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What is Monsoon? 01
Monsoon is a seasonally prevailing wind system which
lasts for several months. The term was first used in
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and neighboring
countries to refer to the big seasonal winds blowing
MONSOON from the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean
from the southwest and that bring heavy rainfall to
these countries.
Lecture
by
C. Shaji
What is Monsoon? 02 Historical Aspects
However currently, the word monsoon is used to
describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation • “Monsoon” comes from the Arabic-origin word
and precipitation patterns associated with the mausam (मौसम, )موسم, and is also the word for "weather"
asymmetric heating of land and ocean. in Hindi, and Urdu.
Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy • Reference in Rig Veda to mountains, sea, desert, in the
phase of a seasonally-changing pattern. vicinity of north-west of India.
The driving mechanisms of the monsoon are: •Kalidas’ MEGHDOOTAM beautifully describes genesis
◊ The differential heating of the land and Sea. and movement of Indian monsoon.
◊ Swirl introduced to the winds by the rotation of the
earth •Early history of nations with maritime interest in
Arabian Sea & Indian ocean. In Alexander era (355- 323
B.C.), Greek historians noted change in direction of wind
near Indus delta.
A Bird’s Eye View of Monsoon
• Monsoons are similar to sea
and land breezes,
• Summer or SW Monsoon
▫ It may be considered as large-
scale sea breezes over a
continental landmass.
▫ The hot air over the land tends to
rise, creating an area of low
GLOBAL MONSOONS
pressure. This creates a steady
wind blowing toward the land,
bringing the moist near-surface
air over the oceans with it.
• Winter or NE Monsoon
• In winter, the land cools off
quickly, but the ocean retains
heat longer. The cold air over
the land creates a high
pressure area which produces
a breeze from land to ocean.
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African and North American Monsoon South American and European Monsoon
AFRICAN MONSOON
It is the result of the seasonal shifts of • South American Monsoon
the ITCZ and the great seasonal
temperature and humidity differences System (SAMS)
between the Sahara and the equatorial
Atlantic Ocean. It is characterised by intense
convective activity and
The dry, north-easterly trade winds are precipitation during austral
interrupted by the northern shift in the summer.
ITCZ and resultant southerly, rain- The withdrawal of SASM in late
bearing winds during the summer.
summer is signalled by the
splitting of the mid-latitude
NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON westerly jet.
Occurs from late June to September,
originating over Mexico and spreading
into the southwest United States by
mid-July.
• European Monsoon
The rain usually arrives in two
It pushes as far west as the Peninsular waves, at the beginning of June
Ranges and Transverse Ranges of and again in mid to late June.
Southern California.
It doesn't meet all the
requirements to be classified as
monsoon.
Asian and Australian Monsoon
Asian monsoons can be classified
into two sub-systems.
EAST ASIAN MONSOON
The rain occurs in a concentrated
belt that stretches east-west in
china, Korea, etc.
SOUTH ASIAN MONSOON
It affects the Indian subcontinent
INDIAN MONSOON
and surrounding regions.
Australian monsoon
It occurs in the austral summer
from September to February.
North-easterly winds flowing down
Southeast Asia are turned north-
westerly by Borneo topography
towards Australia.
Seasonal Precipitation Distribution SW or Summer Monsoon
Delhi Vs New York
Delhi, India New York
Monsoon climate (mid-latitude temperate climate)
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Arabian Sea Branch
Branches of SW Monsoon
Hits the Western Ghats of the coastal state
The southernmost point of the Indian of Kerala.
peninsula, due to its topography, become
divided into two parts:
Kerala is the first state in India to receive
Arabian Sea Branch
Bay of Bengal Branch
rain from the South-West Monsoon.
This branch moves northwards along the
Western Ghats giving rain to the coastal
areas located west of the Western Ghats.
Eastern parts of the Western Ghats do
not receive much rain from this monsoon as
the wind does not cross the Western Ghats.
SW Monsoon Onset, Progress & Withdrawal
Bay of Bengal Branch
Flows over the Bay of Bengal heading towards
NORTH EASTERN INDIA and West Bengal.
Hits the Eastern Himalaya, provides a huge
amount of rain to North-East India, Bangladesh
and West Bengal.
