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Monsoon Meteorology

Monsoon Meteorology. ATS 553. Monsoon:. A reversal of the wind direction at the surface, usually accompanied by the change in the precipitation regime, that occurs in the tropics on a seasonal time scale. Caused by:.

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Monsoon Meteorology

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  1. Monsoon Meteorology ATS 553

  2. Monsoon: • A reversal of the wind direction at the surface, usually accompanied by the change in the precipitation regime, that occurs in the tropics on a seasonal time scale.

  3. Caused by: • …the fact that water takes so much longer to heat up or cool down than land does.

  4. Three Reasons

  5. 1. Cooling by Evaporation

  6. 1. Cooling by Evaporation

  7. 2. Cooling by Mixing

  8. 2. Cooling by Mixing

  9. 2. Cooling by Mixing

  10. 2. Cooling by Mixing

  11. 3. High Specific Heat of Water

  12. Therefore… • In the SUMMER hemisphere, tropical land masses are much hotter than the surrounding ocean. • In the WINTER hemisphere, tropical land masses are much colder than the surrounding ocean. • Formation of HEAT LOWS and POLAR HIGHS:

  13. Heat Lows 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  14. Heat Lows 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  15. Heat Lows 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  16. Heat Lows 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  17. Heat Lows 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb L

  18. Heat Lows 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb L

  19. Polar Highs 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  20. Polar Highs 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  21. Polar Highs 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  22. Polar Highs 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb

  23. Polar Highs 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb H

  24. Polar Highs 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb H

  25. Polar Highs 500mb 700mb 850mb 1000mb H

  26. Fig 6-27 in Ramage

  27. Fig 6-27 in Ramage

  28. Fig 6-32 in Ramage

  29. Monsoon Regions

  30. Monsoon Regions Major shift or reversal of the circulation features.

  31. Monsoon Regions Prevailing wind isn’t just a statistical average—it reflects the real flow in the atmosphere.

  32. Monsoon Regions The prevailing wind needs to be reasonably robust.

  33. Monsoon Regions Monsoons are NOT just a shift in the storm track, bringing sequences of highs and lows.

  34. Fig 6-28 in Ramage • India IND • West Africa WAFR • East Africa EAFR • Southeast Asia SEASIA • Australia AUS

  35. Where don’t monsoons happen? • South America • 1. Cold upwelling means that the land is ALWAYS warmer than the surrounding oceans.

  36. Where don’t monsoons happen? • South America • 2. SAMER is too narrow at subtropical southern latitudes for a planetary scale anticyclone to form.

  37. Where don’t monsoons happen? • South America • 3. In the NH, SAMER doesn’t extend to regions of subsidence (which favor heat low formation).

  38. Where don’t monsoons happen? • Mexico, SW US • 1. No region has a 120° wind shift

  39. Where don’t monsoons happen? • Mexico, SW US • 2. Central America is too narrow for formation of polar highs.

  40. Where don’t monsoons happen? • Mexico, SW US • 3. Weather is more driven by synoptic disturbances. However, a monsoon trough does form over the eastern Pacific..

  41. Precipitation Regimes in the Wet Season

  42. What You Don’t Know About West Africa Is A Lot ATS 553

  43. Political Geography

  44. Historically… Grain Coast Ivory Coast Gold Coast Slave Coast

  45. Vegetation

  46. NDVI in WAFR

  47. Sahara

  48. Sahara

  49. Sahel

  50. Sahel

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