CLIMATE
ADVANCING MONSOON
Indian Monsoon
• The climate of India is strongly influenced by monsoon winds. The seasonal reversal of the
• wind system is known as “monsoon”. The monsoons are experienced in the tropical area roughly
between 20° N and 20° S. Go through the following facts to understand the mechanism of the
monsoons in a better way:
1. The differential heating and cooling of land and water create a low pressure on the landmass of
India while the seas around experience comparatively high pressure.
2. The shift of the position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in summer over the
Ganga plain is also known as the monsoon trough during the monsoon season.
3. The presence of the high-pressure area east of Madagascar, approximately 20°S over the Indian
Ocean, affects the Indian Monsoon.
4. The Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated during summer, which results in strong vertical air
currents and the formation of low pressure over the plateau at about 9 km above sea level.
5. The movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas and the presence of
the tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during summer also impact the
Indian Monsoon.
• The changes in the pressure conditions over the southern oceans also affect the monsoons. The
irregularly periodic variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific
Ocean that affects the climate of the tropics and subtropics is known as Southern Oscillation or SO.
Onset and Withdrawal of monsoon
The duration of the monsoon is between 100-120 days
from early June to mid-September. Around the time of its
arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and
continues constantly for several days, which is known as
the “burst” of the monsoon.
Arrival of the Monsoon
• The monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula generally by the
1st week of June. Subsequently, it proceeds into two – the Arabian Sea branch
and the Bay of Bengal branch.
• The Arabian Sea branch reaches Mumbai on approximately the 10th of June.
• The Bay of Bengal branch arrives in Assam in the 1st week of June.
• By mid-June, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon arrives over Saurashtra-
Kuchchh and the central part of the country.
• The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal branches of the monsoon merge over the
northwestern part of the Ganga plains.
• Delhi receives the monsoon showers from the Bay of Bengal branch by the end of
June.
• By the first week of July, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and eastern
Rajasthan experience the monsoon.
• By mid-July, the monsoon reaches Himachal Pradesh and the rest of the country
Withdrawal Of Monsoon
The withdrawal of the monsoon begins in the
northwestern states of India by early September. By mid-
October, it withdraws completely from the northern half
of the peninsula. From north to south, the withdrawal of
monsoon takes place from the first week of December to
the first week of January. By early December, the
monsoon has withdrawn from the rest of the country.
• South-east trade winds originate over the warm
subtropical areas of the southern oceans. They cross the
equator and blow in a southwesterly direction entering
the Indian peninsula as the southwest monsoon. The
monsoon winds cover the country for about a month.
Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills
receives the highest average rainfall in the world.
• A phenomenon associated with the monsoon is its
tendency to have ‘breaks’ in rainfall. These breaks in
monsoon are related to the movement of the monsoon
trough. The trough and its axis keep on moving
northward or southward and determine the spatial
distribution of rainfall. The
• frequency and intensity of tropical depressions also
determine the amount and duration of monsoon rains.
The monsoon is known for its uncertainties. The
alternation of dry and wet spells varies in intensity,
frequency and duration.
Features Of Advancing Monsoon
The features of advancing monsoon are given below:-
(i) It begins by early June.
(ii) The low-pressure condition over the northern plains
attracts the: trade winds of the southern hemisphere.
As these winds blow over warm oceans, they bring
abundant moisture to the subcontinent.
(iii) As a result, the windward side of the Western
Ghats receives very heavy rainfall, and the Deccan
Plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh also receive
some amount of rain in spite of lying in the rain
shadow area.
(iv) The maximum rainfall of this season in the world is
received by Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the
Khasi Hills.
(v) Another phenomenon associated, with, the
monsoon, is its, tendency to, have `breaks' in, rainfall.
The 'break' in monsoon means the monsoon rains take
place only for a few days at a time.
(vi) The monsoon is known for its uncertainties. While
it causes heavy floods, in one part, it may be
responsible for droughts in the other.
Retreating/Post Monsoons (The Transition
Season)
The months of October-November form a
period of transition from hot rainy season to
dry winter conditions. The retreat of the
monsoon is marked by clear skies and a
rise in temperature. While day temperatures
are high, nights are cool and pleasant.
Owing to the conditions of high temperature
and humidity, the weather becomes rather
oppressive during the day. This is
commonly known as ‘October heat’. In the
second half of October, the mercury begins
to fall rapidly in northern India.
Features Of Retreating Monsoon
•During October and November, the south-west storm
winds become more vulnerable and begin withdrawing.
•The retreat of the rainstorm is set apart by clear skies
and an expansion in mercury level in the northern
fields.
•This expansion in temperature alongside elevated
levels of dampness is named as 'October heat’.
•As of now, the low weight conditions move to the Bay
of Bengal offers to ascend to cyclonic dejections.
These cyclonic discouragements frequently bring about
the demolition of life and property for the most part on
the eastern and southern coasts
India's east and west drifts are inclined to typhoons with the greatest related risks downpour, substantial
breezes and tempest flood—looked by seaside regions of West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Difference between North-east and South-west Monsoon
South-west Monsoon North-east monsoon
•The winds blowing in India from North-east to
• The winds blowing from South-west to North-east
direction during the months of June to September in South-west direction during the period from
India are called South-west Monsoon winds. December to February constitute the North-east
Monsoon winds.
• During the period of these winds, a low-pressure •North-east Monsoon winds blow from the high-
region has become established in the Northern Plains pressure region towards the seas where low pressure
of the country. Hence they move from the south-west exists these days.
towards the low-pressure region. •They blow from land. Hence they are dry and cold.
• They come from the tropical seas and oceans. Hence •They absorb moisture passing over the Bay of Bengal
they are moisture-laden and hot. and cause rainfall on the Tamil Nadu coast during
winter.
• These winds cause 75 to 90% of the total annual •They do not have branches, Western disturbances
rainfall during the season of the South-west Monsoon. also occur during this season. But their occurrence is
based on different factors.
• The South-west Monsoon has two branches- The •Most of the country experiences clear skies, low
Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch. temperature. A gentle breeze and rainless fine
weather make the season very healthy.
• Rainy days, soothing winds and overcast skies are the
characteristic features of the South-west Monsoon.