Climate of Asia: general characteristics, interesting facts and reviews. Southwest Asia and India

Climate The countries of Southeast Asia lie in the equatorial and subequatorial climatic zones. The average monthly temperature is kept at the level of 26 -28 C, dropping to no more than 20 ° C. In the mountains, with an increase in relief, the temperature naturally decreases and at an altitude of about 1 thousand meters it is 16 -18 ° C. On high mountains ah, border with China, snow falls and keeps for two to three months. A sharp drop in winter temperature is observed when cold air masses break through from the Tibetan Plateau (up to 10°C). In the equatorial belt, heavy rains fall in the Malay Archipelago (on the plains, an average of 1.5 thousand mm, in the mountains more than 3-4 thousand mm per year)

Relief In the relief of the Malay Archipelago, mountains dominate in area over lowlands. Extremely winding coastline. The highest mountains are in Kalimantan. Mountain ranges have blocky massive outlines. They consist of crystalline schists and granites. Folded-block mountains also common on the island of Sulawesi and Philippine Islands. Along the southwestern outskirts of Sumatra and along the south of Java, mountains crowned with numerous volcanoes stretch. Their average heights do not exceed 1.5-2 thousand meters. The highest volcanoes in Sumatra are Kerenchi or Indrapura (3800 m), Marapi (2891 m) and others (15 active volcanoes in total). Java has 136 volcanoes, 28 active, the largest of them (3676 m), Merapi (3332 m), Bromo (2392 m) - one of the most active.

The subsoil resources of the territory have been poorly explored, but the explored reserves indicate rich deposits of mineral resources. There is very little bituminous coal in the region, only in the north of Vietnam there are insignificant reserves of it. In the shelf zone of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, oil and gas are produced. The world's largest metallogenic "Tin Belt" of Asia stretches through the region. Mesozoic deposits determined the richest reserves of non-ferrous metals: tin, tungsten, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, nickel, antimony, gold, cobalt. Non-metallic minerals are represented by potash salt (Thailand, Laos), apatite (Vietnam), precious stones (sapphire, topaz, ruby) in Thailand.

Agro-climatic and soil resources. A warm and humid climate is the main prerequisite for a relatively high efficiency of agriculture; 2-3 crops are harvested here throughout the year. On fairly fertile red and yellow feralite soils, many agricultural crops of the hot zone are grown) (rice, coconut palm, rubber tree - hevea, bananas, pineapples, tea, spices.

Forest resources Forest resources are exceptionally rich. The region is located in the Southern Forest Belt, forests cover 42% of its territory. Numerous forest areas have Brunei (87%), Cambodia (69%), Indonesia (60%), Laos (57%).

In the climate formation of Asia, the relief plays an important role, which in this part of the world is represented by deserts, high mountain ranges and enclosed highlands.

general information

Asia and Europe together form largest continent On the Earth. Asia is part of the continent of Eurasia.

A feature of this part of the Earth is that it is characterized by the most diverse climate. Almost all types of conditions on Earth are observed here: cold in the north, continental in Siberia, monsoon in the east and south, semi-desert in the central part and desert in the south-west of the continent.

Features of the geographical position with a predominance of mountains over the lowlands, the compactness and vast size of this part of the world are the most important factors in the formation of its climate.

The location of Asia in the Northern Hemisphere in all latitudes determines the supply of uneven solar heat to the surface. For example, the values ​​of the total annual total radiation in the Malay Archipelago (equator) are approximately 140 to 160 kcal per square meter. cm, in the interval between 40 and 50 northern latitudes, it is 100-120 kcal per square meter. cm, and in the northern parts of the mainland - about 60 kcal per square meter. cm.

The climate of Asia overseas

In foreign Asia, tropical and subtropical, equatorial and subequatorial climatic zones are represented. Only on the border of Mongolia and China (northeast) with Russia and in the northern part of the Japanese Islands is the belt moderate.

It should be noted that most of foreign Asia belongs to the subtropics. Stretches from the Pacific Ocean to mediterranean sea and is thousands of kilometers.

About the circulation of air masses

Air masses circulate over Asia in directions depending on the seasonal position of the centers of low and high pressure. Over the mainland, the most important center of atmospheric pressure in winter period is the Asian (Central Asian or Siberian) anticyclone, which is the most powerful of all winter climatic centers on the entire planet. Dry and cold temperate continental air, spreading in all directions from it, gives several spurs. Of particular note among them is the Central Asian spur towards Iran and the southeastern spur towards China (East).

