1. Ch 26-2 East Asia Climate and Vegetation
Coach Green’s World Geography Class

2. Climate Regions
Climate Regions are dominated by Latitude and Physical Features
Mountains, Highlands, Coastal Regions
Dry Highlands and Grasslands dominate the north and west
Humid and temperate forests dominate the south and east

3. Mid Latitude Climates Maps on Pg 652 & 653
Lower southeast quarter of East Asia has humid subtropical climate
Upper northeast quarter has humid continental climate
Forest regions of mid latitude region is mixed coniferous and deciduous
Bamboo, a tree like grass, is very important in the warmer area

5. Desert and Steppe Climates
Desert and Steppe climates range across Mongolia and Northern China
Any rain from the Pacific is blocked by the rain shadow effect caused by the surrounding mountains
The Gobi Desert and Taklimakan desert are often cold and windy
Grasses and sparse trees make up the vegetation

6. Highland Climates
Highland areas have cold climates due to high elevation
Highland climate in East Asia is found on the Plateau of Tibet
Home to meadows of dotted trees, flowers and grasses in the lower mountain areas
Colorful lichens and mosses grow above the timberline

7. The History of Rice and Soybeans
Two of East Asia’s most important food crops
Rice and Soy Beans have been grown in this region since 5000 B.C.
Rice was very important to East Asia’s early civilization
Soy beans, a great source of protein, was thought to be a 5th food group to live a long and healthy life

8. Dragon Backbone Rice Terraces

9. Monsoons
Monsoons – Prevailing wind patterns that bring seasonal patterns to East Asia
Monsoons blow in one direction for half of the year, and then switch directions
April through October – strong down pour from the southeast to northwest
November to March – cold arctic air from the northwest to the southeast
Timely rains are very important to the economy of East Asia

10. Ocean Currents Ocean currents influence South Asia’s climate
Japan Current – Kuroshio- brings warm water north during the winter months
Kuril Current – brings cold water south and fog during the summer months
Typhoons – violent tropical storm in the Pacific the blows across East Asia
Typhoons are formed by ocean currents and winds
High winds and torrential rainfalls

11. Open Note Quiz
In what climate regions do most people in East Asia live in
What part of east Asia is this ( North, South, East, West, Northwest, Southwest, etc)?
What part of the region is steppe and Desert?
What two foods are important to the region?
What are monsoons? What months are the wet months of the region?
What was the name of the terraces in the mountains that held the water?