Atmospheric

Conditions
Written Report By:
Francisco, Joseph A.
Duldulao, Ara Meilin S.
Tactac, Mark Glen C.
Sison, John Whilmer A.
Tapar, Deanne Ivy P.
Nicolas, Arjay M.
Sangcap, Dustin Pierre B.

Atmospheric Conditions

An atmosphere (New Latin atmosphaera, 17th century, from Greek [atmos] "vapor" and
[sphaira] "sphere") is a layer of gases surrounding a planet or other material body of
sufficient mass that is held in place by thegravity of the body.
Atmospheric conditions are classified into two:
Weather and Climate
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or
stormy, clear or cloudy. Precipitation is a clear indication of weather. Precipitation is any
product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravity.
Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Troposphere
is the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the earth's surface to a height of about
3.76.2 miles (610 km), which is the lower boundary of the stratosphere.
Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area. It is measured by assessing the
patterns of variation in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation,
atmospheric particle count and other meteorologicalvariables in a given region over long periods
of time.

Scope of the Report

1. Weather
a. Rain, Drizzle, and Related Storms
by Mark Glen C. Tactac
b. Clouds, Fog, Mist and Related Atmospheric Phenomena
by Deanne Ivy P. Tapar
c. Drought, The Earths Solar Orbit and The Ozone Layer
by Arjay M. Nicolas
d. Snow, Hail, Sleet and Related Storms
by Ara Meilin S. Duldulao
e. Atmospheric Electricity
by Joseph A. Francisco
2. Climate
a. Monsoons and Climate Change
by John Whilmer A. Sison
and Dustin Pierre B. Sangcap

Rain, Drizzle, and Related Storms

Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water
vapor and thenprecipitatedthat is, become heavy enough to fall under gravity. This
phenomena occurs in the troposphere. Rain is a major component of the water cycleand is
responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth.
Drizzle is a light liquid precipitation consisting of liquid water drops smaller than those of rain
generally smaller than 0.5 mm (0.02 in) in diameter. Drizzle is normally produced by
low stratiform clouds and stratocumulus clouds. Precipitation rates from drizzle are on the order
of a millimetre per day or less at the ground. Owing to the small size of drizzle drops, under
many circumstances drizzle largely evaporates before reaching the surface and so may be
undetected by observers on the ground.

What is the difference between rain and drizzle?

Drizzle comes from thinner stratus clouds that are lower to the ground. Stratus clouds cannot
hold heavier rain drops because air currents are weak. Rain develops inside cumulus clouds
and can get up to 0.25 inches wide before falling out of the sky. Cumulus clouds are thicker and
more stable and contain larger drops.

Both rain and drizzle fall to the ground and come in different intensities known as light,
moderate and heavy. Light drizzle rarely hinders visibility. Heavy drizzle reduces visibility to a

quarter of a mile or less. Light rain falls at 0.10 inches per hour or less. Heavy rain is more than
0.30 inches of precipitation in 60 minutes.

Storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds.

A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, strong
winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. Depending on its location
and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by names such as hurricane (/hrkn/ or /
hrken/), typhoon /tafun/,tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone.
A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the western part of the North Pacific
Ocean between 180 and100E. This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, and is
the most active tropical cyclone basin on Earth, accounting for almost one-third of the world's annual
tropical cyclones.

What is the difference between cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons?

Hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons are all the same weather phenomenon; we just use
different names for these storms in different places. In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, the
term hurricane is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a
typhoon and cyclones occur in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

How are tropical cyclones formed?

Tropical cyclones are like giant engines that use warm, moist air as fuel. That is why they form
only over warm ocean waters near the equator. The warm, moist air over the ocean rises
upward from near the surface. Because this air moves up and away from the surface, there is

less air left near the surface. Another way to say the same thing is that the warm air rises,
causing an area of lower air pressure below.

Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes in to the low pressure area. Then
that "new" air becomes warm and moist and rises, too. As the warm air continues to rise, the
surrounding air swirls in to take its place. As the warmed, moist air rises and cools off, the water
in the air forms clouds. The whole system of clouds and wind spins and grows, fed by the
ocean's heat and water evaporating from the surface.
Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of the air.

