Science Common Sense

296 - Why do some regions experience monsoons?

A monsoon is a type of big wind that brings heavy rain to some regions. This happens because of a difference in temperature and air pressure between the land and the ocean.

During the summer, the land heats up faster than the ocean. As the land warms the air above it, the air expands and rises. This creates a low-pressure area over the land. Nature wants to balance things, so air from the ocean moves towards the land to fill the gap. As this air moves over the warm land, it cools and gets heavy with water vapor. When it cools enough, the water vapor turns into rain, and you get a monsoon.

Some regions, like India and Southeast Asia, experience monsoons because they are near big oceans and have a big landmass. This temperature difference creates the perfect conditions for a monsoon to happen.