The South-West monsoon

Abstract

A review has been made of the ideas about the south-west monsoon upto 1963 and the modifications necessary in the same in the light of the results of the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) during 1963-64. Important papers on the IIOE results published in India and elsewhere have been discussed in brief from the point of their usefulness in forecasting, indicating in what respects the interpretations are against weather, climatic and topographical features of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. Taking into account the presence of the Western Ghats, changes which occur within about 500 km. of the west coast of the Peninsula regarding clouds and weather and depth of the moist current brought to light by the IIOE results, become intelligible. There are no cyclonic circulations in the north-east Arabian Sea and Bombay area and in the South Bay of Bengal of the type of 'subtropical cyclone' in the eastern Pacific; existence of the same has been postulated due to inadequate appreciation of the Indian conditions by the workers concerned.