Effects of Tropical Cyclones

The main effects of tropical cyclones include heavy rain, strong wind, large storm surges at landfall,
and tornadoes.
A storm surge is a rising of the sea as a result of atmospheric pressure changes and wind
associated with a storm.

Clouds, Fog, Mist and Related Atmospheric Phenomena

In meteorology, a cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water or
various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. These
suspended particles are also known as aerosols and are studied in the cloud physics branch
of meteorology. Terrestrial cloud formation is the result of air in any of the lower three principal
layers of Earth's atmosphere (collectively known as the homosphere) becoming saturated due
to either or both of two processes: cooling of the air, and adding water vapor.
How are clouds formed?
Clouds form when the invisible water vapour in the air condenses into visible water droplets or
ice crystals. There is water around us all the time in the form of tiny gas particles, also known as
water vapour. There are also tiny particles floating around in the air - such as salt and dust these are called aerosols.
The water vapour and the aerosols are constantly bumping into each other. When the air is
cooled, some of the water vapour sticks to the aerosols when they collide - this is condensation.
Eventually, bigger water droplets form around the aerosol particles, and these water droplets
start sticking together with other droplets, forming clouds.

Cirrus

Detached clouds in the form of white, delicate filaments, mostly white patches or narrow bands.
They may have a fibrous (hair-like) and/or silky sheen appearance.
Cirrus clouds are always composed of ice crystals, and their transparent character depends
upon the degree of separation of the crystals.
As a rule when these clouds cross the sun's disk they hardly diminish its brightness. Before
sunrise and after sunset, cirrus is often colored bright yellow or red. These clouds are lit up long
before other clouds and fade out much later.
Cirrostratus

Transparent, whitish veil clouds with a fibrous (hair-like) or smooth appearance. A sheet of
cirrostratus which is very extensive, nearly always ends by covering the whole sky.
A milky veil of fog (or thin Stratus) is distinguished from a veil of Cirrostratus of a similar
appearance by the halo phenomena which the sun or the moon nearly always produces in a
layer of cirrostratus.

Cirrocumulus

Thin, white patch, sheet, or layered of clouds without shading. They are composed of very small
elements in the form of more or less regularly arranged grains or ripples.
In general Cirrocumulus represents a degraded state of cirrus and cirrostratus both of which
may change into it and is an uncommon cloud. There will be a connection with cirrus or
cirrostratus and will show some characteristics of ice crystal clouds.
Mid Clouds
Altostratus

Gray or bluish cloud sheets or layers of striated or fibrous clouds that totally or partially covers
the sky. They are thin enough to regularly reveal the sun as if seen through ground glass.
Altostratus clouds do not produce a halo phenomenon nor are the shadows of objects on the
ground visible.
Sometime virga is seen hanging from Altostratus, and at times may even reach the ground
causing very light precipitation.

Altocumulus

White and/or gray patch, sheet or layered clouds, generally composed of laminae (plates),
rounded masses or rolls. They may be partly fibrous or diffuse.
When the edge or a thin semitransparent patch of altocumulus passes in front of the sun or
moon a corona appears. This colored ring has red on the outside and blue inside and occurs
within a few degrees of the sun or moon.
The most common mid cloud, more than one layer of Altocumulus often appears at different
levels at the same time. Many times Altocumulus will appear with other cloud types.
Nimbostratus

The continuous rain cloud. Resulting from thickening Altostratus, This is a dark gray cloud layer
diffused by falling rain or snow. It is thick enough throughout to blot out the sun. The cloud base
lowers into the low level of clouds as precipitation continues.
Also, low, ragged clouds frequently occur beneath this cloud which sometimes merges with its
base.
Low Clouds
Cumulus

Detached, generally dense clouds and with sharp outlines that develop vertically in the form of
rising mounds, domes or towers with bulging upper parts often resembling a cauliflower.
The sunlit parts of these clouds are mostly brilliant white while their bases are relatively dark
and horizontal.
Over land cumulus develops on days of clear skies, and is due diurnal convection; it appears in
the morning, grows, and then more or less dissolves again toward evening.
Stratus

