What geography blocks monsoons?
http://www.reference.com/science/landforms-affect-climate-e1ce9e4c93986124
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Monsoons are large-scale weather patterns characterized by seasonal changes in winds and rainfall. They occur in regions located near the equator and are influenced by various geographical factors. While there is no specific landform that completely blocks monsoons, certain geographic features can modify their behavior and rainfall patterns.
1. Mountain Ranges: High mountain ranges can act as barriers to the movement of monsoon winds, causing them to be forced upward, resulting in orographic rainfall. This phenomenon often leads to enhanced precipitation on windward slopes and a rain shadow effect on the leeward side. For example, the Western Ghats in India block the summer monsoon winds, causing heavy rainfall on the windward side and relatively dry conditions on the leeward side in the Deccan Plateau.
2. Deserts: Large desert areas can significantly influence monsoon patterns. They can disrupt the flow of moisture-laden winds by creating a dry barrier. For instance, the Sahara Desert in Africa modifies the path of the monsoonal winds, diverting them away from northern Africa and contributing to the arid climate in the region.
3. Ocean Currents: Ocean currents play a role in the formation and intensity of monsoons. Cool ocean currents, such as the California Current, can suppress the formation of monsoons by cooling the air masses above them, inhibiting the necessary atmospheric instability for monsoonal circulations to develop.
It is important to note that while these geographical features can influence monsoon patterns, they do not completely block monsoons. Monsoons are complex weather phenomena influenced by a combination of factors, including the interaction between land and sea temperatures, atmospheric pressure systems, and the Earth's rotation.