Question

Which part of India gets the bulk of its rainfall during the season of the Retreating Monsoons and why?

Answer 1

Hint: Monsoon in India is a major climatic phenomenon. It lasts from June to September and one of the phases is the Retreating monsoon.

Complete Answer:
Monsoon in India is a relatively long weather phenomenon. It occurs in two separate phases, the Southeast monsoon, and the Northwest monsoon. The Southwest monsoon winds arrive during the later end of summer, and weaken during the months of October- November. These weakening winds are also known as the Retreating monsoon in India.

These retreating monsoon winds cause clear skies in the northern and western sides of the country, but bring a lot of rainfall to the southeast coast. The state of Tamil Nadu receives the bulk of its rainfall from the retreating monsoon.
Let us now see why this happens-
1. South India usually receives rainfall from the south east monsoon, also called the incoming monsoon. But Tamil Nadu does not get much rainfall from it due to being on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.
2. Due to the retreating monsoon, temperature fluctuations over the Bay of Bengal often cause cyclonic rainfall.
3. Due to the eastern coast of India having a large indentation, the Bay of Bengal, the retreating winds again pick up sufficient moisture before reaching Cape Comorin. This leads to heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu and some parts of Kerala.

Note: - Incoming Monsoon in India is caused by two branches of the south west monsoon winds, the Arabian Sea Branch and the Bay of Bengal Branch.
-The Retreating Monsoon is thus named because it signifies the withdrawal of the monsoon winds, signifying the end of the wet season.
-The Trade Winds are primarily responsible for such heavy monsoon in Indian subcontinent.
-The presence of the Himalaya is another factor as it causes heavy Orographic rainfall in northern plains while preventing the moisture carrying winds to pass on to Central India.