Question

Write a short note on the Southwest Monsoon and the Northeast Monsoon.

Answer 1

Hint:
- Monsoon is referred to as the reversal of wind due to changes in precipitation.
- Southwest Monsoon contributes to the major portion of annual rainfall in India.
- Northeast Monsoon contributes to the minor portion of annual rainfall in India.

Complete step by step solution:

The Southwest monsoon begins from the month of June and continues till the month of September. In this season the winds blow from the sea towards the land, i.e. from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The southwest monsoon creates low intense pressure due to intense heat in the summer season leading to heavy rainfall in most parts of the country. Factors responsible for the southwest monsoons are:-

- Extreme low pressure in the Tibetan Plateau because of enormous heating in the summers.
- Continuous high level pressure cell in the southern part of the Indian Ocean.
- Equatorial jet streams.
- Inter- Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which is a dynamic region close to the equator where the winds of the northern and southern hemisphere come together.

The Northeast monsoon begins from the month of October and continues till December. In this season the winds blow from the land towards the sea from the northeast side to the seaside of the country. This season brings a little rainfall near the Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Karnataka. The most important factor is it creates high pressure on the northern parts of the subcontinent. It is dry, stable and less vertical extent as compared to the southwest monsoon. It is also known as the Retreating monsoon.

Note:
Inter Tropical Convergence has been identified in the year 1920 and 1940 by the name Intertropical Front.
The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone is defined as the low pressure belt which surrounds the Earth near the equator where the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres meet.
When the ITCZ is in the north and south position of the Equator, the changes in the direction is known as the Coriolis Effect.