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Climate Graphs of Five Stations | ISC Class 12 Geography

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GeographyISC Class 12 · Climate

Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Five Stations (ISC Class 12 Geography)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Read a climate graph by finding the annual range of temperature (hottest month minus coldest), the total rainfall and the rainiest months. Mumbai has a small range and over 200 cm of rain in June-September; Delhi has a large range and about 70-80 cm; Chennai has a small range and peak rain in October-November; Jaisalmer is a hot desert with about 20 cm or less; Leh is a cold desert with about 10 cm.

Understand Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh

1. Reading a graph in three steps. (1) Annual range of temperature = highest monthly mean minus lowest monthly mean. A small range points to a maritime (coastal) station; a large range points to a continental (interior) one. (2) Total rainfall = the sum of the monthly bars. (3) The rainiest months show which wind brings the rain.

2. Mumbai (west coast). The range is small, about 5 to 6 °C, because of the nearby sea. Over 200 cm of rain falls in June-September from the Arabian Sea branch, and the rest of the year is dry. It has a maritime, tropical monsoon climate.

3. Delhi (interior north). It has a large range, with very hot weather in May-June and cool weather in January. Rainfall is moderate, about 70 to 80 cm, mainly in July-August from the Bay of Bengal branch, with some winter rain from western disturbances. The climate is continental, or extreme.

4. Chennai (east coast). The range is small and the temperature is high all year. Rain is little in June-July because the city lies in the rain shadow of the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch blows parallel to the coast. The maximum rain falls in October-November from the north-east monsoon and cyclones. The climate is maritime.

5. Jaisalmer (western Rajasthan). Summers are very hot, winters cool and the range large. Rainfall is scanty, about 20 cm or less, because the Arabian Sea branch passes parallel to the Aravallis and the Bay of Bengal branch has lost its moisture by the time it arrives. It is a hot desert climate.

6. Leh (Ladakh). Winters are very cold, below freezing, and summers mild, so the range is very large. Rainfall is very little, about 10 cm, as Leh lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, with some snowfall. It is a cold desert climate.

7. Quick identification table.

  • Small range plus heavy rain in June-September: Mumbai.
  • Small range plus rain peak in October-November: Chennai.
  • Large range plus moderate rain in July-August: Delhi.
  • Large range plus scanty rain and hot summer: Jaisalmer.
  • Very large range plus below-freezing winter and very little rain: Leh.

Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh: key facts

Annual range
  • Highest monthly mean
  • minus lowest monthly mean
  • answer in °C
Total rainfall
Add the twelve monthly values | answer in cm
Climate type from range
Small range: maritime (coastal) | Large range: continental (interior)
Rain months
June-September: south-west monsoon | October-November: north-east monsoon and cyclones for Chennai
Five stations
Mumbaiwet, maritime
Delhicontinental
ChennaiOctober-November rain
Jaisalmerhot desert
Lehcold desert

How to answer Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh questions

For a graph-based question, extract numbers first, then explain with winds and relief.

  1. 1Read the hottest and coldest monthly temperatures and subtract to get the range with units.
  2. 2Add the monthly rainfall bars to get the total in cm.
  3. 3Spot the months of maximum rain and name the wind that brings it.
  4. 4Classify the station as maritime or continental, and give the relief reason for low rain if any.
  5. 5Match the station to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer or Leh using the identification table.

Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Choosing a month to travel

Suppose a family wants to visit one coastal city and one desert town in the same year, and wants to avoid both heavy rain and extreme heat.

Using the five-station descriptions, which month group should they avoid for Mumbai, and which season for Jaisalmer?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Mumbai gets over 200 cm of rain in June-September, so avoid those months.
  2. Jaisalmer has very hot summers, so avoid summer and prefer the cool winter.

Answer: Avoid June-September for Mumbai and summer for Jaisalmer.

Memory hook: Coast wet in the monsoon; desert hot in summer.

Packing for a cold desert

Suppose a student plans a trip to a high mountain town known for dry, cold weather and little rain.

Name the station among the five that matches, and give the relief reason for the little rain.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A cold, dry mountain town matches Leh.
  2. It lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, so very little rain falls (about 10 cm).

Answer: Leh, a cold desert in the Himalayan rain shadow.

Memory hook: Leh is high and dry because the Himalayas block the rain.

Tricks to remember Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Sea means small

    A nearby sea keeps the range small: Mumbai and Chennai. Far from the sea the range is large: Delhi, Jaisalmer and Leh.

    Use it when: Maritime or continental.

  • Chennai's twist

    Chennai is wet in October-November, not June-July, because of the north-east monsoon.

    Use it when: Common exam question.

  • Two deserts

    Jaisalmer: hot desert (Aravalli-parallel winds). Leh: cold desert (Himalayan rain shadow).

    Use it when: Reason for low rainfall.

Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Annual range · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

A station (invented data) has a highest monthly mean of 33.5 °C in May and a lowest of 27.8 °C in January. Find the annual range and say whether the station is maritime or continental.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Range = 33.5 - 27.8 = 5.7 °C.
  2. A small range means a maritime station.

Answer: 5.7 °C; maritime.

Example 2: Station identification · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Name the station among Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh that has (a) a small range and its maximum rainfall in October-November, (b) temperatures below freezing in winter and very little rain.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) Chennai.
  2. (b) Leh.

Answer: (a) Chennai (b) Leh.

Example 3: Chennai's rainfall pattern · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

A student argues that Chennai, being on the coast like Mumbai, should also have its peak rain in July. Evaluate the claim with reasons from relief, wind direction and season.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. In June-July Chennai lies in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats for the Arabian Sea branch.
  2. The Bay of Bengal branch blows parallel to the coast, so it does not give rain.
  3. In October-November the north-east monsoon winds cross the Bay of Bengal and bring rain to the Coromandel coast.
  4. Tropical cyclones from the Bay of Bengal add heavy rain in the same season.

