A diagnostic structure of monsoon depressions

Abstract

Diagnostic characteristics of monsoon depressions have been obtained in this paper by composting 27 depressions, which moved In west/west northwesterly direction during 1961-74. The mean sea level pressure pattern and the pattern of contour heights a! Standard mill baric levels in depression field have discussed. The three dimensional feature have been examined from spatial distribution of temperature, moisture velocity (tangential and radial) and relative Vorticity and results discussed in relation to weather actually observed around depression centre. The results demonstrate that from the surface pressure and Vorticity points of view, the monsoon depressions belong to the class of tropical system comparable to hurricanes. The depressions have a low-level cold core structure. In the lower troposphere, strongest winds are observed in the southwest sector of the surface position of the depression centre, which is normally an area of heavy rainfall.