Why do some places get monsoons?

Some places get monsoons because nearby land and ocean warm at different speeds. In summer, hot land makes air rise, and moist air from the sea moves in to replace it. As that damp air climbs and cools, heavy seasonal rain begins.

Monsoon places usually sit where a large land area meets a large ocean, such as parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Africa. Later in the year, the temperature pattern changes, winds turn around, and the rainy stretch gives way to a drier season.