Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Natural Diversity of Karnataka from Class 9 Social_Science. In this chapter, we will explore the main features of the climate of Karnataka, understand the seasonal changes in the climate, examine the seasonal distribution of rainfall and its effects, study the types and distribution of soil, and learn about the natural vegetation and animals of the state. [CHECKPOINT]
Karnataka has a tropical monsoon climate. The main characteristics of this climate are hot and moist summers and cool and dry winters. However, there is diversity in the climate of the state. The main reasons for this diversity are the influence of geographical location, nearness to the oceans, physical features, vegetation, and monsoon winds. Hence, the annual temperature and distribution of rain are not the same all over the state. We can classify the climate of Karnataka over a period of one year into four parts. The first is the summer season from March to May. The second is the rainy season from June to September. The third is the period of Retreating Monsoons from October to November. The fourth is the winter season from December to February. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us begin with the summer season. During this season, it is very hot, dry, and sultry. After March, the temperature rises uniformly all over the state and reaches the maximum during April and May. Raichur has recorded the temperature of 45.60 degrees Celsius and it is the hottest place in Karnataka. The temperature is high even in the other districts of the northern maidan. In general, the whole of Karnataka experiences hot climatic conditions during this time. The humidity is lower in the northern maidan than in the southern maidan. In summer, due to great evaporation, rain-bearing clouds are produced and they bring convectional rain along with lightning and thunder. Hailstones fall in some places. This generally takes place for a short time during the afternoon. Since these showers enable the flowering of coffee plants, they are called Cherry Blossoms, and since they help the mango crop, they are also known as Mango showers. About 7% of the annual rainfall of the state occurs during this season. [CHECKPOINT]
Next is the rainy season, also known as the season of South-West Monsoon winds. The Western Ghats check the moisture-laden winds blowing from the Arabian Sea, resulting in heavy rain. As it moves eastward, the amount of rainfall gets reduced. This is because the eastern maidan is in the rain-shadow area. Agumbe is an area of heavy rainfall. Hence it is called Cheerapunji of South India. Bhagamandala and Hulikal are the other places of heavy rainfall. Nayakna Hatti near Chellakere in Chitradurga records the lowest rainfall. During this season, in the entire state the temperature is very high. As a result, the relative humidity is very high. There is a cloudy atmosphere throughout. During this season, Karnataka receives about 80% of its rainfall. This helps in the cultivation of Kharif crops. [CHECKPOINT]
The third season is the period of Retreating Monsoon, also called the North-East Monsoon Season. Due to the decrease in temperature and increase in pressure, the winds blow from the north-east to the south-west. These winds are dry because they blow from the land. The winds which blow from the Bay of Bengal bring a little rain to the districts of the southern maidan. Besides, due to the cyclones coming from the Bay of Bengal during November and December, rainfall occurs. During this season, the state receives about 12% of the rainfall. In this period, the weather conditions are uncertain. Now let us look at the winter season. During this season, temperature, humidity, and rainfall are low. The sky is clear. The average temperature is between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius. January is the month which records the lowest temperature. This is called the Tourist Month of the State. The minimum temperature is recorded in Bidar. There is low temperature in other Northern districts, namely Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, and Bidar. Rainfall during winter is minimum. Only 1% of the total rainfall is received during this time. There is heavy fog occasionally early in the mornings. [CHECKPOINT]
Here is an activity for you to think about. Among the summer, winter, and rainy seasons, which one do you like? Why? Give your reason based on temperature, humidity, and rainfall. Moving on to the soils of Karnataka. The top thin layer of the earth surface is called soil. Fertile soil is essential for agriculture. There are different kinds of soils in Karnataka. The soils of Karnataka have been classified into four types. They are Red soil, Black soil, Laterite soil, and Coastal Alluvial soil. First is Red soil. This type of soil is obtained from the weathering of granite and gneiss. It contains iron oxides and hence it is red in colour. It is rich in iron, lime, and salt, but contains small amounts of humus. It is light, has thin layers, and it is not very fertile. Its capacity for moisture retention is less. It is widely distributed in Karnataka, and found more in south Karnataka. Ragi, jowar, bajra millets, pulses, tobacco, and groundnut which are rain-fed crops, can be grown in this soil. Areas with irrigation facilities can grow paddy, sugarcane, potato, vegetables, banana, coconut, and arecanut. Red soil is found in Tumakuru, Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapura, Kolara, Chamarajanagara, Mandya, and Mysuru. [CHECKPOINT]
