Monsoon is the term that points to the climate which is related to the seasonal reversal of the position and direction of the winds. The monsoon is a system of winds (seasonal) that travels from the land to the sea during the winter season and from the sea to the land during the summer season. The monsoon in India has the most dreadful and strong. However, these winds are found in several other regions too.
All through the late spring season, the sun’s rays heat the surface layer of the oceans and the territories; notwithstanding, the temperature of the surfaces of the land climbs even more quickly. As the land’s surface becomes more sizzling, the air above it develops and an area of low pressure comes in. Meanwhile, the ocean stays at a lower temperature than the land consequently the air above it holds a higher pressure. Since the stream of winds is from areas of the high-pressure locale to low, this lack in pressure over the expanse of land makes the breeze stream from an ocean to land spread. As winds blow from the ocean to the land, moist air is brought inland.
Characteristics
- Monsoons in India have both wet and dry spells. These spells differ in terms of frequency, duration, and intensity.
- It has the phenomenon of “break” in rainfalls within the Indian Subcontinent. These “breaks” are influenced by the movement of the trough of the monsoon season.
- The precipitation rate in the Ladakh and West Rajasthan region is less than 10 cm. The precipitation rate in the Meghalaya region is more than 400 cm. This shows the precipitation rate from the eastern to the western regions of the country.
- The departure of the monsoon season is rapid in the southern part of the Peninsula.
- The retreating process of the monsoon is quite gradual in the Indian Subcontinent.
Types
Monsoons in India are of two types: South-west Monsoon and North-east Monsoon.- South-West Monsoon: During the end of the summer season, these monsoons come from the surfaces of the sea. It is the rainy days from the month of June till the month of September. These monsoons bring about an incredible amount of moisture. These monsoons are very powerful and can attract the trade winds of the southern hemisphere, which comes from the Indian Ocean. After crossing the equator, they tend to move in the south-western direction.
- North-east Monsoon: The monsoon which comes from the north-eastern region of the country is designated as the north-east monsoon. These monsoons come from the sea to the land. The monsoon winds carry the moisture from the Indian Ocean. The associated rainfalls are commonly called the Winter monsoons. It is the rainy days from the month of October till the month of December.
Importance
Monsoon plays an essential role in the lives of the people around the Indian Subcontinent.- More than 50 percent of the arable land in the country depends on the monsoon, for irrigation facilities.
- Approximately 70 percent of the annual rainfall in the country is dependent on the Monsoon season. Therefore, this percentage helps in determining the agricultural yield in the country. More than 60 percent of the population of the country is dependent on agriculture and monsoon for their survival.
- The rainfall associated with the Monsoon season helps with the water storage for irrigation purposes, drinking, and generation of electricity.