A generally gray cloud layer with a uniform base which may, if thick enough, produce drizzle, ice
prisms, or snow grains. When the sun is visible through this cloud, its outline is clearly
discernible.
Often when a layer of Stratus breaks up and dissipates blue sky is seen.
Cumulonimbus

The thunderstorm cloud, this is a heavy and dense cloud in the form of a mountain or huge
tower. The upper portion is usually smoothed, fibrous or striated and nearly always flattened in
the shape of an anvil or vast plume.
Under the base of this cloud which is often very dark, there are often low ragged clouds that
may or may not merge with the base. They produce precipitation, which sometimes is in the
form of virga.
Cumulonimbus clouds also produce hail and tornadoes.
Stratocumulus

Gray or whitish patch, sheet, or layered clouds which almost always have dark tessellations
(honeycomb appearance), rounded masses or rolls. Except for virga they are non-fibrous and
may or may not be merged.
They also have regularly arranged small elements with an apparent width of more than five
degrees (three fingers - at arm's length).

Fog is a collection of liquid water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the
Earth's surface. Fog can be considered a type of low-lying cloud, and is heavily influenced by
nearby bodies of water, topography, wind conditions, and even human activities.
Advection Fog forms when quite warm, moist and stable air is blown across a cooler surface
(land or water). The air temperature falls until the dew pointis reached and condensation occurs.
Radiation Fog is a thin layer that forms because land cools down overnight. When the dew
point is reached and condensation occurs, the fog moves slowly upwards. Radiation fog is
common at lakes, harbours and in river valleys.
Mist is a phenomenon caused by small droplets of water suspended in air. Physically it is one
instance of dispersion. It is most commonly seen where warm, moist air meets sudden cooling,
such as in exhaled air in the winter, or when throwing water onto the hot stove of a sauna.

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. Water vapor is the gaseous state of water and
is invisible. Humidity indicates the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog. Higher humidity
reduces the effectiveness of sweating in cooling the body by reducing the rate of evaporation of
moisture from the skin. This effect is calculated in a heat index table or humidex.

What is the difference between fog and mist?

Fog and mist are both created by water droplets, differing only in their overall locations and
density. Fog is a cloud that reaches ground level, even if that "ground" is a hill or mountaintop.
Mist forms wherever water droplets are suspended in the air by temperature inversion, volcanic
activity, or changes in humidity. Fog is denser than mist and tends to last longer. In terms of
visibility, fog reduces it to less than one kilometer (0.6 miles), while mist can reduce visibility to
between 1 and 2 kilometers (0.6 - 1.2 miles).
Smog is a type of air pollutant. The word "smog" was coined in the early 20th century as
a portmanteau of the words smokeand fog to refer to smoky fog. The word was then intended to
refer to what was sometimes known as pea soup fog, a familiar and serious problem
in London from the 19th century to the mid 20th century. This kind of smog is caused by the
burning of large amounts of coal within a city; this smog
contains soot particulates from smoke, sulphur dioxide and other components.

Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles
obscure the clarity of the sky. The World Meteorological Organization manual of codes includes
a classification of horizontal obscuration into categories offog, ice fog, steam fog, mist,
haze, smoke, volcanic ash, dust, sand and snow. Sources for haze particles include farming
(ploughing in dry weather), traffic, industry, and wildfires.
Vog is a form of air pollution that results when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles
emitted by an erupting volcanoreact with oxygen and moisture in the presence of sunlight. The
word is a portmanteau of the words "volcanic", "smog", and "fog". The term is in common use in
the Hawaiian islands, where the Klauea volcano, on the Island of Hawaii (aka "The Big
Island"), has been erupting continuously since 1983. Based on June 2008 measurements,
Klauea emits 2,0004,000 tons of sulfur dioxide every day.

