Global Studies
Name
Monsoons Practice
Monsoons are seasonal ________ that dominate the weather patterns of _______ or
_________________. The word Monsoon means ________ in Arabic. In order to
understand monsoons, it is helpful to understand atmospheric pressure, gradient
pressure, differential heating and the coriolis force.
The most important factor is _________________. Air masses are described based
upon the amount of air pressure. ______________ air masses are generally heavier
and cooler than low-pressure air masses. ______________ air masses are generally
lighter and warmer than high-pressure air masses. Low-pressure systems are
associated with ______ .
_____________________ determine how air masses move in relation to each other.
Air masses flow from ___________ (cold) to ____________ (warm).
________________ refers to the variation in the way that land and water heat and
cool. Landmasses tend to heat _________than bodies of water, but bodies of water
hold the heat ______. As a result, landmasses _____ and _____ faster than bodies
of water.
Winds are described by the direction ________ which they are blowing. During an
average summer day at the beach, you are most likely to experience a ____ breeze.
A __________ system forms over the land, because it is ______ than the water. A
___________ system forms over the water, because the water is _______ than the
land. Since winds blow from ____ to ____ pressure, the winds blow _____ the sea.
On a summer evening, you most likely will experience a ____ breeze. This occurs
because the land ______ faster than the water, so the _________system forms over
the land. The winds then blow ______the sea.
Another important factor is the __________, which causes air masses to be
________because of the forces created by the ________ of the earth.
There are __ monsoon seasons in South Asia. The ____monsoon occurs in the
summer and begins in late ___. The ____monsoon occurs in the winter and begins
in ______________.
During the wet monsoon, a warm__________________ system settles over the
subcontinent. A cool __________ system forms in the Indian Ocean. The winds
blow from the _____to the _____, bringing cool, moist air. The dry, warm air over
the continent _____, cools and it starts to rain. Mountains serve to ___this weather
system, creating a _________ on the southern or __________side of the mountains.
This whole process is _______ during the dry monsoon. In the winter, a cool, dry
___________ system forms over the subcontinent and a warm _______________
system forms over the Indian Ocean. As a result, the winds blow from the _____
toward the ____, causing a long dry season.
Global Studies
Name
KEY
Monsoons Practice
Monsoons are seasonal winds that dominate the weather patterns of South Asia or
the Indian Subcontinent. The word Monsoon means season in Arabic. In order to
understand monsoons, it is helpful to understand atmospheric pressure, gradient
pressure, differential heating and the coriolis force.
The most important factor is atmospheric pressure. Air masses are described based
upon the amount of air pressure. High-pressure air masses are generally heavier
and cooler than low-pressure air masses. Low-pressure air masses are generally
lighter and warmer than high-pressure air masses. Low-pressure systems are
associated with rain.
Pressure gradient forces determine how air masses move in relation to each other.
Air masses flow from high-pressure (cold) to low-pressure (warm).
Differential heating refers to the variation in the way that land and water heat and
cool. Landmasses tend to heat faster than bodies of water, but bodies of water hold
the heat longer. As a result, landmasses heat and cool faster than bodies of water.
Winds are described by the direction from which they are blowing. During an
average summer day at the beach, you are most likely to experience a sea breeze.
A low-pressure system forms over the land, because it is warmer than the water. A
high-pressure system forms over the water, because the water is cooler than the
land. Since winds blow from high to low pressure, the winds blow from the sea.
On a summer evening, you most likely will experience a land breeze. This occurs
because the land cools faster than the water, so the high-pressure system forms over
the land. The winds then blow toward the sea.
Another important factor is the coriolis force, which causes air masses to be
deflected because of the forces created by the rotation of the earth.
There are two monsoon seasons in South Asia. The wet monsoon occurs in the
summer and begins in late May. The dry monsoon occurs in the winter and begins
in October.
During the wet monsoon, a warm low-pressure system settles over the
subcontinent. A cool high-pressure system forms in the Indian Ocean. The winds
blow from the water to the land, bringing cool, moist air. The dry, warm air over
the continent rises, cools and it starts to rain. Mountains serve to trap this weather
system, creating a rain shadow on the southern or windward side of the mountains.
This whole process is reversed during the dry monsoon. In the winter, a cool, dry
high-pressure system forms over the subcontinent and a warm low-pressure system
forms over the Indian Ocean. As a result, the winds blow from the land toward the
water, causing a long dry season.