Understanding and Forecasting of Monsoons/NAM S&T Centre

This publication presents a collection of 16 selected research/ review papers on various aspects of monsoons those were discussed during the international roundtable on ‘Understanding and Prediction of Summer and Winter Monsoons’ held at Jakarta/ Bandung, Indonesia during 21-24 November, 2005. Monsoons modulate the rhythm of life in several countries. The amount of rain received during monsoons critically controls the way of life, culture and economy. The word ‘Monsoon’ indicates a rainy season but the domain of monsoon encompasses seasonal changes in prevailing surface wind direction especially between summer and winter. The ability to anticipate how monsoon and the resultant climate, will behave from one year to the next will lead to better management of agriculture, water supplies, fisheries and other resources. Prediction of monsoon however is one of the major challenges of climate research as it is an extremely complex phenomenon involving variabilities over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The topics covered in this volume include observed aspects of monsoons in several countries, analyses of model simulations and forecasts, survey of instrumentation and analysis techniques and projections of monsoon in the future climate. Hence, the publication is undoubtedly, a useful reference material for the meteorologists and experts working in the area of monsoon prediction and will help the developing countries in working out appropriate plans and programmes on understanding and prediction of monsoons.