Monsoons, History of

Abstract

The difference in specific heat capacity between continents and oceans induces the monsoons, which causes strong seasonal fluctuations in wind direction, and precipitaion over oceans and continents. The high seasonal variability affects various fluctuations in the environment and its biota which are reflected in marine sediments. Marine sedimentary sequences from the continetal margins, such as Oman Margin, South China Sea, Japan Sea, and Peru Margin, contain a record of monsoon history. Therefore, based on such records the evolution and variability of monsoon can be reconstructed.