Mountains, Monsoon and rainfall in India
The term “Mountain Effect” typically refers to the influence of mountains on regional climate patterns and, in particular, their impact on monsoon. Mountains can have a significant effect on monsoon in India in various ways, influencing precipitation patterns, wind flow, and weather systems. In this article it has been elaborated in details how mountains affect monsoon and rainfall in India in different ways.
Ways how mountains can affect monsoon
Orographic Lift
When moist air masses encounter a mountain range, they are forced to rise, which results in orographic lift. As the air ascends, it cools and condenses, leading to the formation of clouds and precipitation. This can significantly enhance rainfall on the windward side of the mountain range. For example, the Western Ghats in India receive substantial rainfall during the southwest monsoon due to orographic lift.
Rain Shadow Effect
On the leeward side (the side opposite to the prevailing wind) of a mountain range, there is a rain shadow effect. As air descends from the mountains, it warms and dries, leading to reduced precipitation. This creates a rain shadow region, where rainfall is significantly lower. The Great Basin in the western United States and the Tibetan Plateau in Asia are examples of rain shadow regions.
Influence on Monsoon Wind Patterns
Mountains can influence the direction and speed of monsoon winds. They can act as barriers or channeling agents for the movement of monsoon air masses. Mountains can also cause the deflection of monsoon winds, leading to changes in their direction. For example, the Himalayan mountain range plays a crucial role in influencing the behavior of the Indian monsoon, channeling moist air from the southwest into the Indian subcontinent.
Enhancement of Local Convection
Mountains can enhance local convection, which can lead to thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. The elevated terrain can create temperature gradients that trigger convective activity, contributing to the overall monsoon rainfall.
Influence on Regional Climate
Mountains can have a more significant impact on the microclimates of specific regions, affecting temperature, humidity, and precipitation patterns. These changes can, in turn, influence the behavior of monsoon systems in the vicinity of the mountains.
The interaction between mountains and monsoons is complex and varies from one region to another. Mountains can both enhance and disrupt monsoon patterns, leading to variations in rainfall and weather conditions in different parts of the world. Understanding these interactions is essential for forecasting monsoons and managing their impacts, such as floods and droughts, in regions prone to monsoonal climate.
Mountains affect monsoon winds to a considerably degree. They act as barrier and steer the monsoon winds in a specific path to the quantity that trajectory of the monsoon is ready in a selected direction.
Possibly, the satisfactory instance of this effect is the Indian Monsoon. When the monsoon winds weighted down with moisture strike with complete fury at the Western Ghats, they may be break up into elements via the Western Ghats mountain variety. One branch actions upwards from Kerala in the direction of Mumbai and keeps its journey up to Surat before losing its pressure.
The second department meets the Bay of Bengal branch neat west Bengal and when you consider that there are mountains to the north and east of this region, the monsoon wind is compelled to transport northwestwards from Calcutta closer to Amritsar; before stepping into Pakistan at Lahore. On entering Pakistan it exerts its complete pressure at the outer Himalayas near Murree and since it can’t go any in addition so the location on the foot hills like Islamabad receive heavy rainfall due to their proximity to the hills.
In addition the Muzaffarabad within the Kashmir area, backed through high mountains, takes benefit of the mountain effect and right here also, copious rainfall occurs. Rawalakot has a comparable impact but the high-quality example within the global is an area in India which we describe rapidly.
Cherrapunji (Meghalaya) , a station placed about 4500 toes. Excessive up the Khassi hills, is so properly placed that each the Indian ocean department and the Bay of Bengal department of monsoon meet with full pressure at this location. Secondly because of the particular role of its surrounding hills, this greater monsoon wind cannot break out and offers notably heavy rainfall at this station. Every so often, as a good deal as forty inches can fall at Cherrapunji in a single day.
Possibly, the satisfactory instance of this effect is the Indian Monsoon. When the monsoon winds weighted down with moisture strike with complete fury at the Western Ghats, they may be break up into elements via the Western Ghats mountain variety. One branch actions upwards from Kerala in the direction of Mumbai and keeps its journey up to Surat before losing its pressure.
The second department meets the Bay of Bengal branch neat west Bengal and when you consider that there are mountains to the north and east of this region, the monsoon wind is compelled to transport northwestwards from Calcutta closer to Amritsar; before stepping into Pakistan at Lahore. On entering Pakistan it exerts its complete pressure at the outer Himalayas near Murree and since it can’t go any in addition so the location on the foot hills like Islamabad receive heavy rainfall due to their proximity to the hills.
In addition the Muzaffarabad within the Kashmir area, backed through high mountains, takes benefit of the mountain effect and right here also, copious rainfall occurs. Rawalakot has a comparable impact but the high-quality example within the global is an area in India which we describe rapidly.
Cherrapunji, a station placed about 4500 toes. Excessive up the Khassi hills, is so properly placed that each the Indian ocean department and the Bay of Bengal department of monsoon meet with full pressure at this location. Secondly because of the particular role of its surrounding hills, this greater monsoon wind cannot break out and offers notably heavy rainfall at this station. Every so often, as a good deal as forty inches can fall at Cherrapunji in a single day.
The second maximum dramatic impact can be visible at Mahabaleshwar, a station placed at approximately the same height above sea stage as Cherrapunji and overlooking the Mumbai coast. Here additionally the excessive hills of Western Ghats at the back of this station force the monsoon winds to rise, cool and the resulting condensation produces thick clouds with surprisingly heavy rainfall.
Leaving aside India, the same mountain impact also can be found in Myanmar and in Bangladesh where Chittagong, backed by means of the high Arakanese range,gets extra rainfall than any other vicinity in Bangladesh.
In quick, mountains in South Asia enhance the monsoon rainfall pastime substantially and the places close to excessive hills get fairly heavy rainfall.
