ESS101C
Prof.
Jin-Yi Yu
Insolation Control of Monsoons
qMonsoon circulations exit on
Earth because
the land responds to seasonal changes in solar radiation more quickly than does the
ocean.
qChanges in insolation over
orbital time scales have driven major changes in the strength of the summer
monsoons.
qChanges of 12% in the amount of insolation received at low
latitudes have
caused large changes in heating of tropical landmass and in the strength of summer monsoons at a
cycle near 23,000 years in length.
(from Earth’s Climate: Past and Future)