Second is Black soil. This kind of soil is formed by the weathering of basalt rocks. It is rich in aluminium, magnesium, and oxides of iron. Hence it is black in colour. It is also called Regur soil or black cotton soil. This soil has the ability to retain moisture for many days. Since it is rich in soil nutrients, a variety of crops can be grown in this soil. For example, cotton, jowar, maize, sunflower, chilli, paddy, pulses, and onion. This type of soil is extensively found in districts of North Karnataka, for example, Dharwad, Gadag, Ballari, Koppal, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Chamarajanagara, and Chitradurga. Third is Laterite soil. This kind of soil is found in areas which receive heavy rainfall and have high temperature. Water-soluble lime and silicates dissolved in rain water settle down in the lower layers. Iron and aluminium, which are non-soluble, remain in the top layers. The soil becomes soft during rainy season and dries up during summer, leading to the formation of laterite rock. This rock is used for construction purposes. Cashew, coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper, rubber, coconut, and other commercial crops are grown in this soil. Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and Belagavi have more of this soil. [CHECKPOINT]
Fourth is Coastal Alluvial soil. This type of soil is formed along the coast due to the deposition of alluvium and sediments carried by the rivers and sea waves. As such, the coastal districts of Karnataka like Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kannada have this type of soil. This soil consists of sand and clay. It is very rich in organic nutrients. Paddy, cashew, coconut, arecanut, banana, and other crops grow well in this type of soil. Now let us discuss Natural Vegetation. The various kinds of plants and trees growing naturally are referred to as Natural Vegetation. Karnataka has a rich diversity of plant species. The plant species play an important role in preserving the ecological balance. The trees provide timber, firewood, raw material for industries, medicinal herbs, honey, bamboo, and cane. The forests being the habitat of wild animals, we can see tiger, lion, cheetahs, wild buffaloes, elephants, deer, and peacocks in the forests of Karnataka. These forests are also places of entertainment and tourism. They help to control environmental pollution. Sandalwood is a special tree grown in forests of Karnataka. Perfume, objects with intricate carvings, soap, and medicines are manufactured from sandalwood. They are popular all over the world, and hence are not only supplied to other parts of the country but also exported to foreign countries. This is the reason Karnataka is known as the Land of Sandalwood. [CHECKPOINT]
Natural Vegetation of Karnataka has been classified on the basis of rainfall, relief features, and type of soil. They are Evergreen forests, Deciduous forests, Mixed Forests, and Grasslands and Shrubs. First, Evergreen forests. Areas receiving more than 250 cm rainfall annually have this kind of forests. On account of heavy rain and high temperature, the trees grow tall and dense. These forests, being dense, are impenetrable. The sunlight does not reach the ground at all. Different types of tall trees like rosewood, mahogany, kino, teak, dhupa, nandi, and hebbalasu grow in these forests. At the base of these trees are thick shrubs. Different types of spices, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and medicinal herbs grow in abundance. This kind of forests can be seen in parts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Hasana, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagara, and Kodagu districts. Second, Deciduous forests. After winter, due to lack of moisture in the soil the trees shed their leaves. The leaves reappear during spring. These are called deciduous forests. This kind of forests can be seen in areas receiving 60 to 120 cm of rainfall annually. For example, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, eastern parts of Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura, southern part of Kolara, Mandya, Ramanagara, and Bengaluru Rural district. Teak, kino, mahogany, neem, mango, jack, flame, kokko, banyan, sandal, and bamboo grow in plenty. These forests are not dense. [CHECKPOINT]
Third, Mixed forests. The growing of evergreen and deciduous trees together form the mixed forests. Areas receiving 120 to 150 cm annual rainfall have this kind of forests. For example, Udupi, some parts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, eastern parts of Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hasana, and Mysuru districts. Teak, kino, mahogany, nandi, axle, sandal, jack, and bamboo grow in abundance. These trees have commercial value. Fourth, Grasslands and Shrubs. Areas receiving less than 60 cm annual rainfall have this kind of vegetation. Due to scanty rain and dry weather there is short grass, thorny shrubs and scrub vegetation, for example, cactus, acacias, babul, bela, palm trees, hanchi, and kunti grass. Occasionally banyan, neem, peepul tree, and palas trees grow here and there. This type of Vegetation is seen in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Vijayapura, Ballari, and Chitradurga. Deltas, estuaries, and beaches in coastal areas have a peculiar type of vegetation that has aerial roots and can grow in salty water. These are called mangrove forests. Distribution of such vegetation is limited in Karnataka. Areas which are more than 1400 meters above sea level have cool climate, for example, Kudremukh, Bababudangiri, also known as Inam Dattatreya Peeta, Biligiriranganabetta, also known as B R Hills, and Brahmagiri in Kodagu. They have grassy slopes. The deep valleys with streams and rills have distinct Shola forests. