Question

Why do the south-east trade winds become the south-west monsoon?

Answer 1

Hint: A seasonal shift in wind direction is called monsoon. Monsoon causes heavy rainfall. Indian monsoon is the most prominent monsoon in the world.

Complete Step by Step Answer: The direction in which monsoon blows is from land towards the Sea in the winters and from Sea towards land in the summers. The winds of monsoon blow from cold to warm climate. The reason behind this phenomenon is that cold air fills more space than warm air. The low pressure area attracts south-east trade winds. Due to coriolis force, these trade winds turn right towards the low pressure areas in India after crossing the equator and start blowing in the southwestern direction. Thereafter these trade winds enter the peninsular part of India as the south-west monsoon. Winters in India are dry and hot. The monsoon winds carry moisture from north-east. Most of India lies between the equator and the tropic of cancer, so the Indian land gets direct access to the sun’s rays. The monsoon in summers enters Indian subcontinent from the south-west direction. These winds carry moisture from the indian Ocean. This brings heavy rainfall between the months of June to September.
The south-east trade winds become the south-west monsoon because these trade winds cross the equator and start blowing in the south-west direction under the influence of coriolis force.

Note: The south-west monsoon which is called the summer monsoon has potential for destruction. But it is welcomed in India by farmers because they depend on these rains for irrigation. Other than this a big amount of India’s electricity is generated by the water provided by the monsoon rains.