After striking the Eastern Himalaya it turns
towards the west, travels over the Indo-Gangetic
Plain, at a rate of roughly 1–2 weeks per state,
pouring rain all along its way.
Features of SW Monsoon - 01
~ The high-pressure area over
SW Monsoon the Indian Ocean
Rainfall ~ Heat low over landmass of
Indian sub-continent with its
Distribution elongated south eastward
trough.
~ The Tropical easterly Jet
(TEJ)
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Features of SW Monsoon - 02 Features of SW Monsoon - 03
◊ The Tibetan anti-cyclone at ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone)
200 hpa. A Low Level Jet stream (LLJ)
◊ Northward shifting of
westerly sub-tropical
jet(STJ)
NE or Winter Monsoon NE Monsoon
Around September, when the
land mass of the Indian
subcontinent begins to cool off
rapidly, air pressure begins to
build over northern India.
The cold wind sweeps down
from the Himalayas towards the
vast spans of the Indian Ocean.
The dry cold winds pick up
moisture from the Bay of
Bengal and pours it over
peninsular India.
About 50-60% of the rain
received by Tamil Nadu is from
the NE Monsoon.
Features of NE Monsoon
◊ Trough at equator in the
Indonesia / Australian region.
NE Monsoon ◊ High pressure-cell over west
Pacific and strong westerly
Rainfall sub-tropical Jet (STJ) aloft.
Distribution
◊ The Siberian anti-
cyclone/High pressure area.
◊ A zone of heavy precipitation
along Malaysia and Indonesia
near the equator.
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Impact of Himalayas
• Monsoon reaches the Himalayas
mainly through the Bay of Bengal,
and then moves westward.
• It forms a barrier for the summer
monsoon winds, keeping them from
travelling northwards, and causing
heavy rainfall in the region.
Impact of Mountains • The Tibetan anticyclone is nestled
beyond Himalayas.
• During winter, prevents the flow of
dry cold winds into the Gangetic
planes.
• It also prevents western
disturbances from travelling further,
resulting in snow in Kashmir and
rainfall for parts of northern India.
SW MONSOON NE MONSOON
Impact of Western Ghats
• As the monsoon approach the
West Coast of India, they rise up
the western Ghats (mountains) and
the air cools. This cool air is less
able to hold moisture and it is
released as rainfall.
• By the time the winds make it over
the Western Ghats they have lost
most of their moisture and very
little falls on the Deccan Plateau to
the east of the Ghats.
• In the west, the monsoon
eventually moves further
northwards along the Western
Ghats giving rain to the coastal
areas.
Monsoon Experiment (MONEX)
The MONEX had
three components
Winter MONEX(1/12/1978-
5/3/1979)
Monsoon Summer
31/8/79)
MONEX(1/5/79-
Experiment(MONEX) WAMEX(1/5/79-31/8/79)
Data collection
platforms
3 civilian research vessels(US)
5 research vessels(USSR)
4 research ship and 1
aircraft(INDIA)
1 research ship with
balloon(FRANCE)
Others
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MONEX Revelations Rain Bearing Systems
The main rain bearing weather systems
over the monsoon trough region are
synoptic scale low pressure systems
The Genesis of with typical life time of 3-5 days.
monsoon Monsoon LPS are called lows.
Onset of the monsoon Wind speed less than 8.5 m/s and
Has one closed isobar.
The earth atmospheric
radiation balance Depression is the term most frequently
used to describe weak cyclonic
Rain bearing systems disturbances.
Paved the way for Wind speed is between 8.5 -17 m/s
There are at least two closed isobars.
numerical models of
monsoon Most depressions are born in the Bay of
Bengal and give copious rain as they
move inland along the monsoon trough.
Impact of Monsoon
Monsoon Relevance for India
• The monsoonal rainfall supply over 70% of India’s annual
rainfall.
• Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on the monsoons.
• The monsoon provides relief from the summer heat in June.
• The rains replenish groundwater levels.
• Assam and some areas of West Bengal experience heavy
flood.
• Lack of city infrastructure coupled with changing climate
patterns also causes severe damage to property and loss of
life.
Impact of Monsoon