Answer: Rain shadow and a coast-parallel Bay of Bengal branch keep it dry in June-July; the north-east monsoon and cyclones bring rain in October-November.

Example 4: Jaisalmer and Leh compared · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Jaisalmer and Leh both receive very little rain. (a) Give the relief reason for each. (b) State the climate type of each. (c) Compare their winters.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) Jaisalmer: the Arabian Sea branch passes parallel to the Aravallis and the Bay of Bengal branch is exhausted by the time it arrives. Leh: it is in the rain shadow of the Himalayas.
  2. (b) Jaisalmer: hot desert; Leh: cold desert.
  3. (c) Jaisalmer has cool winters; Leh has very cold winters below freezing.

Answer: Jaisalmer: Aravalli-parallel winds and exhausted Bay branch; hot desert; cool winter. Leh: Himalayan rain shadow; cold desert; sub-zero winter.

Example 5: Unnamed station · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Case (invented data): Station P has a hottest month of 40.0 °C and a coldest of 14.0 °C, with total rainfall of 75 cm, mostly in July-August. Station Q has a hottest month of 29.0 °C and a coldest of 24.0 °C, with 215 cm, mostly in June-September. (a) Find the range of each. (b) Match each to Delhi or Mumbai with a reason. (c) State the wind that brings the rain at Q.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) P: 40.0 - 14.0 = 26.0 °C; Q: 29.0 - 24.0 = 5.0 °C.
  2. (b) P is Delhi: large range, moderate rain (about 70-80 cm) in July-August, a continental climate. Q is Mumbai: small range and over 200 cm in June-September, a maritime climate.
  3. (c) The Arabian Sea branch of the south-west monsoon.

Answer: (a) 26.0 °C and 5.0 °C (b) P Delhi, Q Mumbai (c) Arabian Sea branch.

Where students lose marks in Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Naming Chennai's rain as south-west monsoon rain

    Its peak is in October-November.

    Do this: Write north-east monsoon and cyclones for October-November.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Missing the unit or subtraction in the range

    Only the answer is written.

    Wrong working

    Range = 13

    Right working

    Range = 31.5 - 18.5 = 13.0 °C

    Do this: Show subtraction and units.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Using the same reason for Jaisalmer and Leh

    One is a hot desert with Aravalli-parallel winds, the other a cold desert in the Himalayan rain shadow.

    Do this: Match each station to its own reason.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Calling Delhi maritime

    A large range means a continental climate.

    Do this: Read the range before choosing the label.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Compute range and total rainfall first, then explain.
  • Use the words rain shadow, windward and parallel for low-rain stations.
  • Always name the wind and the month group in a rain-timing answer.
  • Learn the identification table for unnamed stations.

Practice questions on Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The station with a cold desert climate among the five graphs is:
    (a) Jaisalmer
    (b) Leh
    (c) Delhi
    (d) Chennai

    Hint

    Rain shadow of the Himalayas.

    Answer

    (b) Leh.

  2. Q2 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Invented data: Station R has monthly mean temperatures from 18.5 °C (January) to 31.5 °C (May) and rainfall in cm of 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 24, 28, 22, 12, 3, 1, 1. (a) Find the range. (b) Find the total rainfall. (c) State whether it is continental or maritime.

    Hint

    Subtract, then add the twelve values.

    Answer

    (a) 31.5 - 18.5 = 13.0 °C. (b) 1+1+1+2+4+24+28+22+12+3+1+1 = 100 cm. (c) Moderately large range, so the station is more continental than maritime.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Why does Mumbai get over 200 cm of rain in June-September but Jaisalmer only about 20 cm or less?

    Hint

    Windward versus parallel to the Aravallis.

    Answer

    Mumbai lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats facing the Arabian Sea branch and gets orographic rain. Jaisalmer lies where the Arabian Sea branch passes parallel to the Aravallis, and the Bay of Bengal branch has lost its moisture by the time it arrives.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain how the climate of Delhi differs from that of Mumbai on three points.

    Hint

    Range, rainfall, type.

    Answer

    Delhi has a large range while Mumbai has about 5-6 °C; Delhi has about 70-80 cm of rain mainly in July-August from the Bay of Bengal branch while Mumbai has over 200 cm in June-September from the Arabian Sea branch; Delhi is continental and Mumbai maritime.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    A news report says a cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal in November and caused heavy rain along the coast. (a) Which of the five stations is most likely to record heavy rain from this? (b) Name the season. (c) Explain why the same station is dry in June-July.

    Hint

    East-coast city.

    Answer

    (a) Chennai. (b) The retreating monsoon season, October-November. (c) It lies in the rain shadow of the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch blows parallel to the coast.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Which station has the highest rainfall of the five?Show answer

    Mumbai (over 200 cm).

  2. 2.Which station is a cold desert?Show answer

    Leh.

  3. 3.Which station is continental with moderate rain?Show answer

    Delhi.

  4. 4.In which months does Chennai receive its peak rain?Show answer

    October-November.

  5. 5.Rainfall of Jaisalmer?Show answer

    About 20 cm or less.

Temperature and Rainfall Graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh: frequently asked questions

How do I find the annual range from a graph?

Subtract the lowest monthly mean temperature from the highest.

Which stations are maritime?

Mumbai and Chennai.

Why is Leh so dry?

It lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas.

Which wind gives Delhi its rain?

The Bay of Bengal branch of the south-west monsoon, mainly in July-August.