The Asian Monsoon
Causes, History and Effects

The Asian Monsoon describes the causes, evolution and far-reaching effects of this dramatic climatic phenomenon.

Peter D. Clift (Author), R. Alan Plumb (Author)

9781107630192, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 29 May 2014

286 pages
24.5 x 17 x 1.5 cm, 0.52 kg

'… this book is highly recommended. It is one of the few, easily accessible and summative texts in the subject area.' Yongqiang Zong, University of Durham

The Asian monsoon is one of the most dramatic climatic phenomena on Earth, with far-reaching environmental and societal effects. Almost two thirds of humanity lives within regions influenced by the monsoon. With the emerging Asian economies, the importance of the region to the global economy has never been more marked. The Asian Monsoon describes the evolution of the monsoon, and proposes a connection between the tectonic evolution of the solid Earth and monsoon intensity. The authors explain how the monsoon has been linked to orbital processes and thus to other parts of the global climate system, especially glaciation. Finally, they summarize how monsoon evolution since the last Ice Age has impacted human societies, as well as commenting on the potential impact of future climate change. This book presents a multi-disciplinary overview of the monsoon for advanced students and researchers in atmospheric science, climatology, oceanography, geophysics, and geomorphology.

Foreword
1. The meteorology of monsoons
2. Controls on the Asian monsoon over tectonic timescales
3. Monsoon evolution on tectonic timescales
4. Monsoon evolution on orbital timescales
5. Erosional impact of the Asian monsoon
6. The late Holocene monsoon and human society
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Geography [RG], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Soil science, sedimentology [RBGB], Earth sciences [RB], Geophysics [PHVG]