RAS question
The Indian monsoon is an example of which wind system?
Correct answer: (D) Periodic/Seasonal winds.
The Indian monsoon is a periodic or seasonal wind system because it reverses direction with the seasons.
Explanation
The Indian monsoon is classified as a periodic or seasonal wind system because its defining feature is a seasonal reversal of wind direction. The southwest monsoon from June to September is the rain-bearing phase, and the northeast monsoon from October to December is the retreating phase. Encyclopedia.com supports the same core idea: meteorologists use the term monsoon for an abrupt seasonal wind shift, with winds blowing from land to sea in winter and from sea to land in summer. This makes the monsoon different from winds that blow all year, occur only irregularly, or remain confined to a small locality. The answer is therefore not about rain alone; it is about a repeatable seasonal wind pattern.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Variable winds are irregular, whereas the monsoon follows a seasonal pattern of reversal rather than changing unpredictably.
- (B) Permanent winds, such as trade winds, blow throughout the year, while the monsoon is identified by its seasonal change in direction.
- (C) Local winds are small-scale winds such as Loo or Chinook, but the Indian monsoon is a broad seasonal wind system affecting the monsoon region.
Concept
This tests the classification of winds in Indian climatology, especially the distinction between permanent, local, variable, and seasonal winds. It recurs in RAS because the monsoon is central to India's climate, rainfall pattern, and geography questions.