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Weather, Climate & Adaptations of Animals to Climate — Class 7 Science

This post contains clear, exam-friendly notes plus a full practice section of questions and answers (including 7 MCQs with choices, 7 very short, 7 short and 7 long answers). Read the notes first, then practice the Q&A. Everything here follows NCERT-style scope and is written to improve understanding and exam performance.

Notes: Weather, Climate & Adaptations of Animals to Climate

1. What is Weather?

Weather describes the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time — temperature, humidity, precipitation (rain/snow), wind speed and direction, cloudiness and atmospheric pressure. Weather can change from hour to hour or day to day.

2. Elements of Weather

  • Temperature: How hot or cold the air is.
  • Humidity: Amount of water vapour in the air.
  • Precipitation: Rain, snow, sleet, hail — water that falls from clouds.
  • Wind: Movement of air from high to low pressure areas.
  • Atmospheric pressure: Weight of the air above; affects wind and storms.
  • Cloud cover: Type and amount of clouds affect sunlight and rainfall.

3. Instruments to Measure Weather

The common instruments are: thermometer (temperature), barometer (pressure), anemometer (wind speed), wind vane (direction), hygrometer (humidity), and rain gauge (amount of rainfall). Weather stations combine several instruments and satellite data for forecasts.

4. What is Climate?

Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a region, usually averaged over 30 years or more. While weather is short-term, climate summarizes how the atmosphere behaves in a place over seasons and years.

5. Factors that Determine Climate

  • Latitude: Places nearer the equator receive more direct sunlight and are generally warmer.
  • Altitude: Higher places (mountains) are cooler than lowlands.
  • Distance from the sea: Coastal regions have milder climates; interiors show wider temperature ranges.
  • Ocean currents: Warm or cold currents modify coastal climates (e.g., Gulf Stream warms Europe).
  • Relief or topography: Mountains can block winds and create rain shadows (dry areas).
  • Prevailing winds and pressure belts: Global wind patterns influence humidity and precipitation.

6. Major Climate Types (brief)

Broadly: Tropical (hot, often wet), Temperate (distinct seasons), Arid or Desert (very little rain), and Polar (very cold). Local geography creates many subtypes.

7. Seasons & Monsoon (India example)

In India, seasons are commonly: pre-monsoon (hot/summer), southwest monsoon (rainy), post-monsoon (autumn), and winter. The monsoon is a seasonal wind system driven by temperature differences between land and ocean and is critical for agriculture.

Adaptations of Animals to Climate

1. What is adaptation?

Adaptation refers to structural, behavioral or physiological features that help an animal survive in its environment and climate. Adaptations evolve over generations and suit the demands of heat, cold, dryness, or excess water.

2. Types of Adaptations

  • Structural (morphological): physical features — thick fur, blubber, camouflaged skin, long limbs.
  • Behavioral: actions — migration, nocturnal habits, burrowing, basking in the sun.
  • Physiological: internal functions — antifreeze proteins in fish, water-conserving kidneys, fat storage.

3. Examples: Cold (Polar) Regions

Animals such as polar bears, seals and arctic foxes have thick fur or blubber for insulation, compact bodies to reduce heat loss, and white fur for camouflage on ice. Penguins use counter-current heat exchange in their flippers and huddle together to retain warmth.

4. Examples: Hot & Dry (Desert) Regions

Camels store fat in humps (energy and water efficiency), have long eyelashes and closable nostrils to keep out sand, and kidneys that conserve water. Many desert animals are nocturnal to avoid daytime heat, and plants also show water-saving features.

5. Tropical Rainforests & Wet Climates

In humid forests, animals may have adaptations to cope with heavy rain — e.g., broad leaves for frogs to hide under, streamlined bodies for arboreal movement, and bright colours for communication. Many species have thin fur or skin since heat loss is not a problem.

6. Aquatic Adaptations

Aquatic animals have gills for breathing underwater (fish), streamlined bodies to reduce drag, and special salt-regulation mechanisms (marine vs freshwater species). Marine mammals (e.g., whales) have blubber and modified limbs (flippers).

7. Behavioural Strategies: Migration, Hibernation & Estivation

Migration — seasonal movement to better climates (e.g., many birds). Hibernation — long-term sleep during winter (bears, some rodents) to save energy. Estivation — similar dormancy during extreme heat or drought (some amphibians, snails).

