Monsoon does not come gradually, it bursts suddenly
Q. Which of the following is/are true about Monsoon?- Published on 20 May 16a. Monsoon comes gradually
b. Monsoon bursts suddenly
c. Tropical Easterly Jet flow in upper troposphere.
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Monsoon bursts suddenly
- Southwest monsoon hits the Kerala coast every year precisely on June 1. Monsoon does not come gradually; it “bursts” suddenly on a single day.
- Sub-Tropical Jet stream (STJ) is a narrow band of fast moving air flowing from west to east [Westerlies]. This jet stream is bifurcated by the Himalayan ranges and Tibetan Plateau.
- A warm-core anticyclone is formed over this plateau during the summer monsoon period. It is the result of a process called anticyclogenesis.
- At the beginning of June, the STJ disappears from the southern side of the plateau. In other words, the jet disappears completely over northern India accentuated by the anticyclogenesis created by the Tibetan plateau. This sudden shift is the cause of the “bursting” of the monsoon.
- Easterly winds blow in the mid-troposphere and are known as the Tropical Easterly Jet. This jet extends far to the south of Tibet and the air flow is roughly along the Calcutta-Bangalore axis.
