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Description
Flashcards by Molly Atkinson, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Molly Atkinson
almost 11 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| What is the definition of a monsoon? | The monsoon weather system is due to a seasonal change of wind direction. The monsoon refers to both dry and wet seasons although it is commonly used to describe the wet season. During this season in Bombay, over 2000mm of rain falls. These contrasting seasons require the people of south-east Asia to radically alter their lifestyles. |
| How does the monsoon system work? | In June, i.e. summer in the northern hemisphere, the land mass of Asia is much hotter than the surrounding seas. It is particularly hot in the Thar desert of north-west India and in the Gobi region of China. The air in these regions therefore becomes very warm and air begins to rise giving low pressure at the surface. At the same time it is winter in the southern hemisphere and the land mass of Australia is cooler than the surrounding seas. The air above the ground in central Australia therefore becomes cool and light, giving high pressure at the surface. As air always flows from high to low pressure areas, a wind begins to flow from northern Australia to South-East Asia. The air does not blow directly to its direction and is deflected to the left in the southern hemisphere and to the right in the northern hemisphere as it crosses the equator. Bombay, where the wind blows directly onshore receives torrential rain at this tie of year. In northern Australia by contrast, the winds blow offshore and little rain falls. |
| What are the effects of the dry season? | Heat exhaustion which can result in death as it did in July 1994 when 18 people died in Mumbai Issues over the lack of water for domestic use etc Agriculture – if the rainy season fails the northern part of India - farming becomes very difficult for subsistence farmers and when crops fail this has an impact on nutrition and food intake for these people and can result in death /starvation |
| What are the effects of the dry season? | Flooding during the wet season severely damages homes and property and has resulted in the loss of life If the Monsoon season is long enough as in the South, farmers can grow 2 rice crops within this period and this generates money Affect on agriculture - ploughing to fishing nets Affect travel and infrastructure and all services Tourism industry severely affected with roads impassable and accommodation flooded |
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