Monsoon in the Americas: Opportunities and Challenges

This article presents a comparative review of the North and South America Monsoon Systems and highlights the challenges and opportunities presented to those regions by the seasonal rains. Monsoon precipitation represents a major component of the water resources available to the southwestern US and to Brazil. Although each system shares classical features of the well-known southwest Indian monsoon, water use, agriculture, public safety, and energy policy in these two countries have been shaped by the unique regional complexities of monsoon rain across each region. A comparison between these two systems may offer perspective for ways by which these societies may adapt to current and future challenges, and take advantage of new opportunities.