Monsoon

Monsoon is a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea. Usually, the term is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase.

Etymology

The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word mausim, which means season. Traders plying the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean discovered the monsoon winds could be used to predict weather patterns.

Process

Monsoons are caused by the larger amplitude of the seasonal cycle of land temperature compared to that of nearby oceans. This differential warming happens because heat in the ocean is mixed vertically through a "mixed layer" that may be fifty meters deep, due to the action of wind and buoyancy-generated turbulence, whereas the land surface conducts heat slowly, with the seasonal signal penetrating only a meter or so. Additionally, the specific heat capacity of liquid water is significantly higher than that of most materials that make up land. Together, these factors mean that the heat capacity of the layer participating in the seasonal cycle is much larger over the oceans than over land, with the consequence that the air over the land warms faster and reaches a higher temperature than the air over the ocean.

Types of Monsoons

There are two types of monsoons: the Summer Monsoon and the Winter Monsoon. The Summer Monsoon is associated with heavy rainfall and occurs between April and September. The Winter Monsoon, on the other hand, is associated with dry, cold winds and occurs between October and March.

Impact

Monsoons play a vital role in managing the ecosystem and also have a significant impact on the agricultural sector. They can also cause severe flooding and landslides leading to a large number of human and animal casualties.

See Also

• Climate
• Rain
• Wind
• Weather

Monsoon Resources
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