South Asia Climate & Vegetation

What are we wanting to find out about S. Asia’s Climate & Vegetation? 1. What are the 6 major climate regions of South Asia? 2.How do seasonal weather patterns present challenges to the region’s economy? 3. How do elevation & rainfall affect South Asia’s vegetation?

South Asia’s Climates Much of the subcontinent lies beneath the Tropic of Cancer, in the South, so it has tropical climates with diverse vegetation In the North & West, climate varies widely from the highlands of the Himalaya to the deserts around the Indus River.

Climates Tropical Rain Forest Climates Tropical Savannah Climate Highlands Climate Humid Subtropical Desert Climate Steppe

Monsoons Seasons Monsoons Hot: Late February to June Wet: From June/July to September Cool: October to Late February Monsoons Seasonal Winds During cool season, dry monsoon winds blow from the N. and NE. During hot season, warm temps heat the air and trigger change in the wind….bringing air from the S & SW, and monsoon rains

Natural Disasters Monsoon Rains Heaviest in EASTERN South Asia Himalaya block them from moving NORTH As a result, rain moves west to the Ganges Plain Mixed Blessings Temperatures High temperatures allow farmers to produce crops like rice (which many in India & Bangladesh rely on) Extreme heat can result in evaporation and dried-out soil Wind The winds allow the Ganges plain to have lush crops, it leaves areas like the Deccan Plateau and W. Pakistan extremely dry, with drought conditions Rain Too much rain in low areas=flooding, death, crop devastation