Monsoon climates

Question 1

Where are monsoon climates found?

Answer 1

In coastal regions between 5 and 20° north and south of the Equator, between the ITCZ and a zone of subtropical high pressure

Question 2

What are temperatures like in monsoon climates?

Answer 2

Hot temperatures all year round (18-30°C), varying by up to 10°C between summer and winter

Question 3

What is rainfall like in monsoon climates?

Answer 3

High (3000mm a year). Most of the rain falls in the wet season, and a little falls in the dry season

Question 4

What is wind like in monsoon climates?

Answer 4

Change direction with the season, in the wet season the winds blow towards the land and in the dry season they blow towards the sea

Question 5

How does the sun influence the monsoon climate?

Answer 5

The sun is overhead all year round

Question 6

What are seasonal changes in rainfall, temperature and wind direction caused by?

Answer 6

A season shift in the position of the ITCZ and zones of high pressure

Question 7

What happens in the cool, dry season (January)?

Answer 7

ITCZ moves south. Northern hemisphere tropical monsoon areas lie under high pressure zone, get little rain
ITCZ is over ocean, zone of high pressure is over land. Forces winds from land to ocean
Land cooler than ocean (land cools down faster than water), NE winds are cool, and bring lower temperatures

Question 8

What happens in the warm, wet season (June)?

Answer 8

ITCZ moves north. Brings low pressure and heavy rainfall to tropical monsoon areas in the northern hemisphere
ITCZ is over land, zone of high pressure is over ocean. Forces winds from ocean to land
Ocean warmer than land, so SE winds are warm and bring higher temperatures