monsoon rains on the Western sides of the Western ghats are examples of
Answers
Answer:
The mountain range that runs along the west coast of peninsular India from Tamil Nadu through Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa to Maharashtra is known as the Western Ghats and is very well known for its majestic beauty. It is also among the top eight biodiversity hotspots in the world. The Western Ghats host over 400 species and seven distinct vegetation types.
Explanation:
The Western Ghats are often in the news due to constant threat to their biodiversity. Forest cover has declined by up to 50 percent in parts of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and the evergreens in Kerala are facing a threat of extinction. The overall deforestation is reported to be accelerating over recent decades. In the meantime, water distribution remains a contentious issue among states in the region. What has not been understood clearly is just how critical a source of moisture the greenery of the Western Ghats is for some of the water-stressed states.
The Ghats run perpendicular to the moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds gusting in from the Arabian Sea, forcing the winds to climb the mountain range to get over to the other side. This climb leads to an expansion of the winds since pressure decreases with height in the atmosphere and the expansion leads to a cooling and thus condensation of the moisture. This results in annual rainfall ranging from 2000 mm to nearly 7800 mm. If you are hiking the Ghats during the rainy season and happen to catch one of the break periods in the monsoon, then you will see water vapour pouring out of lush green vegetation like steam over a hot cup of coffee.