What is the monsoon circulation? Monsoon currents in the ocean

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

We all know well what a breeze is. It is a pleasant damp breeze blowing from the sea in the summer heat. Monsoon is essentially the same thing, but it manifests itself on a large scale. In this article, we will talk in detail about the monsoonal circulation in the atmosphere, as well as the currents that result from it.

Monsoon circulation of winds and surface currents

The very word "monsoon" comes from the Arabic mawsim, which translates as "season" or "season". Monsoons are steady and rather strong winds that change their direction twice a year. In summer, they blow from the ocean to land, and in winter, vice versa. Monsoon winds are characteristic of South and Southeast Asia. They are also seen in West Africa, Florida and the coast of Alaska.

Where do the monsoons come from? To answer this question, one should first recall the causes of the appearance of wind in principle. We recall the definition from the school course of general geography: wind is a horizontal flow of air blowing from an area of high atmospheric pressure to an area of low pressure.

Summer in tropical latitudes the sunmuch stronger and faster heats the land than the ocean. As a result, the air above the surface of the continent heats up and rises, forming an area of low pressure. The air over the ocean at this time is colder and heavier, so it sinks down and forms a stable area of high pressure. This is how monsoons are formed, blowing from the sea towards the coast. In winter, the situation changes 180 degrees due to the fact that the ocean cools much more slowly than the land.

General features of the monsoon climate

The country in whose territory the monsoon type of climate is most pronounced is India. What is it expressed in? In summer, monsoons oversaturated with sea moisture bring dampness and precipitation to the coast. From May to September, up to 80% of the annual precipitation falls on the Hindustan Peninsula. This period of the year in India is called the rainy season. In winter, the wind blows towards the ocean, and dry and sunny weather sets in on the mainland.

In the monsoon climate zones, the so-called moist forests are common. The flora and fauna here are extremely rich. Forests are dense and impenetrable jungle, consisting of several tiers of vegetation. Animals in these forests are small in size, which allows them to move through dense thickets of branches and vines.

Monsoon currents in the ocean

Monsoon circulation in the atmosphere, of course, leaves its mark on the formation of ocean currents. Let's talk a little about them.

The monsoons are called thosesurface currents in the oceans and seas, the appearance of which is caused by seasonal winds - monsoons. As a rule, their direction coincides with the direction of the wind. True, some other natural factors slightly correct the movement of water masses (for example, tidal phenomena or the Coriolis force).

The most striking example of the monsoon current is called the Monsoon. It is localized in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, in the Bay of Bengal (see map). In winter, it follows the western direction, in summer - in the east and southeast. The core of the Monsoon Current is located approximately between 2° and 10° north latitude. The average flow velocity is 1 m/s, the water temperature is about +26 °С.

Among the monsoon ocean currents, the Somali one also stands out. It is located off the coast of East Africa. Small currents of this type are also found in the Torres Strait, Java Sea and South China Sea.