Page 126 - ICSE GEOGRAPHY

Wind Reversal Monsoon of the Bay of Bengal Branch
Th e Indian climate is characterised by the Bangladesh, West Bengal and Odisha are
complete reversal of the wind system that at the receiving end of the winds of the Bay
occurs with the change in season. During of Bengal branch. Th ese winds also go to
the winter, the trade winds generally blow Meghalaya where they are trapped within the

from the north-east to the south-west. Th ese tunnel-shaped mountains. It is because of this
winds are dry, devoid of moisture and are entrapment that places like Mawsynram and
characterised by low temperatures and high Cherrapunji receive the maximum amount
pressure conditions over the country. During of rainfall in the world.
summer, a complete reversal in the direction
Monsoon of the Arabian Sea Branch
of the winds is observed as they blow
primarily from the south-west to the north- Th e winds travelling over the Arabian Sea
east, carrying with them moisture from the enter the western coast and then the plains of
western and northern India. Here, the rainfall
large water bodies that surround the Indian
is lesser as compared to the rain that falls over
subcontinent.
Assam. Th e rainfall lasts from the month of
June to September.
Monsoons in India

Th e word ‘monsoon’ has been derived
from the Arabic word ‘Mausim’ INDIA CLIMATE
which means ‘season’. Looking at
Asia’s climatic regions it has been
PAKISTAN
understood that India’s climate is
TIBET
dominated by the monsoon winds.
Th ey blow constantly from the Low Pressure NEPAL BHUTAN
month of June to September. During
this period, much of India receives BANGLADESH
heavy rainfall.
Monsoons refer to a system of MYANMAR

winds in the tropical regions under
which the direction of the wind is
completely reversed between the
summer and the winter seasons. ARABIAN BAY
OF
SEA BENGAL
Under this system, the winds blow
from the land to the sea in winters Arabian Sea Branch Bay of Bengal Branch
and from the sea to the land in
summers. Th erefore, most of the
Andaman & Nicobar
rainfall is received in the summer Lakshadweep S.W. Monsoon Islands (India)
(India)
season whereas the winter season is
SRI
generally dry in the regions usually High Pressure LANKA High Pressure
I N D I A N O C E A N
aff ected by the monsoons.
The advent of the south-west monsoon winds

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