What Are Monsoons And How Do They Affect Countries

Basic Definition - A monsoon is a seasonal shift in the prevaling wind direction that usually brings with it a different kind of weather. 

A monsson climate is characterised by a seasonal change in the direction of the prevaling winds which leads to distinct wet and dry seasons.

In south Asia, the ITCZ (intertorpical convergence zone) moves northwards towards across India during July. Low pressure develops over Asia which pulls air in from the Indian ocean, leading to heavy rains.

During the nothern hemsephires winter, a large area of high pressure bulds over Asia, pushing cool, dry air south, providing the reigon with its dry season.

Food Production

The monsoon plays a vital role in food production for millions of people around the world, particularly in India and southeast Asia. "Bloomberg" reports that roughly 80 percent of annual rainfall in India occurs during the monsoon. More than 235 million people in India alone rely on agriculture, and 60 percent use no irrigation, so they must rely on rainfall to grow crops for food. In years when the monsoon rains failed to come, millions of people starved to death. Thanks to improved food storage and technological advances, this type of mass starvation is less likely today, but without the monsoon, food supplies would be greatly reduced, and many people would go hungry. Monsoon rains also help to grow food for animals. In India, for example, the monsoon season plays a vital role in the growth of food for elephants, birds and exotic rainforest species.

Power Production

About 20 percent of electricity generated in southeast Asia comes from hydroelectric plants. These plants rely directly on monsoon rains to produce power for homes, businesses, hospitals, schools and other facilities. Without the monsoon, these power plants wouldn't be able to generate enough electricity, resulting in blackouts and increased electricity prices. This could harm the economy by interrupting production, transportation and access to medical care and education.

• Intense flooding would mean flooding, landslides and crop damage 
• Sea level will flood islands and costal areas. In Bangladesh it is predicted to rise by 30 - 100 cm by 2100, this will submerge up to 18% of the lands surface.                                This would cause mass migration and could result in both overcrowding and tensions. 
• Agricultural productivity would decrease due to less land (due to water submersion) to use for crowing crops like rice which is in high demand in Asian countries.
• The areas suffering from flooding would be more suceptible to illnesses e.g chlorea which is a water borne disease.