A QUICK GEOGRAPHY LESSON
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Map courtesy of the University of Texas-Austin (full image) |
Before we begin our investigation of the dynamics of monsoon development, a quick tour of the neighborhood is in order. The Indian subcontinent comprises approximately 2.9 million square kilometers and is home to nearly one billion people. Mumbai (formerly Bombay), located on the west coast, is India's largest city with a population of nearly 13 million people.
India's western, southern and eastern coast adjoin the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal, respectively. These large expanses of water play an important role in the development of the summer monsoon.
To the northeast is India's border with Nepal, home of the Himalayan mountains. This area of considerable elevation plays a major role in both the development and character of the summer and winter monsoons.
India's southern tip is located at approximately 8°N latitude, while the northern boundary extends just slightly past 30°N latitude. Virtually all of the subcontinent is located within the region defined by meteorologists as the tropics. This also plays a role in the monsoon cycle.