‘Monsoons' is derived from the Arabic word “mausim” which means season and it is a Weather Phenomenon which is common to Asia. Monsoons are defined as winds that change their direction with the change of seasons.

Asian Monsoons :

The prevalence of monsoons in this region can be accounted by the fact that the northern hemisphere has more land surfaces than the southern hemisphere. The air above the land gets heated faster than water and rises so that moisture-laden cold air from the ocean rushes in to take its place. Monsoons which are quite common and the strongest are the ones which appear in South-east Asia between the months of June and September. But it is always not possible to predict the exact time of its arrival. The countries which are most affected by the monsoons are India, Bangladesh and the adjacent countries.

Folklore and Monsoons :

•  People in India regard the monsoons to be a big force which is gifted by the gods. The pieties of the people determine the nature of the rains.

•  Australian aborigines think that if somebody leaves a cooking “possum” by the side of water, the “rainbow snake” gets angry and thus the monsoons come.

Types of Monsoons :

•  Summer Monsoons or the south-west monsoons : This takes place in the form of cycles with the cool air of the oceans blowing towards the land and creating precipitation and releasing energy. This energy then gives rise to another cycle. This kind of monsoon is central to the continental part of Asia.

•  Winter Monsoons or the north-east monsoons : In winter when the landmass of the continents is cold and the water is warmer the air flows in the reverse direction. This occurs in countries like Sri Lanka, northern Australia, Indonesia and coastal regions of eastern India.

Monsoons occur due to changes in atmospheric pressure which are caused by different rates of heating and cooling of continents and oceans.