Asia – great climatic contrasts and vegetation zones
that Asia is the largest continent in the world in terms of surface;
that thematic maps allow describing and comparing the natural environment of Asia.
indicates climate zones of Asia;
lists factors determining the diversity of climate in each climate zone;
describes the most important types of climate in Asia;
reads climate diagrams;
indicates plant zones on the map, explains the relation with location and type of climate.
Geographical location of Asia
Asia is the largest continent on Earth. Its surface area is 44.5 million kmIndeks górny 22. The dense land area lies entirely in the northern hemisphere, and extends from the equator to high, circumpolar latitudes of the north. In the southern hemisphere there are many Asian islands, including a large part of the Malay Archipelago. Asia is also almost entirely located in the eastern hemisphere – the only area of Asia in the western hemisphere is the Chukchi Peninsula.
Asia and Europe constitute a compact block of land and are often named Eurasia. You already know that the border between these continents is contractual. Europe is often called the great peninsula lying in the west of Asia. To the south‑west of Asia, behind the Suez Isthmus and the Red Sea, there is Africa. Asia is separated from North America by the Bering Strait with a width of approx. 85 km. The geographical location of Asia is represented by the map.
High climatic contrasts in Asia
The geographical location is the determining factor for the occurrence of all climatic zones in Asia. Local geographic factors affecting the diversification of climate varieties in each zone are as follows:
significant height of the continent;
latitudinal course of most high mountain ranges;
significant distance of areas lying in the centre of Asia from the ocean;
monsoon circulation of air masses in South and South‑East Asia changes the direction of their inflow twice a year – from October to March the monsoon blows from the mainland towards the ocean, and from April to September from the ocean towards the mainland.
Great climate contrasts in Asia
On the southern edges of Asia and the islands near the equator, there is an exceptionally humid equatorial climate in which the average annual air temperature is 26–27°C, and the average annual precipitation reaches 2000 - 2500 mm | The North Coast of Asia lying behind the North Arctic Circle is in the polar climate where the climatic winter lasts 9 - 10 months, the average annual temperature is from –10°C to –15°C, and the average annual precipitation is only about 200 mm |
In South‑East Asia and in South Asia there is the tropical monsoon climate where in summer there are heavy rains: the average annual precipitation is around 1700 mm | In South‑West Asia and in the valleys lying in the centre of Asia, there is the tropical dry climate in which the average annual precipitation does not exceed 150 mm |
In the Dasht‑e Lut valley located in the Iranian Plateau, the satellite measurement showed a maximum air temperature of 70.7°C | The lowest air temperature in the residential area was recorded in the Siberian village of Ojmiakon in the North‑East Asia, and it was -71.2°C |
The highest precipitation occurs on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, e.g. in the Indian station named Cherrapunji, where the average annual precipitation is approximately 11 500 mm | The lowest average perennial precipitation is recorded in some of the valleys lying in the centre of Asia – it can be less than 20 mm per year |
Contrasts in Asia – vegetation zones
The geographical location of Asia and the types and varieties of climate influence the distribution of very different vegetation zones on the largest land of the world. In the northern part of the continent there are vegetation zones referring to climatic zones.
Analyze the interactive scheme below. The scheme presents various Asian vegetation zones. Choose one of them and prepare a detailed description. Use different sources of information.
Description:
Check if you already know the facts about Asia's climate.
| Name the climate in the North Asian coast lying behind the Arctic Circle. | polar climate |
| Climate that occurs in Southeast Asia and South Asia. | tropical monsoon climate |
| What is the climate in the southern edges of Asia and the islands near the equator? | equatorial extremely humid |
| What is the climate in South‑West Asia and in the valleys lying in the interior of Asia? | tropical dry climate |
Match the pairs: English words with Polish definition.
układ wiatrów, które zmieniają swój kierunek na przeciwny w zależności od pory roku. Są to wiatry sezonowe między oceanem a lądem., bezdrzewna formacja roślinna kształtująca się w zimnym klimacie strefy arktycznej i subarktycznej na półkuli północnej Ziemi., lasy iglaste, które występują w północnej części Azji i Ameryki Północnej, Europy, w obrębie klimatu umiarkowanego chłodnego na półkuli północnej.
| tundra | |
| taiga | |
| monsoon |
Do you know the facts about Asia? Try to indicate the right answers.
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The largest peninsula in the world
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Caspian Sea
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The deepest lake
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Baikal
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The most populous country in the world
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Dead Sea
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The biggest depression in the world
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Mount Everest
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The largest lake
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Arabian Peninsula
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The highest peak of Asia and the World
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China
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Summary
Asia is the largest continent on Earth; it occupies 30% of the total land area. With Europe westward, it forms one compact land – Eurasia.
In the shape of Asia, about 75% of the area is covered by highlands and mountains; the average height of this continent is 990 m above sea level. In Asia there is the highest peak of the earth – Mount Everest (Czomolungma, Sagarmatha), 8,850 m above sea level. – and the lowest depression of the Dead Sea – 403 m.p.m.
Keywords
vegetation zones, climate zones, Asia
Glossary
tundra – bezdrzewna formacja roślinna kształtująca się w zimnym klimacie strefy arktycznej i subarktycznej na półkuli północnej Ziemi.
tajga – lasy iglaste, które występują w północnej części Azji i Ameryki Północnej, Europy, w obrębie klimatu umiarkowanego chłodnego na półkuli północnej.