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us look at some interesting facts. A big banyan tree is found at Ramohalli near Bengaluru. A big neem tree is found at T Venkatapura, near Siddlagatta of Chikkaballapura district. A big tamarind tree is near Savanur of Haveri district. Now, let us study the distribution of forests. The recorded forest area in Karnataka state is 40649.30 sq. kms. This forms 21.19% of the total geographical area. Karnataka occupies the seventh place in forest resources in the country. Uttara Kannada district has the maximum forest area. Next to it are Shivamogga and Chamarajanagara districts. Vijayapura district has the least forest area. Moving on to Fauna. Karnataka has a variety of Fauna thanks to the abundant forest wealth. The Sahyadris rank among the hotspots of the world for their bio-diversity. Recently they have been declared as a World Heritage Area. Nearly 25% of the elephant population and 18% of the tiger population in the entire country are found in Karnataka. In addition to this, there are other types of wild animals too, for example, Leopards, boar, bison, stag, deer, bear, and porcupine. A variety of snakes and colourful birds can also be seen in the forests of Karnataka. The central part of the Western Ghats in Karnataka is called Malnad and has retained its natural bio-diverse heritage. As such, this area has a rich variety of animal resources. [CHECKPOINT]
The important forest areas of Karnataka having wildlife are the Coastal region comprising of Uttara Kannada and Belagavi, Sahyadris-Malnad range, for example, Bababudangiri range, also known as Inam Dattatreya Peeta, B R hills, Malemahadeswara hills, and Gopalaswamy hills in the southern maidan. Ranebennur is the main animal sanctuary in northern maidan. Now Karnataka has 5 national parks, 7 bird sanctuaries, and about 36 wildlife sanctuaries. Here are some important notes for you. There are 5 Tiger projects in Karnataka: Bandipura, Bhadra, Nagarahole, B R Hills, and Kali. The famous bird sanctuary of Karnataka is Ranganatittu. This site is the first to be added in Ramsar sites list. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, let us move on to the exercises. I will read each question and provide the complete answer. Exercise One, Fill in the blanks with suitable words. Question one: The months of April and May form Summer season. Question two: The season with heavy rainfall is the Rainy season or South-West Monsoon season. Question three: Extensively soil found in North Karnataka is Black soil. Question four: The area that has evergreen forests is areas receiving more than 250 cm of annual rainfall, found in parts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Hasana, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagara, and Kodagu. Question five: The district that has large forest area in Karnataka is Uttara Kannada. Exercise Two, Answer the following questions in brief. Question six: Name the four seasons of Karnataka. Answer: The four seasons are the summer season from March to May, the rainy season from June to September, the period of Retreating Monsoons from October to November, and the winter season from December to February. Question seven: Write a note on the rainy season in Karnataka. Answer: The rainy season is also known as the season of South-West Monsoon winds. The Western Ghats check moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea, causing heavy rain. Rainfall reduces eastward as the eastern maidan is in a rain-shadow area. Agumbe is called Cheerapunji of South India due to heavy rainfall, along with Bhagamandala and Hulikal. Nayakna Hatti near Chellakere in Chitradurga records the lowest rainfall. Temperature and relative humidity are very high with a cloudy atmosphere. Karnataka receives about 80% of its rainfall during this season, which helps cultivate Kharif crops. Question eight: Mention the types of soils in Karnataka. Answer: The soils of Karnataka are classified into four types: Red soil, Black soil, Laterite soil, and Coastal Alluvial soil. [CHECKPOINT]
Question nine: Name the types of natural vegetation of Karnataka. Answer: The types are Evergreen forests, Deciduous forests, Mixed Forests, Grasslands and Shrubs, Mangrove forests, and Shola forests. Question ten: Why is Karnataka known as the Land of Sandalwood? Answer: Sandalwood is a special tree grown in the forests of Karnataka. Perfume, objects with intricate carvings, soap, and medicines are manufactured from it. These products are popular worldwide and are supplied across the country and exported to foreign countries, earning Karnataka the title Land of Sandalwood. Question eleven: Name the wild animals in Karnataka forests. Answer: The wild animals include tiger, lion, cheetahs, wild buffaloes, elephants, deer, peacocks, leopards, boar, bison, stag, bear, porcupine, and a variety of snakes and colourful birds. Exercise Three, Match the following. I will provide the correct matches. Adichunchanagiri matches with Peacock Sanctuary. Mandagadde matches with Bird Sanctuary. Nagarahole matches with National Park. Sandalwood tree matches with Deciduous forest. Exercise Four, Activity. Collect pictures of wild animals of Karnataka and prepare an album. Make a list of bird sanctuaries and wildlife sanctuaries. You can start by visiting local libraries or using educational resources to find images of tigers, elephants, leopards, and peacocks. For the list of sanctuaries, remember the 5 tiger projects: Bandipura, Bhadra, Nagarahole, B R Hills, and Kali. The famous bird sanctuary is Ranganatittu. You can also research the 36 wildlife sanctuaries mentioned in your textbook. Exercise Five, Project. Discuss in groups and write an account of the vegetation found in your native district. You should identify whether your district falls under red soil, black soil, laterite, or coastal alluvial regions, and then describe the corresponding vegetation type, such as deciduous, evergreen, or grasslands, along with the major crops and trees found there. [CHECKPOINT]
Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]