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Climate part 5

 

The seasons 2.0   

If we look at Indian climate, it makes us experience two more seasons apart from summer and winter. In this blog we are gonna talk about them.

 

The season of advancing monsoon:-

This season is commonly known as The Rainy Season.

The south easterly trade winds that are formed in the parts of the southern oceans start blowing in the south westerly direction and reach the Indian peninsula. As these winds blow over warm regions, they bring abundant moisture to the subcontinent. By early June, the low pressure conditions over the northern plains intensify and these winds are attracted towards this area. They blow with a velocity of about 30 km/hr. The monsoon covers the country about in a month’s time whereas north-west area is exception.

Occurrence of monsoon winds and them blowing over the country entirely changes the weather conditions. Early in the season, windward side of Western Ghats receive rainfall more than 250 cm. The parts of Deccan plateau and parts of Madhya Pradesh also receive some amount of rainfall despite lying in the rain shadow region. The maximum rainfall is received by the north eastern part of the country. If we talk of Ganga valley, here rainfall decreases from east to west. Rajasthan and Gujarat get scanty rainfall.

Monsoon is characterized by its uncertainties. The shift of axis of monsoon trough causes spatial distribution of rainfall. There are breaks in rainfall due to this movement. When the monsoon trough is over the plains, it causes regular and widespread precipitation in this region. On the other hand, whenever the axis shifts closer to the Himalayas there are longer dry spells in plains and the mountainous catchment areas receive widespread rainfall. The frequency of tropical depressions too determines the amount and duration of monsoon rains. These depressions are formed at the head of Bay of Bengal and cross over the mainland. The depressions follow the axis of the “monsoon trough of low pressure”. Monsoon is highly indecisive in nature. While it causes heavy floods in one part, there are droughts in some parts. It is often irregular in its arrival and retreat.             

 


Fun fact: - Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi hills receives the highest average rainfall in the world and hence considered as wettest place on the Earth.

The season of retreating monsoon:-

The post monsoon period or the period from October to November is usually referred to as transition period of monsoon. During this time, the low pressure trough over the northern plains becomes weak and eventually is gradually replaced by high pressure and as a result the monsoon winds start withdrawing themselves. By the beginning of October, the monsoon withdraws from northern plains. The retreat of monsoon is marked by rise in temperature and clear skies. Days are warm but nights are cool and pleasant. The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes oppressive during day. This is known as ‘October heat’. In second half of October, temperature starts falling in north India.

The low pressure conditions of north western India shifts eastwards- to Bay of Bengal by early November and this causes cyclonic depressions which originate over Andaman Sea. These cyclones generally cross eastern coast and cause widespread rain. The densely populated deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are struck by the cyclones. Major portion of rains occurring in Coromandel Coast is caused by these depressions and cyclones.

 


Distribution of rainfall:-



Conclusion:-

Despite the moderating influence by the peninsula and protection from strong cold winds by Himalayas, the climatic conditions in India are quite uneven. But the monsoon acts as a unifying bond for the whole country. People from North to South and East to West keep waiting for the monsoon to arrive despite its uncertainties. Rains caused by monsoon winds help in maintaining ecological instability and even biodiversity of the country. These rains are extremely crucial for some crops. The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit. 

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Location: Amritsar, Punjab, India

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