Climate & Climate Change - Tropical Monsoon Climate

Flashcards covering the Tropical Monsoon Climate, its distribution, characteristics, and impact on human activities.

Distribution of Tropical Monsoon Climate

Determined by the annual movement of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) between the tropics, associated with the movement of pressure belts & the seasonal reversal of winds.

Tropical Monsoon Climate Temperatures

Hot wet season, & cooler dry season. Average of 30° in monsoon season + high humidity.

Tropical Monsoon Climate Avg Rainfall

Average of 200mm for the season.

How ITCZ Affects Landmasses During Monsoon Season

Between May and October the ITCZ brings the strongest sun over the continental landmass, heating the land and causing large masses of air to rise in low pressure zones.

Origin of Monsoon Rainfall

Moist, warm air from the Indian Ocean to the south-west gets sucked in to replace the rising air over the continent and this brings heavy monsoon rainfall.

ITCZ Movement in November

In November the ITCZ moves south and the process reverses so that cooler, drier air moves from the continent back towards the Indian Ocean.

Location of Tropical Monsoon Climate

Occurs mainly on the eastern side of continents in the Tropics from about 5-20°Nand S of the Equator.

Agriculture in Monsoon Regions

Relies heavily on the warm wet conditions and this can produce high yields and support large populations.

Population Impacted by Summer Monsoon Winds

More than 4 billion people live in the Asian countries that are visited by summer monsoon winds.

Crops Relied on by Summer Monsoon

Rice and tea are some crops that rely on the summer monsoon.

Dairy farms reliance on Monsoon

Dairy farms, which help make India the largest milk producer in the world, also depend on the monsoon rains to feed the cows.

Impact of Monsoon on Industry and Energy Supplies

In India and Southeast Asia a large amount of electricity in the region is produced by hydroelectric power plants, which are driven by water collected during the monsoons.