Question

"Asia is a continent of climatic extremes." Prove the validity of this statement by citing suitable examples.

Answer 1

The distribution pattern of precipitation throughout the year is varied. Relatively uniform moisture is characteristic of the Asian equatorial zone. Maximum summer precipitation and minimum winter precipitation are the rule in the subequatorial zones and in other regions with monsoon climates, as well as in those areas where there is summer movement of the fronts—the polar front in the mountains of southern Siberia and the Arctic front in the subarctic regions.

Wet winters and dry summers are typical of the Mediterranean climatic region in West Asia, where precipitation is associated with the winter activity of the polar front.

That polar-front activity, accompanied by maximum precipitation, occurs in the spring in the interior parts of the West Asian highlands. Summer and winter precipitation merges in some parts of Asia. In the Kolkhida area of Georgia east of the Black Sea, the summer rains—brought by the northwesterly Atlantic air currents—merge with the cyclonic Mediterranean winter rains. In some areas of Japan, Korea, and eastern China, there is uniform precipitation when, in addition to the summer monsoon, the winter monsoon brings moisture.