Monsoons

Question 1

What are monsoons?

Answer 1

Winds that blow from the ocean towards the land in summer and from the land toward the ocean in winter as a result of different pressure that develop over land and sea in winter and summer

Question 2

Where does the major monsoon wind occur?

Answer 2

Southeast asia

Question 3

Monsoon is …

Answer 3

Seasonal wind reversal

Question 4

Describe the southwesterly monsoon ( list 7 points )

Answer 4

• ITCZ and Tropic of Cancer are north of the equator
• Areas like Northern India, Pakistan and Central Asia are very hot
• hot air rises creating a low pressure in these regions
• warm moist air from the Indian Ocean converges towards the low pressure and ITCZ
• Initially , the air moves in a northerly direction ,but as it crosses the equator it is deflected by Coriolis force and moves in a northeasterly direction from the ocean towards the land
  -The southwesterly monsoon brings rainfall to India
• The rainy monsoon season in India usually lasts from June to September

Question 5

Describe the Northeasterly monsoon ( 6 points )

Answer 5

• in the December , the overhead sun and ITCZ all move south of the equator
• the subtropical high pressure lies over northern India and Central Asia becomes very cold, so there is a strong high pressure area over the region
• Air diverges from this high pressure ,moving from the land towards the ocean
• the northeasterly monsoon is dry as the wind blows from dry semi-desert areas

Question 6

Why is it so crucial that the monsoons happen on time?

Answer 6

• people depend on these rains for their crops
• if the rains fail, there is drought and famine in India