Relationships between Earth’s Rotation or Revolution and Geographical Extent of the Global Surface Monsoons

Mbane Biouele César

doi:10.4236/acs.2014.41006

Abstract

Monsoon seasons, occasionally also known as wet seasons or trade-wind littoral seasons, are found in the regions where there is a complete seasonal reversal of the prevailing surface winds. Accompanying these shifts in the prevailing surface winds are modulations in rainfall activity. Given the fact that our knowledge of the monsoons is mainly based on the interpretation of the mean values of precipitation, cloudiness and winds; relationships between earth’s rotation or revolution and geographical extent of the global surface monsoons deserve to be highlighted. In the abundant literary and audiovisual production devoted to monsoons worldwide and despite the fact that everyone agrees with physical law which shows that Coriolis force acts to the right in the northern hemisphere (to the left in the southern hemisphere), there is no reference to the relationship between Coriolis force (due to earth’s rotation) effects on troposphere general circulation and geographical extent of the global surface monsoons. Furthermore knowing that the ITCZ oscillations on either side of the equators (due to earth’s revolution) determine the seasons (mainly winter and summer), it is clear that earth’s revolution also plays a crucial role in the seasonal reversal of the prevailing surface winds observed in the regions where monsoons are found. Our main objective is to provide a rational answer to the question: what is a monsoon?

Highlights

The monsoons influence the climates of India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and, to a lesser extent, northern Australia and Central Africa
Despite the interest shown by scientists in monsoons [1-20], many questions remain about the physical processes capable of generating complete seasonal reversal of the prevailing surface winds
In our previous work [21-24], we deduce from Clausius-Clapeyron relation derived in 1832 that, unlike the dry water vapor that can be assimilated to the ideal gas at all circumstances, the saturated water vapor has, in an air parcel at the same time very cold and rich in moisture, thermoelastic properties diametrically opposed to those of ideal gas

Summary

Introduction

The monsoons influence the climates of India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and, to a lesser extent, northern Australia and Central Africa. They are found in those regions where there is a complete seasonal reversal of easterly (or westerly) winds. Everyone can note with satisfaction that the presence of water substance in all three states in the earth’s atmosphere gives to troposphere the exclusivity of a General Circulation consisting of three groups of passive convective cells (Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar) on either side of the ITCZ. Our results will mainly be based on representation in either side of the ITCZ of the seasonal prevailing surface winds triggered by Coriolis force effects on Hadley, Ferrel and Polar cells

Troposphere Dynamic Balance

Troposphere General Circulation Based on Moist Air Dynamic Balance

Coriolis Force Effects on Troposphere General Circulation

Conclusions and Comments