Monsoon Foundations
Thermal Contrast · Jet Streams · The Great Reversal
MICRO-REALM 01
Seasonal Reversal
- COMPLETE 180° WIND SHIFT
- WINTER: NE TO SW (LAND TO SEA)
- SUMMER: SW TO NE (SEA TO LAND)
MICRO-REALM 02
Thermal Contrast
- LAND HEATS/COOLS FASTER THAN WATER
- SUMMER: LOW PRESSURE OVER LAND
- DRAWS IN MOIST OCEAN WINDS
MICRO-REALM 03
Tibetan Plateau
- MASSIVE HIGH-ALTITUDE RADIATOR
- INTENSE SUMMER HEATING
- DRIVES TROPICAL EASTERLY JET
MICRO-REALM 04
Mascarene High
- HIGH PRESSURE ZONE (30°S)
- EAST OF MADAGASCAR
- SOURCE OF SW MONSOON WINDS
MICRO-REALM 05
ITCZ Shift
- INTER-TROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE
- TRACKS THE SUN'S MOVEMENT
- SHIFTS OVER GANGA PLAINS IN SUMMER
MICRO-REALM 06
Somali Jet
- LOW-LEVEL CROSS-EQUATORIAL FLOW
- ACCELERATES OFF HORN OF AFRICA
- PUSHES MOISTURE TOWARDS INDIA
MICRO-REALM 07
STWJ
- SUB-TROPICAL WESTERLY JET
- WINTER: SOUTH OF HIMALAYAS
- SUMMER: SHIFTS NORTH OF TIBET
MICRO-REALM 08
Tropical Easterly Jet
- SUMMER UPPER-AIR PHENOMENON
- FLOWS EAST TO WEST (14°N)
- PULLS MONSOON INTO PENINSULA
MICRO-REALM 09
Differential Heating
- SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY DIFFERENCE
- WATER STORES HEAT DEEPLY
- LAND SURFACE SUPERHEATS
MICRO-REALM 10
Coriolis Deflection
- EARTH'S ROTATION EFFECT
- WINDS CURVE RIGHT IN NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
- SE TRADES BECOME SW MONSOON
MICRO-REALM 11
Ocean Topography
- LANDLOCKED ON 3 SIDES
- AFRICA, ASIA, INDONESIA
- TRAPS & CONCENTRATES MONSOON WINDS
MICRO-REALM 12
Monsoon Trough
- ELONGATED LOW-PRESSURE ZONE
- OVER GANGA PLAINS IN SUMMER
- AXIS SHIFTS CAUSE DRY/WET SPELLS