Monsoon
What is the Monsoon?
A Monsoon is a wind that blows northward from the Indian Ocean towards the Asian continent, carrying moist air with it. The Monsoon is a term from early Arabs called the " Mausin " or " the season of winds ". Monsoons will occur in other parts of the world like Australia and in the southwest portions of the United States. And the Asian Monsoon, which affects the Indian subcontinent and southeast part of Asia, is probably the most noted of the monsoons.
A Monsoon has got three different seasons:
Between October and March:- one dry season
- 21°C to 25°C
- little rainfall
- wind blows from north-east -> wind called "rising Monsoon winds"
- short season
- hot, dry
- temperatures rise to 31°C
- cloudless sky
- constant dry winds
- river, wells are dry
- strong winds
- winds from the sea -> rain -> rivers are filled with water
- temperatures are a little lower
Causes of the Monsoon
- are set by land and sea temperature differences
Summer Monsoon
- land reflects the sun`s rays, heating the air over the land more rapidly
- water absorbs a lot of heat without changing temperatures
- so the air over the water stays cool
- the Monsoon is in Asia because the northern hemisphere has more land than the southern hemisphere, which is mostly ocean
- sun`s rays shine more directly on the northern hemisphere
- the land absorbs heat
- the air above becomes warm
- the hot air rises and the cooler ocean air from the southern hemisphere rushes in to replace the warm air
- the air carries moisture with it
- it rains over Asia
- precipitations with much energy
Winter Monsoon
- in this season the sun´s rays shine more directly on the southern hemisphere
- the continents are cooler than the water
- so the air above the ocean absorbs and saves the heat
- the warm air rises over the ocean
- the cool land air (called surges) rushes in to replace the warm air
- the cold air picks up warm moisture
- the air travels across the tropical waters
- it rains in Indonesia, northern Australia, Sri Lanka, Indian coast
Where are the Monsoons?
There are a lot of different regions in the world where you can find a Monsoon, but it`s mainly around the Indian Ocean. The south-west or summer Monsoon is in India and Indonesia with big rainfall. So it`s the appointed (bestimmende) climate event of this region. But not only there you can find a monsoon. usually the Monsoons are around the coastal areas between 5°C and 25°C from the equator to the north - or south pole. Sometimes there are visions of Monsoons near Italy and France.
Source: http://http-server.carleton.ca/~tpatters/teaching/climatechange/change/
The Indian Monsoon
You can see the Monsoon phenomen in India with a ITC (InnerTropical Convergnance zone) displacement (Verlagerung) up to 13° northern latitude very clear. The change from the seasonal precipitation of the dry winter monsoon and the humid summer monsoon is very important for the people who live there.
The temperatures:
- Summer Monsoon: up to 45°C
- Winter Monsoon: from 10° up to 25°C
Source: http://www.jamstec.go.jp