8. Human Influence & Adaptation

Humans adapt by changing clothing, housing and crops; building irrigation in dry areas, heating/cooling technologies, and using public health measures to reduce climate-related illness. These are cultural and technological adaptations rather than biological.

Questions & Answers — Practice (MCQs + Very Short + Short + Long)

7 MCQs (choose the best answer)

MCQ 1: Which of the following best describes climate?

  1. Weather conditions in one day
  2. Long-term average of weather over many years
  3. Sudden storm or cyclone
  4. Temperature at noon

Answer: B — Climate is the long-term pattern of weather.

MCQ 2: Which instrument is used to measure humidity?

  1. Barometer
  2. Anemometer
  3. Hygrometer
  4. Rain gauge

Answer: C — A hygrometer measures atmospheric humidity.

MCQ 3: Which factor does not directly affect climate?

  1. Latitude
  2. Altitude
  3. Soil type
  4. Ocean currents

Answer: C — Soil type affects vegetation but is not a direct climatic factor.

MCQ 4: An animal that migrates seasonally is mainly adapting to:

  1. Change in day length
  2. Change in food availability or temperature
  3. Predator presence only
  4. Molting of fur

Answer: B — Migration helps animals follow food sources or suitable temperatures.

MCQ 5: Which of these is a behavioural adaptation?

  1. Thick fur
  2. Burrowing underground at day time
  3. Fat storage in body
  4. Camouflage coloration

Answer: B — Burrowing is a behaviour to avoid heat or cold.

MCQ 6: What causes the Indian summer monsoon?

  1. Reversal of winds due to differential heating of land and ocean
  2. Earthquake activity in the Indian Ocean
  3. Solar eclipse
  4. Alien intervention

Answer: A — Seasonal wind reversal driven by land–sea heating differences brings monsoon rains.

MCQ 7: Which animal is best adapted to polar climates?

  1. Camel
  2. Polar bear
  3. Fennec fox
  4. Kangaroo

Answer: B — Polar bears have blubber and dense fur suited for cold climates.

7 Very Short Answer Questions (1–2 lines)

  1. Q: Define weather.
    A: Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere (temperature, rain, wind, etc.) at a place and time.
  2. Q: Define climate.
    A: Climate is the average weather of a place over many years (long-term pattern).
  3. Q: What is precipitation?
    A: Precipitation is water released from clouds as rain, snow, sleet or hail.
  4. Q: Give one structural adaptation of polar animals.
    A: Thick insulating fat (blubber) or dense fur to prevent heat loss.
  5. Q: What does a rain gauge measure?
    A: The amount of rainfall at a location.
  6. Q: Name one way desert animals conserve water.
    A: Nocturnal activity (active at night) to avoid daytime heat.
  7. Q: What is hibernation?
    A: A long period of reduced metabolism and sleep-like state during cold months.

7 Short Answer Questions (3–5 sentences)

  1. Q: Distinguish between weather and climate.
    A: Weather is daily atmospheric conditions while climate is the long-term pattern of weather. Weather can change quickly; climate is measured over decades and determines the typical seasons of a region.
  2. Q: How does latitude affect climate?
    A: Latitude determines angle of sun’s rays; equatorial regions receive direct sunlight and are warmer, whereas higher latitudes get oblique rays and are cooler, causing temperature differences across the globe.
  3. Q: Explain two ways ocean currents influence climate.
    A: Warm currents raise temperatures of nearby coasts (milder winters), while cold currents lower coastal temperatures and reduce rainfall. Currents also affect marine life and regional weather patterns.
  4. Q: Describe two structural adaptations of camels.
    A: Camels store fat (not water) in humps for energy and water efficiency; long eyelashes and closable nostrils protect against sand. Their wide feet prevent sinking in sand.
  5. Q: Why do many birds migrate?
    A: Birds migrate to find food and breeding grounds and to escape harsh weather. Migration ensures survival when local resources become scarce seasonally.
  6. Q: How does fur colour help animals?
    A: Fur colour provides camouflage against predators or prey and can reflect or absorb heat depending on environment (e.g., white fur in snow for concealment).
  7. Q: Give an example of physiological adaptation in fish.
    A: Some fish regulate salt levels via special cells in gills and kidneys — marine fish excrete excess salt, while freshwater fish conserve salts.

