SW Monsoon Season
Advancing Branches · Orographic Lift · Rainfall Distribution
MICRO-REALM 01
Onset & Burst
- JUNE TO SEPTEMBER
- SUDDEN INCREASE IN PRECIPITATION
- ARRIVES IN KERALA BY JUNE 1ST
MICRO-REALM 02
Arabian Sea Branch
- HITS WESTERN GHATS PERPENDICULARLY
- THREE MAIN SUB-BRANCHES
- EXTREMELY STRONG MOISTURE CURRENT
MICRO-REALM 03
Bay of Bengal Branch
- SWEEPS TOWARDS MYANMAR
- DEFLECTED NW BY ARAKAN YOMA
- ENTERS BENGAL & NE REGION
MICRO-REALM 04
Orographic Lift
- WINDS FORCED UP MOUNTAIN SLOPES
- RAPID COOLING AND CONDENSATION
- MASSIVE RAIN ON WINDWARD SIDES
MICRO-REALM 05
Rain Shadow Effect
- DESCENDING WINDS WARM & DRY OUT
- LEEWARD SIDE GETS SCANTY RAIN
- INTERIOR DECCAN (PUNE, N. KARNATAKA)
MICRO-REALM 06
Aravalli Alignment
- PARALLEL TO ARABIAN SEA WINDS
- FAILS TO CAUSE OROGRAPHIC LIFT
- PRIMARY CAUSE OF THAR DESERT ARIDITY
MICRO-REALM 07
Meghalaya Funnel
- GARO, KHASI, JAINTIA HILLS STRUCTURE
- TRAPS BAY OF BENGAL MOISTURE
- MAWSYNRAM: WETTEST PLACE ON EARTH
MICRO-REALM 08
Rainfall Distribution
- DECREASES EAST TO WEST IN PLAINS
- KOLKATA (HEAVY) TO DELHI (MODERATE)
- MOISTURE DEPLETES AS WINDS TRAVEL INLAND
MICRO-REALM 09
Trough Oscillation
- AXIS MOVES OVER PLAINS OR HIMALAYAS
- CAUSES DRY/WET SPELLS ('BREAKS')
- HIMALAYAN SHIFT = FLOODS IN NE, DRY PLAINS
MICRO-REALM 10
Heavy Rain Zones
- WEST COAST & WESTERN GHATS
- SUB-HIMALAYAN WEST BENGAL & NE INDIA
- MEGHALAYA PLATEAU
MICRO-REALM 11
Scanty Rain Zones
- WESTERN RAJASTHAN & KACHCHH
- LADAKH (COLD DESERT)
- INTERIOR DECCAN PLATEAU
MICRO-REALM 12
Economic Lifeline
- DRIVES INDIA'S AGRARIAN ECONOMY
- CRITICAL FOR KHARIF CROPS (RICE)
- RECHARGES GROUNDWATER & RESERVOIRS