dry deciduous forests are widespread in central India, parts of the Eastern Ghats, and parts of the northeastern states. Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests: These forests experience a milder dry season compared to tropical dry deciduous forests and retain a significant portion of their foliage throughout the year. They are found in regions with a moderate dry season and receive annual rainfall between 1000 to 2000 mm. Tropical dry evergreen forests are primarily located in the rain shadow areas of the Western Ghats and parts of northeastern India. Tropical Thorn Forests: Also known as tropical thorn scrub forests or tropical dry thorn forests, these ecosystems are found in arid and semi-arid regions with low and erratic rainfall. Vegetation in these forests is characterized by drought-resistant shrubs, thorny bushes, and small trees adapted to survive in harsh conditions. Examples of tropical thorn forests can be found in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and some parts of southern India..

NATURAL VEGETATION. 6. Montane Temperate Forests.

NATURAL VEGETATION. 7. Sub Tropical broad leaved hill forest:-These forest are found in the eastern Himalayas to the east of 88’E longitude at altitude varying from 1000 to 2000m where the mean annual rainfall is 75 cm to 125 cm, average annual temperature is 18℃-21℃ and the average humidity is 80%. They form luxuirous forests of evergreen species, are fairly high(20-30 meters) and dense. Sub Tropical moist Pine forest:- These forests also occur at the same heights as the wet hill forests i.e1000 to 2000 meters above the sea level but in the western Himalayas between 73’E and 88’E longitudes. Some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Naga Hills and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya are also covered by such forests at similar altitudes. It provide valuable timber for furniture, boxes and buildings. Sub Tropical Dry evergreen forest:- Like the tropical moist evergreen, this occurs in a restricted area and is found in the Bhabar, the Shiwaliks and the Western Himalayas upto about 1000 meters above the sea level. Here the rainfall is 50-100 cm(15-25 cm in Dec-March). The summers are sufficiently hot and winters are cold enough for the occurrence of frequent frost. This is a low, practically scrub forest with a small evergreen stunted trees and shrubs, including thorny species, herbs and grasses. Olive, acacia modesta and Pistacia are the most predominant species. Considerable tracts are covered by dwarf creeping palm Nonnorpops..

NATURAL VEGETATION. 8. Sub-Alpine Forests:-The sub-Alpine forests occur at the upper limit of tree forest adjoining alpine scrub and grasslands and comprise of dense growth of small crooked trees and large shrubs with coniferous overwood. It is a mixture of coniferous and broad leaved trees in which the coniferous trees attain a height of about 30 m while the broad leaved reach only 10m. Fir, kali, spruce, rhododendron, plum, yew, etc. are important species. Moist-Alpine Forests:- These have a low evergreen dense growth of rhododendron, birch, berberis and honeysuckle which occurs from 3000 meters and exends upto snowline. Dry-Alpine Forests:- This is the uppermost limit of scrub xerophytic, dwarf shrubs, over 3500 meters above sea level and found in dry zone. Juniper, honeysuckle, artemisia, potentilla, etc. are important species..

CLIMATE OF INDIA.

Different Types of Climatic Regions. The climates of India are mainly divided into four different groups. The classification of these groups is based on the Koppen climate classification system. Tropical Wet (Humid): The tropical wet (humid) climate group in India is divided into two subparts - tropical monsoon climate or the tropical wet climate, and tropical wet and dry climate or savannah climate. The Western Ghats, the Malabar Coast, southern Assam, Lakshadweep and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands have the tropical monsoon climate. It experiences moderate to high temperature with seasonal but heavy rainfall. The months from May to November experience the most rainfall and the rain received during this period is sufficient for vegetation throughout the year. Tropical wet and dry climate or the savannah climate is most common in the country. It prevails mainly in the inland peninsular region of the country except for some portion of the Western Ghats. The summers are scorching and the rainy season extends from June to September. Tropical Dry: The tropical dry climate group is divided into three subdivisions (a) tropical semi-arid (steppe) climate, (b) sub-tropical arid (desert) climate and (c) sub-tropical semi-arid (steppe) climate. Karnataka, central Maharashtra, some parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh experience the tropical semi-arid (steppe) climate. Rainfall is very unreliable in this type of climate, and the hot and dry summers are experienced from March to May. With scanty and erratic rainfall and extreme summers, western Rajasthan witnesses the sub-tropical arid (desert) climate. The areas of the tropical desert that runs from the regions of Punjab and Haryana to Kathiawar witness the sub-tropical semi-arid (steppe) climate. The maximum temperature in summers goes up to 40°C, and the rains are unreliable and generally take place during summer monsoon season in this climate..

Sub-tropical Humid Climate: This climate is witnessed by most of the North and Northeast India. Summers are scorching, while in winters, the temperature can plunge to as low as 0°C. Rainfall mainly occurs in summers, but snowfall or occasional rain in winters is also witnessed in some areas. The hottest months are May, and June and frost also occur for few months in winters. Mountain Climate: The temperature falls by 0.6°C for every 100 m rise in altitude in the Himalayas and results in several different climates from tropical to tundra. The trans-Himalayan belt, which is the northern side of the western Himalayas, is cold, arid and windswept. There is less rain on the leeward side of the mountains whereas the well-exposed slopes receive heavy rainfall. The heaviest snowfall occurs between December to February..

Seasons of India. India generally witnesses four types of seasons. During these seasons, substantial variations in temperature take place in the country. The different types of seasons experienced in India are as follows: Winter: Generally, the months of January and February are considered as the start of the winter season in the country. However, in some parts of north-western India, the season begins from December. Generally, the average temperature during this season is about 10-15°C in northwest regions. In the southeast region of mainland India, the average temperature is about 20-25°C. The western Himalayas, the extreme north-eastern parts and Kerala and Tamil Nadu, experience rains during this season. Summer/Pre-monsoon/Thunderstorm/Hot Weather:The country experiences this season from March till June. In the interior peninsular regions, the mean daily temperature is recorded at 30-35°C. The maximum temperature in the daytime in Central India crosses 40°C in many areas. In some regions, the temperature is high during daytime while in the nights, low temperature is recorded. The coastal areas of the country have mild temperature during this season due to the influence of land and sea breezes. Thunderstorms with rains and hail influence the weather in the land areas of the country. These thunderstorms are seen in the north-eastern and eastern parts of Bihar, Assam and West Bengal. In the plains of northwest India, hot and dry winds, along with dust winds, are frequently experienced..