winter monsoon
Quick Summary
The winter monsoon is a wind system that seasonally reverses direction, blowing from land to sea. This occurs because land cools down more than the sea during winter, creating a high-pressure area over land and a low-pressure area over the sea. Consequently, winds flow from the high-pressure landmass to the low-pressure ocean. In South Asia, for example, these winter winds blow from the northeast and are generally dry, leading to drought conditions in many areas. While rainfall is minimal, some coastal regions may experience precipitation on their windward sides.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- climateMonsoons
Winter monsoons have a dominant easterly component and a strong tendency to diverge, subside, and cause drought. Both are the result of differences in annual temperature trends over land and sea.
Read MoreWinter monsoons have a dominant easterly component and a strong tendency to diverge, subside, and cause drought. Both are the result of differences in annual temperature trends over land and sea.
Read More
atmosphereEffect of continents on air movement…persistent offshore flow called the winter monsoon occurs.
Read More…persistent offshore flow called the winter monsoon occurs.
Read More