#weathersystem

Do you know where the wettest place on earth is? No, it is not the ocean, the Mariana trench or your neighbours’ pond. It is in fact a place called Mawsynram, in the region of Meghalaya, India. Here holds the record for the highest average annual rainfall at a whopping 11,871mm. To put that into comparison New York has roughly 1170mm, surprisingly more than London with approximately 560mm.So why is this area so wet? To the south of the region is the Bay of Bengal, which has heavy monsoon seasons, and during monsoon season, warm moist winds carry northwards towards Meghalaya. The moisture is then concentrated as it hits the Nearby Khasi hills. As these hills are aligned side-on to the airflow it creates a significant uplift called an Orographic lift, which means the hills push up the moist air, and as it cools rapidly, rain producing clouds form on the windward side. Mountainous areas generally receive more rainfall than flat areas for this reason. Locals wear a special hat made of bamboo and banana leaf to help when working in the rain which covers their whole body but keeps hands free.Another fact is that dead wood rots and decays quicker in these conditions, so bridges have been developed here that are made out of live tree roots, trained and entangled over many years to form a bridge capable of being walked on!Oh and if you decide to visit the area, don’t forgot your umbrella.Do you know where the wettest place on earth is? No, it is not the ocean, the Mariana trench or your neighbours’ pond. It is in fact a place called Mawsynram, in the region of Meghalaya, India.

Here holds the record for the highest average annual rainfall at a whopping 11,871mm. To put that into comparison New York has roughly 1170mm, surprisingly more than London with approximately 560mm.

So why is this area so wet? To the south of the region is the Bay of Bengal, which has heavy monsoon seasons, and during monsoon season, warm moist winds carry northwards towards Meghalaya. The moisture is then concentrated as it hits the Nearby Khasi hills. As these hills are aligned side-on to the airflow it creates a significant uplift called an Orographic lift, which means the hills push up the moist air, and as it cools rapidly, rain producing clouds form on the windward side. Mountainous areas generally receive more rainfall than flat areas for this reason.

Locals wear a special hat made of bamboo and banana leaf to help when working in the rain which covers their whole body but keeps hands free.

Another fact is that dead wood rots and decays quicker in these conditions, so bridges have been developed here that are made out of live tree roots, trained and entangled over many years to form a bridge capable of being walked on!