Question

Explain why the South West Monsoon winds enter West Bengal from the south or south-west direction.

Answer 1

The southwest monsoon winds enter West Bengal from the southwest direction because these winds originate in the southern hemisphere as southeast trade winds. As they cross the equator, they are deflected to the right due to the Coriolis force, changing their direction to southwest. These moisture-laden winds blow from the Indian Ocean, crossing the Bay of Bengal, and approach the eastern coast of India, including West Bengal, generally from the south-west and sometimes slightly from the south-east due to the influence of the Arakan hills. The Bay of Bengal branch of the south-west monsoon winds is deflected along the coast and enters West Bengal from the south-west or south-east direction, bringing heavy rainfall to the region.