Reference no: EM133207906 , Length: Word count: 2 Pages

Assignment Task: Climate and weather patterns are caused by several factors. One very important factor is the potential for insolation to heat land and water differently. Seasonal differences between land and water temperatures result in different patterns of atmospheric circulation that influence rainfall. South Asia is an area of highly seasonal rainfall. This seasonal rainfall is a consequence of the monsoon. A monsoon by definition is the seasonal changes in the vectors of prevailing winds associated with rainfall. Summer monsoonal rain is the most influential weather phenomenon in Asia's tropical and subtropical zones. Monsoons bring both essential rain and dangerous floods. The monsoonal moisture has already travelled a very long way from the Indian Ocean before it rains out over the Asian landmass. The aim of this in-class lab is to study the monsoon, so as to understand the different factors involved with seasonal environmental change across South Asia.

Please answer ALL the following questions:

1. During which season is there more rainfall over the continent, summer or winter?

2. During the season that has more rainfall, where over the continent does this rain happen?

3. Where is the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) during summer monsoon rainfall?

4. How do you think the ITCZ and summer monsoon rainfall are linked?

5. Explain the weather patterns for south Asian and the Indian Ocean during the winter. In this explanation, be sure to discuss areas of low/high pressure, rainfall, direction of wind flow, and temperature differences.

6. On the last page of this document are pictures of the Ganges River near Bangladesh. The first one is before the flood of 1988, and the second one is after the flood. At what time during the year did the flood most likely take place?

7. Explain the rationale behind your answer for question number 6.