Tropical Monsoon Region !link! Direct

The monsoon is essentially a giant sea breeze operating on a continental scale. During the summer solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere), the Asian landmass heats up faster than the surrounding Indian and Pacific Oceans. This creates a low-pressure cell over the land, drawing in cool, moisture-laden winds from the ocean. This results in the "burst" of the summer monsoon.

This is the "Rice Bowl" of the world. Intensive wet-paddy rice cultivation is the primary agricultural activity, as rice requires the heavy flooding provided by the summer rains. Other crops include tea, coffee, rubber, and various spices. tropical monsoon region