India is known for its monsoon type of climate, which brings heavy rainfall to the country every year. This climate is a unique feature of the country and has a significant impact on its economy, agriculture, and overall way of life. India has a monsoon type of climate due to its geographical location and topography. India is located in the tropical region, and its vast landmass and location between the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west create a unique climate
In this blog we will excavate the reasons why there is a tropical monsoon climate in India. Let’s begin with some monsoon climate facts for kids.
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Geographical location and topography
India’s geographical location and topography play a crucial role in the kind of monsoon climate. The country is located in the tropical region, and its vast landmass lies between the east and the west seas, namely the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian sea respectively. This location makes it susceptible to the tropical monsoon climate in India that bears the wind that blows over the Indian Ocean.
During the summer months, the landmass of India heats up faster than the surrounding seas, creating a low-pressure zone. This low-pressure zone draws in the moist air from the Indian Ocean, resulting in the southwest monsoon that brings heavy rainfall to the country.
During the winter months, the situation reverses, and the landmass cools down faster than the surrounding seas, leading to higher pressure over the land than the water body. This high-pressure zone draws in dry air from the north, resulting in the northeast monsoon.
Also Read: Monsoon Safety Tips for Kids
Types of Monsoons in India
- Southwest Monsoon
- Arrival of Southwest monsoon
- Northeast Monsoon
- Arrival of Northeast monsoon
- The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
The southwest monsoon is the primary monsoon that affects India. This is very critical for India’s agriculture, as it brings most of the rainfall to the country. These kinds of monsoon rains provide water to the crops, which is essential for their growth and development. The western coast of India, including the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala receives heavy rainfall due to the Arabian Sea monsoon winds. The eastern and northeastern regions of the country, including the states of West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya receive heavy rainfall due to the Bay of Bengal monsoon winds.
During Summer, the landmass heats up causing the air to rise and create low-pressure. This draws in moist air from the seas surrounding India. The southwest kind of monsoon begins in June and lasts until September, covering the entire country in a matter of weeks.
The northeast monsoon is a secondary monsoon that affects India. The northeast kind of monsoon affects the eastern coast of India, including the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. However, the rainfall from the Northeast monsoon is usually not as heavy as that of the southwest monsoon. The northeast monsoon is critical for agriculture in the eastern parts of the country, as it provides the same amount of rainfall to the crops. It also helps in replenishing groundwater levels and filling up the country’s reservoirs and lakes.
In the winters the situation is directly opposite to what we witnessed in the summers. The land cools down faster that the surrounding water bodies which causes high pressure in the landmass compared to the seas around. The northeast monsoon begins in October and lasts until December, bringing rainfall to the eastern coast of the country.
The topography also plays an important and crucial role in the monsoon climate. The towering Himalayas in the north and the Western Ghats in the west act as a barrier to the monsoon winds, causing heavy rainfall on the western coast and the northeast region. The Himalayas also prevent the cold, dry air from the north from entering the Indian subcontinent, making the monsoon winds the dominant weather pattern in the country.
Diving deep into a few monsoon climate facts for kids. The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea are two significant water bodies that surround India and contribute to its monsoon climate. The Bay of Bengal is warmer than the Arabian Sea, and its water temperature increases during the summer months, which intensifies the southwest monsoon winds. The Arabian Sea, on the other hand, has a more constant temperature, which results in a weak southwest monsoon.
The monsoon winds that blow over the Bay of Bengal are responsible for the heavy rainfall in the eastern and northeastern regions of the country. The winds pick up moisture as they cross the Bay of Bengal and bring it to the Indian subcontinent, resulting in heavy rainfall in the region.
The Arabian Sea monsoon winds bring rainfall to the western coast of India, including the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. The Western Ghats act as a barrier to monsoon winds causing heavy rainfall in the region.
Also Read: Prepare Kids for Monsoon Season
Impact on Agriculture
India’s monsoon climate has a significant impact on its agriculture, which is the primary source of livelihood for over half of its population. The monsoon rains provide water to the crops, which is essential for their growth and development. A good monsoon season can lead to high crop yields, while a poor monsoon season can lead to drought and crop failures.
The southwest monsoon is particularly crucial for agriculture in India, as it brings the majority of the rainfall to the country. The monsoon rains are responsible for filling the country’s reservoirs and lakes, which are used for irrigation and drinking water. A poor monsoon season can lead to water shortages and drought, which can have severe consequences for agriculture and the overall economy.
Overall, India’s monsoon climate is a complex interaction between geography, topography, and seasonal variations in temperature, which makes it a unique feature of the country’s climate. India experiences two main types of monsoons – the southwest monsoon and the northeast monsoon. Both monsoons are essential for India’s agricultural and economy, and their timing and intensity play a crucial role in the country’s overall development.
At EuroSchool, the professionally trained educators provide the children with facts and knowledge about a subject in order for the child to develop their specialization and get factually accurate information about all the subjects and topics. This would help the child to develop a fondness towards subjects and particular topics. As we can see in this blog, children can learn and engage in the tropical monsoon climate in India, which focuses on weather and geographical and oceanographic information. This would help the children develop and be informed at the same time.
