Environmental Issues in Asia

1. Environmental Issues in Asia

2. The Monsoons and India • India’s climate is dominated from a seasonal wind called the Monsoon. • In the winter months the wind blows from northeast which causes the climate to be hot and dry • In the summer the wind changes direction and carries moisture which causes heavy rains

4. The torrential rainstorms often cause violent landslides in India • Entire villages have been swept away during monsoon rains, people are left homeless, and people have died because of the severe floods • Despite the potential for destruction, the summer monsoons are welcomed in India. Farmers depend on the rains to irrigate their land.

5. China and Flooding • In the Northern Plain region of China is where much of China’s food production occurs. • This area is fertile because of the Yellow (Huang He) River. • The Huang He has been called "China's Sorrow" because of its frequent and catastrophic floods • To combat this problem the government has instituted large irrigation and flood control projects.

6. Excessive summer rainfall in central and southern China leads to annual flooding in the Yangtze River valley • Because of annual flooding crops such as cotton and rice can grow in China. • However, when the flooding is too excessive crops can actually be destroyed.

8. The Asian Brown Cloud • The Asian Brown cloud affects all nations of Asia India, China, Japan, Thailand, etc. • It can alter the patterns of the Monsoons, reduce photosynthesis, increase respiratory problems, and reduce solar radiation. • Toxic waste, motor vehicles, cooking fuels, and forest fires contribute to this air pollution

9. Satellite pictures over much of Asia and the Indian Ocean show an enormous brown stain hanging in the air

10. Air pollution is mostly human made • As many as five million deaths are caused by air pollution every year in India • Cities in India such as Bombay and Calcutta are below safety limits for pollutants • Much of India’s pollution come from motor vehicles

11. Population • Population in Asia is one of the major reasons why Asia has problems with pollution • China hold’s the world’s largest population at over a billion and India’s population is growing and expected to surpass China one day. • Such a large number of people put a strain on the environment and increased pollution. • 7 of the world’s most populated cities exist in China.

12. Because of the large populations of these countries flooding is devastating because crops are destroyed. • The government of China has also tried to control their population by instituting a one child policy in 1979.