East Asia—Climate and Vegetation Asia and the Pacific

East Asia’s Climates Eastern China South Korea and Japan Humid subtropical climate Hot summers and cool winters with plenty of rain South Korea and Japan Almost completely surrounded by water Summers are a bit cooler and winters are a bit warmer

Storms in Asia Monsoons affect the climate of East Asia Monsoons are winds that blow across the region at certain times of the year. Summer, Pacific Ocean winds blow west toward the Asian continent. Bring rainfall that starts in June as a drizzle. Called “Plum rain” because it begins just at the plums begin to ripen on the trees. The winds cause hot, humid weather and heavier rain in July

Storms in Asia In winter the winds blow toward the east. Begin in the interior of northern Asia are icy cold and very dry. Parts of China they produce dust storms that can sometimes last for days They cross warm ocean waters, pick up water, later they drop it as rain or snow East Asian has hurricanes like those that sometimes strike the southern coastline of the United States during August and September

Storms of East Asia These violent storms, which develop over the Pacific Ocean, are called typhoons. Whirling typhoon winds blow at a speed of 75 miles an hour or more The winds and heavy rains they bring can cause major damage.

The Influences of Climate Vegetation Bamboo grows unbelievably fast during the wet season in southern China and Japan It can also survive dry spells by storing food in its huge root system. Shrubs and many small flowering plants in the deserts of China spring up rapidly after summer rains. Then they disappear when dry weather returns

The Influences of Climate Deciduous (leaf shedding) trees also change with the weather. Maples, birches, and other trees turn the hillsides of Korea and Japan gold orange, and red once summer gives way to fall

The Life of the People Climate affects life in East Asia The Yellow River gets its name from the brownish yellow loess that is blown by the desert winds. The river picks up the loess and deposits it to the east on the N. China Plain. The loess covers a huge 125,000 square mile area around the river

The Life of the People Huang He floods This is one of the best farming areas in China Huang He floods A system of dams helps control the waters The river can still overflow its banks during the monsoons Damaging floods gave the Huang He its nickname, “China’s Sorrow.” The river is both a blessing and a curse for Chinese farmers who live along its banks.

The Life of the People The diet of East Asians is also affected by climate and geography. Rice needs warm weather It is the main crop—and food—of people in southern China. In the cooler north, wheat and other grains grow better than rice —the people in the north eat more flour products.

Questions How would you describe the climates of East Asia? How does climate determine what vegetation grows in different parts of East Asia? Where do you think a farmer moving to East Asia would choose to live? Why? Consider the effects of landforms and climate.