7 Long Answer Questions (detailed answers)

  1. Q: Explain the main elements of weather and name instruments used to measure them.
    A: The main elements are temperature (measured by a thermometer), atmospheric pressure (barometer), humidity (hygrometer), precipitation (rain gauge), wind speed (anemometer), and wind direction (wind vane). Temperature tells us how hot/cold it is; pressure differences drive winds; humidity indicates moisture in the air which affects cloud formation and precipitation; wind moves heat and moisture; rain gauge records rainfall amount which is critical for agriculture. Together, these instruments allow meteorologists to record and forecast weather events accurately.
  2. Q: Discuss the major factors that determine the climate of a region with examples.
    A: Latitude controls solar energy — equatorial regions are warm, polar regions cold. Altitude causes cooling with height (mountaintops are colder). Distance from sea: coastal areas have smaller temperature ranges; inland areas show greater extremes. Ocean currents (e.g., warm currents like the Gulf Stream) moderate coastal climates; cold currents cool them. Relief or mountains can create rain shadows (e.g., the leeward side of ranges becomes dry). Prevailing winds bring moisture or dryness depending on their source. Together these factors explain why deserts, tropics, and temperate zones differ.
  3. Q: Describe how polar, desert and rainforest animals are adapted to their climates — give examples.
    A: Polar animals (polar bears, seals) have blubber and dense fur for insulation, compact bodies to reduce heat loss, and white coloration for camouflage. Desert animals (camels, fennec foxes, kangaroo rats) conserve water — camels store fat in humps and have efficient kidneys, fennec foxes have large ears to dissipate heat and nocturnal habits; kangaroo rats obtain water metabolically from food. Rainforest animals (tree frogs, orangutans) often have adaptations for climbing, moisture tolerance, and bright colours for communication; many have thin coats as insulation isn’t needed. Each suite of features directly helps survival in that climate’s challenges.
  4. Q: Explain migration and its ecological importance.
    A: Migration is seasonal movement of animals between habitats (e.g., Arctic terns migrate thousands of kilometers between poles). Reasons include food, breeding and favourable climate. Ecologically, migration connects distant ecosystems (nutrient transfers), helps population survival, and maintains genetic flow. Human activity (habitat loss, climate change) threatens migratory routes, so conserving stopover sites is vital for many species’ survival.
  5. Q: How do human societies adapt to climate and what are sustainable practices to reduce harm?
    A: Traditional adaptations include clothing suitable for seasons, houses built for ventilation or insulation, and crops grown according to wet and dry periods. Modern adaptations use technology: irrigation, flood barriers, air-conditioning, and early warning systems. Sustainable practices include rainwater harvesting, agroforestry, drought-resistant crop varieties, energy-efficient buildings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate change — which helps both humans and wildlife.
  6. Q: Compare hibernation and estivation, with examples of animals that use these strategies.
    A: Hibernation is dormancy during cold seasons (bears, ground squirrels) to reduce metabolic needs when food is scarce. Estivation is dormancy during hot/dry seasons (certain frogs, desert snails) to survive heat or drought. Both lower metabolic rates but differ in trigger conditions (cold vs heat/dryness) and physiological adjustments (water conservation in estivation vs fat usage in hibernation).
  7. Q: Case study — How are camels and polar bears specifically adapted to their climates? (compare and contrast)
    A: Camels: adapted to arid heat by storing fat in humps, having wide feet for sand, nostrils that close, and kidneys that concentrate urine to conserve water; behaviourally they tolerate higher body temperatures and often feed on sparse vegetation. Polar bears: adapted to extreme cold via blubber for insulation, dense fur and oily skin that repels water, black skin beneath fur to absorb heat, and large paws to walk on ice and swim. While camels are built for water economy and heat resistance, polar bears prioritize heat retention and efficient hunting in icy seas. Both show structural, physiological and behavioural adaptations suited to opposite extremes.
Exam Tips:
  • Learn definitions clearly (weather, climate, adaptation). Short definitions help in one-mark questions.
  • Use diagrams in exams where possible (simple sketch of instrument or animal adaptation) — even text-only, describe what you would draw.
  • For long answers, use headings: definition, causes/factors, examples, conclusion — this organizes your answer and scores more marks.

Keep revising — mix reading notes with answering questions. Practice a few MCQs every day and write one long answer to build speed and clarity.