Downstream Amplification and Formation of Monsoon Disturbances

Abstract

Abstract In this paper we present many examples (based on 43 years of data) of a phenomenon of downstream amplification over the monsoonal belt. The specific finding here is the following sequence of events: 1) During northern summer pressure drops in the vicinity of the North Vietnam coast (near 20°N) as a typhoon or a tropical storm arrives; 2) during the ensuing week pressure rises over Indochina and Burma by some 5–7 mb; and 3) during the following week a monsoon disturbance forms near the northern part of the Bay of Bengal. On an x-t (or Hovmöller) diagram this sequence of low-high-low formation is similar to the downstream amplification phenomenon of the middle latitudes. The following are some interesting differences: over the middle latitudes the eastward propagating phase velocity is of the order of 10° longitude day−1, while the eastward propagating group velocity (the speed of propagation of the amplification) is around 30° longitude day−1. The tropical counterparts are westward propagating, an...