Drought, The Earths Solar Orbit and The Ozone Layer

A drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged
shortages in its water supply, whether atmospheric, surface or ground water. A drought can last
for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days. It can have a substantial
impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region. Although droughts can persist
for several years, even a short, intense drought can cause significant damage and harm to the
local economy. Annual dry seasons in the tropics significantly increase the chances of a drought
developing and subsequent bush fires. Periods of heat can significantly worsen drought
conditions by hastening evaporation of water vapor

Effects of Drought
Water is one of the most essential commodities for human survival, second only to breathable
air. So when there is a drought, which by definition means having too little water to meet current
demands, conditions can become difficult or dangerous very quickly.
Wildfires. The low moisture and precipitation that often characterize droughts can quickly
create hazardous conditions in forests and across range lands, setting the stage for wildfires
that may cause injuries or deaths as well as extensive damage to property and already
shrinking food supplies.

Social Conflict and War. When a precious commodity like water is in short supply due to
drought, and the lack of water creates a corresponding lack of food, people will compete and
eventually fight and killto secure enough water to survive.

The perihelion is the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, comet or other star-orbiting body
where it is nearest to its star. It is the opposite of aphelion, which is the point in the orbit where
the object is farthest from its star. Both perihelion and aphelion affect the intensity of solar power
received by the Earth.

The word perihelion stems from the Ancient Greek words "peri", meaning near, and "helios",
meaning the Sun. Aphelion derives from the preposition apo, meaning away, off, apart. (The
similar words perigee and apogee refer to the nearest and furthest points in some objects' orbit
around the Earth.)
The ozone layer or ozone shield refers to a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of
theSun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It contains high concentrations of ozone (O3) relative to other
parts of the atmosphere, although still very small relative to other gases in the stratosphere. The
ozone layer contains less than 10 parts per million of ozone, while the average ozone
concentration in Earth's atmosphere as a whole is only about 0.3 parts per million. The ozone
layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately 20 to 30
kilometres (12 to 19 mi) above Earth, though the thickness varies seasonally and
geographically.

Snow, Hail, Sleet and Related Storms

Snow is precipitation in the form of flakes of crystalline water ice that falls
from clouds. Snowflakes are accumulations of many snow crystals. Most snowflakes are less
than 1.3 centimeters (0.5 inches) across.The process of precipitating snow is called snowfall.
Snowstorm can describe a heavy snowfall.
Flurry is used for very light, brief snowfalls.
Blizzard is a winter storm characterized by high winds, low temperatures, and driving snow.
(According to the official definition given in 1958 by the U.S. Weather Bureau, the winds must
exceed 35 miles (56 km) per hour and the must drop to temperature 20 F (-7 C) or lower.)
Sleet is composed of drops of rain or drizzle that freeze into ice as they fall, and is sometimes
called a wintery mix of rain and snow. These small, translucent balls of ice are usually smaller
than 0.76 centimeters (0.30 inches) in diameter. Official weather observations may list sleet as
ice pellets. In some parts of the United States, the term sleet can refer to a mixture of ice pellets
and freezing rain.
Hail tends to be larger than sleet, and is usually generated during thunderstorms, which
happen more often in spring and summer than in winter. Hailstones form when upward moving
air, or updrafts, in a thunderstorm prevent pieces of graupel from falling. Drops of super-cooled

water hit the graupel and freeze to it, causing the graupel to grow. When the balls of ice become
too heavy for the updrafts to continue supporting them, they fall as hailstones.

Hailstorm is precipitation in the form of balls or lumps of clear ice and compact snow. It is not
known for sure how hailstones form and grow. We do know that they are spherical or irregularly
spherical and usually vary in diameter up to 1/2 in. (1.3 cm); in rare cases hailstones having
diameters up to 5 in. (12.7 cm) have been observed.

How do snow, hail and sleet form?

Snow is classed as a solid precipitation which occurs in a variety of minute ice crystals at
temperatures well below 0 C. We get larger snowflakes at temperatures nearer to 0 C. Snow
forms when tiny ice crystals in clouds stick together to become snowflakes. These ice crystals
have to have something to hold onto in order to form. This is called a condensation nucleus and
is usually a grain of sand or dirt. Once the ice crystal has something to hold onto it can become
heavy enough to fall to the ground. Snowflakes that fall through wet air that is slightly warmer
then 0C will melt around the edges and stick together to produce large flakes. Snowflakes that
fall through cold, dry air produce powdery snow that doesnt stick together. When wind is
combined with heavy snow it can create blizzards and drifts. But what about sleet? Is that
similar to snow? Sleet is also known as ice pellets. Ice pellets form in stratus clouds when
snowflakes start to melt as they fall from the cloud. As they fall through sub-freezing air they
refreeze into grain like particles. Ice pellets are usually smaller then hail stones and will bounce
when they hit the ground. How is hail different to sleet then? Hail is a shower of round or

