What is Monsoon?A monsoon is a shift in winds that often causes a very rainy season or a very dry season.
It is easy to confuse with the typhoon and cyclones, but they have totally different characteristics. |
Characteristic of Monsoon
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Areas of Frequent Occurrence
Monsoons frequently occurs in Asia between April and September. As winter ends, warm, moist air from the southwest Indian Ocean blows toward countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Also, it often happens in east Asia, such as Korea, Japan and China. Although monsoons are usually associated with parts of Asia, they can happen in many tropical and subtropical regions – including several locations in the United States.
How does a monsoon form?
A monsoon is caused by a seasonal shift in the winds. As there is the temperature difference between the land and the sea due to the season changes, the wind blows in different directions depending on the season.
- In Spring/Summer, the land gets warmed faster than the sea so the air temperature above the land is hotter. The
hot air above the land rises and the air above the sea blows to the land, creating the wind.
- In Winter, the bodies of water (sea) warm up faster than the land so the air above the sea rises, which reverse the
direction of the wind.
- In Spring/Summer, the land gets warmed faster than the sea so the air temperature above the land is hotter. The
hot air above the land rises and the air above the sea blows to the land, creating the wind.
- In Winter, the bodies of water (sea) warm up faster than the land so the air above the sea rises, which reverse the
direction of the wind.
Why monsoon causes the rain?
Summer monsoons near the Indian Ocean cause the heaviest rainfall. Then, why does a monsoon cause the rain? Warm water in the ocean evaporates, rising into the air. This causes the wind to change direction and moisture blows toward the land in countries such as India and Sri Lanka. The warm, moist air then condenses and becomes rain. The result is a period of humidity and heavy rainfall that can last for months. When the wind changes direction in the winter, it is called a winter monsoon. Winter monsoons in these regions near the Indian Ocean are usually dry.
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The Good and the Bad of Monsoon
The good part about monsoon is that it helps the farmers significantly. Lots of farmers in Southeast Asia uses the tremendous amounts of rain to grow and harvest crops.
The bad part about monsoon is that the large amounts of rainfall can lead to floodings and landslides. These floodings and landslides can often lead to heavy casualties and destruction of the properties.
The bad part about monsoon is that the large amounts of rainfall can lead to floodings and landslides. These floodings and landslides can often lead to heavy casualties and destruction of the properties.