CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN TROPICAL MONSOON LANDS

The basic cause of monsoon climates is the difference in the rate of heating and cooling of land and sea. In the summer, when the sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, the great land masses of the northern hemisphere are heated. Central Asia, backed by the lofty Himalayan ranges, is more than 9 'C (15 'F) hotter than its normal temperature, and a region of intense low pressure is set up. The seas, which warm up much slower, remain comparatively cool. At the same time, the southern hemisphere experiences winter and a region of high pressure is set up in the continental interior of Australia. Winds blow outwards as the South-east Monsoon, to Java and after crossing the equator are drawn towards the continental low pressure area reaching Indo Pakistan as the South West Monsoon. In the winter, conditions are reversed. The sun is overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn, central Asia is extremely cold, resulting in rapid cooling of the land.