irregularly shaped pieces of ice that form inside a cumulonimbus cloud. They start off as small
ice particles or frozen raindrops that are caught in the updraught of air inside the cloud. As they
ascend they grow by gathering water on their surface. How big they grow depends on how
strong and extensive the updraught is and how much water is in the cloud. In vigorous clouds
the hailstones may go up and down a number of times, adding a layer of ice each time.
Eventually they become so heavy that they can no longer be supported by the updraught and
will fall to the ground. Some hailstones can be as big as 6 inches in diameter and can damage
property and crops.

Atmospheric Electricity
Atmospheric electricity is the pattern of electrical charges in the Earth's atmosphere (or less
commonly, that of another planet).

Lightning is a sudden electrostatic discharge during an electrical storm between electrically

charged regions of a cloud(called intra-cloud lightning or IC), between that cloud and another
cloud (CC lightning), or between a cloud and the ground (CG lightning). The charged regions in
the atmosphere temporarily equalize themselves through this discharge referred to as a strike if
it hits an object on the ground. Although lightning is always accompanied by the sound
of thunder, distant lightning may be seen but be too far away for the thunder to be heard. A
lightning strike forms a visible plasma.

Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending on the distance and nature of the
lightning, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble (brontide). The
sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the
air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning. In turn, this expansion of air creates a sonic shock
wave, similar to a sonic boom, which produces the sound of thunder, often referred to as
a clap, crack, or peal of thunder.

What causes the occurrence of lightning?

Lightning is a flash of light created by electric discharge. It is extremely bright for a brief moment
in time even at great distances. You have probably seen static electricity where you see a small
spark. Lightning is similar except of course on a much bigger scale. Lightning requires a big
vertically developing cloud complex. A cloud that produces lightning will tend to also have rain
falling out of it. The precipitation process within a cloud is a reason lightning occurs. As ice and
water develop in clouds there is an electrical buildup. The electrical buildup on each ice and
water drop is very small but the huge number of ice crystals and water drops creates a large
electrical difference between different portions of the cloud. Lightning occurs to balance the
electrical build in the clouds or between the clouds and the ground.

An aurora is a natural light display in the sky, predominantly seen in the high latitude
(Arctic andAntarctic) regions. Auroras are produced when the magnetosphere is sufficiently
disturbed by the solar wind that the trajectories of charged particles in both solar wind
and magnetospheric plasma, mainly in the form of electrons and protons, precipitate them into
the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere), where their energy is lost. The resulting
ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emits light of varying colour and
complexity. The form of the aurora, occurring within bands around both polar regions, is also
dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles. Precipitating
protons generally produce optical emissions as incident hydrogen atoms after gaining electrons
from the atmosphere. Proton auroras are usually observed at lower latitudes. Different aspects
of an aurora are elaborated in various sections below.
Auroras usually occur in ring-shaped areas centered around the magnetic poles of Earth. The
complete rings, called the auroral ovals, can only be seen from space.
The best places to see the aurora are in Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, during the late
evening hours. Resident of the northernmost United States near the Canadian border
typically see auroras several times a year. On rare occasions perhaps once per decade
auroras are visible as far south as Florida or Japan.

An auroral oval also exists around the southern magnetic pole. This picture from space shows
the simultaneous crowns of the auroral ovals.

How do auroras occur and why do they appear in different colors?

The northern lights are caused by collisions between fast-moving particles (electrons) from
space and the oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere. These electrons originate in the
magnetosphere, the region of space controlled by Earths magnetic field. As they rain into the
atmosphere, the electrons impart energy to oxygen and nitrogen molecules, making them
excited. When the molecules return to their normal state, they release photons, small bursts of
energy in the form of light.

