Abstract
An overview of the problem of orographic effects on the southwest monsoon using the contributions of all the available analytical and numerical models is attempted. A quasi-geostrophic model is applied to deduce the effect of the topographic complex on the Indian peninsula. This model suggests that the southward bending of the low-level isobars on the peninsula can be ascribed to the topographically-induced southward velocity. This southward velocity triggers a Rossby wave to the east of the peninsula which is manifested as a trough on the southern Bay of Bengal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Simpson, G. C. (1921),The southwest monsoon, Quart. Jl. Roy. Met. Soc.47, 151–172.
Banerjee, S. K. (1929)The effect of Indian mountain ranges on the configuration of isobars, Ind. J. Phys.4, 477–502.
Sarkar, R. P. (1966),A dynamical model of orographic rainfall, Mon. Wea. Rev.94, 555–572.
Gadgil, Sulochana andSikka, D. R. (1976),The influence of the topography of the Indian peninsula on the low level circulation of the summer monsoon, Fluid Mechanics Report 76 FM 16, I.I. Sc., Bangalore, India.
Murakami, T., Godbole, R. V. andKelkar, R. R. (1970),Numerical simulation of the monsoon along 80°E, Proc. Conf. Summer Monsoon Southeast Asia.
Godbole, R. V. (1973),Numerical simulation of the Indian summer monsoon, Ind. J. Met. Geophys.24, 1–14.
Hahn, D. G. andManabe, S. (1975),The role of mountains in the South Asian monsoon circulation, J. Atmos. Sci.32, 1515–1541.
Normand, C. W. B. andRao, K. N. (1946),Distribution of wet bulb potential temperature in latitude and altitude, Nature158, 128.
Charney, J. G. andEliassen, A. (1964),On the growth of a hurricane depression, J. Atmos. Sci.21, 68–75.
Keshavamurthy, R. N. (1971),On the maintenance of the mean Indian southwest monsoon circulation and the structure and energetics of monsoon disturbances, Ph.D. thesis, University of Mysore, India.
Sikka, D. R. andGadgil, Sulochana, (1976),Large-scale rainfall over India during the summer monsoon and its relation to the lower and upper tropospheric vorticity, Fluid Mechanics Report 76 FM 19, I.I.Sc., Bangalore, India.
Srinivasan, V. andSadasivan, V. (1975),Thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere over India during the southwest monsoon, Ind. J. Met. Geophysics Hydro.26, 169–180.
Ramamurthy, K., Jambunathan, R. andSikka, D. R. (1976),Moisture distribution and water vapour flux over the Arabian sea during active and weak spells of southwest monsoon, Ind. J. Met. Geophysics and Hydro27, 127–139.
Sikka, D. R. andAnanthakrishnan, R. (1974),On the influence of synoptic scale system in controlling convective activity during the southwest monsoon, Proc. Int. Trop. Met. Meeting, Am. Met. Soc. Nairobi, Jan–Feb 1974, 115–120.
Taylor, G. I. (1923),Experiments on the motion of solid bodies in rotating fluids, Proc. Roy. Soc.A 104, 213–218.
Hide, R. (1961),Origin of Jupiter's red spot, Nature190, 895–896.
Warren, B. A. (1963),Topographical influences on the path of the Gulf stream, Tellus15, 168–183.
Rossby, C. G. (1945),On the propagation of frequencies and energy in certain types of oceanic and atmospheric waves, J. Met.12, 187–204.
Ingersoll, A. P. (1969),Inertial Taylor columns and Jupiter's great red spot, J. Atmos. Sci.26, 744–752.
Robinson, A. R. andNiller, P. P. (1967),The theory of free inertial currents, I: Path and structure Tellus19, 269–291.
Robinson, A. R. andGadgil, Sulochana (1970),Time-dependent topographic meandering, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics1, 411–438.
Vaziri, A. andBoyer, D. L. (1971),Rotating flow over shallow topographies, J. Fluid Mech.50, 79–95.
Hogg, N. G. (1973),On the stratified Taylor column, J. Fluid Mech.58, 517–537.
Jacobs, S. J. (1964),On stratified flow over bottom topography, J. Mar. Res.22, 223–235.
India Meteorological Department,Rainfall Atlas of India (1972).
Rao, Y. P. andRamamurthy, K. S. (1968),Climate of India, Forecasting Manual India, Met. Dept., FMU, Rep. 1-2.
Ananthakrishnan, R., Srinivasan, V. andRamakrishnan, A. R. (1968),Monthly mean sea level isobaric charts, Forecasting Manual, India Met. Dept., FMU Rep. I-1.
India Meteorological Department,Upper Air Atlas of India and neighbourhood (1972).
Flohn, H. (1968),Contributions to the meteorology of the Tibetan highlands, Atmos. Sci. Paper No. 130, Colorado State Univ. 120 pp.
Sikka, D. R. andRaghavan, K. (1976),Comments on effects of Arabian sea-surface temperature anomaly on India summer monsoons, A numerical experiment with the GFDL model, J. Atmos. Sci.33, 2252–2253.
Sadler, J. C. andRamage, C. S. (1976),Comments on the role of mountains in the south Asian monsoon circulation, J. Atmos. Sci.33, 2255–2258.
Gadgil, Sulochana (1976),On Inertial Taylor columns, Fluid Mechanics Report 76 FM 18, I.I.Sc., Bangalore, India.
McCartney, M. S. (1972),Taylor columns and Rossby wakes generated by isolated topographic features on a β-plane, Notes of the 1972 summer study program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
McCartney, M. S. (1975),Inertial Taylor columns on a beta plane, J. Fluid Mech.68, 71–95.
Long, R. R. (1972),Finite amplitude disturbances in the flow of inviscid rotating and stratified fluids over obstacles, Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech.4, 69–93.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gadgil, S. Orographic effects on the southwest monsoon: A review. PAGEOPH 115, 1413–1430 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874416
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874416