When billions of these collisions occur and enough photons are released, the oxygen and
nitrogen in the atmosphere emit enough light for the eye to detect them. This ghostly glow can
light up the night sky in a dance of colors. But since the aurora is much dimmer than sunlight, it
cannot be seen from the ground in the daytime.
The color of the aurora depends on which gas is being excited by the electrons and on how
much energy is being exchanged. Oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light (the most familiar
color of the aurora) or a red light; nitrogen generally gives off a blue light. The oxygen and
nitrogen molecules also emit ultraviolet light, which can only be detected by special cameras on
satellites.

Monsoons and Climate Change

Monsoon (UK: /mnsun/; US: /mnsun/) is traditionally defined as a seasonal
reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe
seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric
heating of land and sea. Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a
seasonally changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase.
Southwest monsoon

Onset dates and prevailing wind currents of the southwest summer monsoons in India.

The southwestern summer monsoons occur from July through September. The Thar Desert and
adjoining areas of the northern and central Indian subcontinent heats up considerably during the hot
summers. This causes a low pressure area over the northern and central Indian subcontinent. To fill
this void, the moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean rush in to the subcontinent. These winds,
rich in moisture, are drawn towards the Himalayas. The Himalayas act like a high wall, blocking the
winds from passing into Central Asia, and forcing them to rise. As the clouds rise
their temperature drops and precipitation occurs. Some areas of the subcontinent receive up to
10,000 mm (390 in) of rain annually.

The southwest monsoon is generally expected to begin around the beginning of June and fade away
by the end of September. The moisture-laden winds on reaching the southernmost point of
the Indian Peninsula, due to its topography, become divided into two parts: the Arabian Sea
Branch and the Bay of Bengal Branch.
The Arabian Sea Branch of the Southwest Monsoon first hits the Western Ghats of the coastal state
of Kerala, India, thus making this area the first state in India to receive rain from the Southwest
Monsoon. This branch of the monsoon moves northwards along the Western
Ghats (Konkan and Goa) with precipitation on coastal areas, west of the Western Ghats. The
eastern areas of the Western Ghats do not receive much rain from this monsoon as the wind does
not cross the Western Ghats.
The Bay of Bengal Branch of Southwest Monsoon flows over the Bay of Bengal heading
towards North-East India and Bengal, picking up more moisture from the Bay of Bengal. The winds
arrive at the Eastern Himalayas with large amounts of rain.Mawsynram, situated on the southern
slopes of the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, India, is one of the wettest places on Earth. After the arrival
at the Eastern Himalayas, the winds turns towards the west, travelling over the Indo-Gangetic
Plain at a rate of roughly 12 weeks per state, pouring rain all along its way. June 1 is regarded as
the date of onset of the monsoon in India, as indicated by the arrival of the monsoon in the
southernmost state of Kerala.
The monsoon accounts for 80% of the rainfall in India. Indian agriculture (which accounts for 25% of
the GDP and employs 70% of the population) is heavily dependent on the rains, for growing crops
especially like cotton, rice, oilseeds and coarse grains. A delay of a few days in the arrival of the
monsoon can badly affect the economy, as evidenced in the numerous droughts in India in the
1990s.
The monsoon is widely welcomed and appreciated by city-dwellers as well, for it provides relief from
the climax of summer heat in June. However, the roads take a battering every year. Often houses
and streets are waterlogged and slums are flooded despite drainage systems. A lack of city
infrastructure coupled with changing climate patterns causes severe economic loss including
damage to property and loss of lives, as evidenced in the 2005 flooding in Mumbai that brought the
city to a standstill. Bangladesh and certain regions of India like Assam and West Bengal, also
frequently experience heavy floods during this season. Recently, areas in India that used to receive
scanty rainfall throughout the year, like the Thar Desert, have surprisingly ended up receiving floods
due to the prolonged monsoon season.
The influence of the Southwest Monsoon is felt as far north as in China's Xinjiang. It is estimated that
about 70% of all precipitation in the central part of the Tian Shan Mountains falls during the three
summer months, when the region is under the monsoon influence; about 70% of that is directly of
"cyclonic" (i.e., monsoon-driven) origin (as opposed to "local convection").

Northeast monsoon

Monsoon clouds in Kolkata

Around September, with the sun fast retreating south, the northern land mass of the Indian
subcontinent begins to cool off rapidly. With this air pressure begins to build over northern India,
the Indian Ocean and its surrounding atmosphere still holds its heat. This causes cold wind to sweep
down from the Himalayas and Indo-Gangetic Plain towards the vast spans of the Indian Ocean south
of the Deccan peninsula. This is known as the Northeast Monsoon or Retreating Monsoon.
While travelling towards the Indian Ocean, the dry cold wind picks up some moisture from the Bay of
Bengal and pours it over peninsular India and parts of Sri Lanka. Cities like Chennai, which get less
rain from the Southwest Monsoon, receive rain from this Monsoon. About 50% to 60% of the rain
received by the state of Tamil Nadu is from the Northeast Monsoon. In Southern Asia, the
northeastern monsoons take place from December to early March when the surface high-pressure
systemis strongest. The jet stream in this region splits into the southern subtropical jet and the polar
jet. The subtropical flow directs northeasterly winds to blow across southern Asia, creating dry air
streams which produce clear skies over India. Meanwhile, a low pressure system develops
over South-East Asia and Australasia and winds are directed toward Australia known as a monsoon
trough.

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that
change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e., decades to millions of years).
Most climate scientists agree the main cause of the current global warming trend is human
expansion of the "greenhouse effect" warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat
radiating from Earth toward space.

Certain gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping. Long-lived gases that remain semipermanently in the atmosphere and do not respond physically or chemically to changes in
temperature are described as "forcing" climate change. Gases, such as water vapor, which
respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are seen as "feedbacks."
Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect include:

Water vapor. The most abundant greenhouse gas, but importantly, it acts as a feedback
to the climate. Water vapor increases as the Earth's atmosphere warms, but so does the
possibility of clouds and precipitation, making these some of the most important feedback
mechanisms to the greenhouse effect.

Carbon dioxide (CO2). A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon
dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcano eruptions and
through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels.

Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial
Revolution began. This is the most important long-lived "forcing" of climate change.

Methane. A hydrocarbon gas produced both through natural sources and human
activities, including the decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture, and especially rice
cultivation, as well as ruminant digestion and manure management associated with domestic
livestock. On a molecule-for-molecule basis, methane is a far more active greenhouse gas
than carbon dioxide, but also one which is much less abundant in the atmosphere.

Nitrous oxide. A powerful greenhouse gas produced by soil cultivation practices,

especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid
production, and biomass burning.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Synthetic compounds entirely of industrial origin used in a

number of applications, but now largely regulated in production and release to the
atmosphere by international agreement for their ability to contribute to destruction of the
ozone layer. They are also greenhouse gases.

On Earth, human activities are changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century the
burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon
dioxide (CO2). This happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with
oxygen in the air to make CO2. To a lesser extent, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry,
and other human activities have increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.
The consequences of changing the natural atmospheric greenhouse are difficult to predict, but
certain effects seem likely:

On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may welcome warmer
temperatures, but others may not.

Warmer conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation overall, but
individual regions will vary, some becoming wetter and others dryer.

A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the oceans and partially melt glaciers and other
ice, increasing sea level. Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing further to sea
level rise.

Meanwhile, some crops and other plants may respond favorably to increased
atmospheric CO2, growing more vigorously and using water more efficiently. At the same

time, higher temperatures and shifting climate patterns may change the areas where crops
grow best and affect the makeup of natural plant communities.

Climate change is already beginning to transform life on Earth. Around the globe, seasons
are shifting, temperatures are climbing and sea levels are rising. And meanwhile, our planet
must still supply us and all living things with air, water, food and safe places to live. If we
don't act now, climate change will rapidly alter the lands and waters we all depend upon for
survival, leaving our children and grandchildren with a very different world.
Some of the most dangerous consequences of climate change are listed here. Which one will
have the most impact on your life, or on the places you care about?

Higher Temperatures

Changing Landscapes

Wildlife at Risk

Rising Seas

Increased Risk of Drought, Fire and Floods

Stronger Storms and Increased Storm Damage

More Heat-Related Illness and Disease

Economic Losses