The climate of East Asia is influenced by the monsoons. In winter, in the southeastern part of the mainland, the most big differences pressure between warm ocean and cold land, which cause the emergence of stable in direction and strength of the streams of the continental winter monsoon to the sea from land. This monsoonal circulation covers Northeast and East China, the Japanese Islands and the Korean Peninsula. In the area of ​​the Aleutian Islands (North Pacific Ocean), the Aleutian minimum forms in winter, but for some reason it affects the climate only for a narrow coastline Northeast Siberia (mainly Kurile Islands and coast of Kamchatka).

central Asia

An interesting fact is that in the Central Asian highlands, winter temperatures are almost as low as in Siberia. Despite more southern location, the temperature here is not very high, which is due to high position terrain. The temperature during the day here varies greatly: hot in the daytime, cool at night.

What is the reason for such a climate in Central Asia? The huge height above the ocean level and the powerful wall of the Himalayas, blocking access from the Indian Ocean to moist winds, create in north side from the Himalayan mountains a rather harsh dry climate. Although Tibet is located at the latitude of the Mediterranean Sea, frosts in winter can reach minus temperatures up to 35 degrees.

In the summer, the sun is very hot, despite the fact that in the shade at the same time it is cold. Night frosts are common even for July, and in summer there are snowstorms. In the summer season, over Southeast and partly Central Asia, the pressure drops and the temperature rises. In the direction of the center of the mainland from the sea, masses of the summer monsoon rush, which bring a relative decrease in temperature and moisture.

For the basin Central Asia in winter, the most characteristic low temperatures(-50 °С). Very severe frosts come on Western Tibet. The temperature in July averages 26-32 °С, and the absolute maximum reaches 50 °С. The surface of the sand is heated up to 79 °C.

The climate of this part of Asia is characterized by large fluctuations in temperature from year to year, sharp temperature fluctuations per day, not a large number of atmospheric precipitation, low cloudiness and dry air.

The climate of the Central countries is especially beneficial for vegetation. Due to the dryness of the air, it is relatively easy to carry. The excellent climate conditions of the mountainous regions are good enough for the creation of resorts.

The states included in Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

Southwest Asia

This wonderful territory is washed by the waters of the Black, Mediterranean, Aegean, Red, Caspian, Marmara and Arabian seas, as well as the waters of the Persian Gulf.

The climate is tropical, subtropical continental and Mediterranean. Tropical is characterized by minimal rainfall and high temperatures. Natural zones are represented by hard-leaved forests, deserts and semi-deserts.

Iran, Iraq and Turkey are the most major states Southwest Asia. The climate here is excellent for summer holidays.

The highest temperatures in summer (hot plains of Arabia and Lower Mesopotamia) - 55 °C. The lowest summer temperatures (northeast Hokkaido) are plus 20 degrees.

East Asia

This part of Asia occupies the eastern extreme part of the Eurasia continent. It adjoins the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Continental monsoons contribute to the formation of colder air in any zone of this Asian region than in other parts of the planet typical for the same latitudes.

The climate of East Asia is mostly monsoonal. And this is a rainy wet summer (80% of annual precipitation). Warm air masses come from the ocean, although it is cooler than on land. Cold sea currents move from north to south along the coasts. The warm lower layers of air above them cool quickly, and therefore low-lying fogs often arise here. The atmosphere becomes two-layered - the warm upper one slides over the colder lower one, and precipitation is obtained.

The mechanism of summer monsoon circulation is associated with cyclones caused by the contact of the warmest and coldest air masses.

When cyclones capture dry continental air from the continental depths, drought occurs. Cyclones born near the Philippines (far south) are quite clearly manifested. As a result, typhoons occur, which are systems of winds with hurricane speed.

The territories of East Asia include China, Mongolia, the Korean Peninsula, the islands of Yellow, Japan and East China Seas, as well as partly the islands of the South China Sea.

Conclusion

According to travelers, Asia is an interesting, exotic corner of the globe, leaving a unique and unforgettable experience.

Western Asia has especially comfortable climate conditions for summer holidays, although all parts of the mainland have their own unique zest and charm.

ASIA, the largest part of the world, located mainly in the Eastern Hemisphere (except for the Chukotka Peninsula) north of the equator; forms together with Europe the mainland Eurasia. From North America Africa separates the Bering Strait and is connected to Africa by the narrow Isthmus of Suez.

General information

Area approx. 43.4 million km 2. 4.299 billion people live in Azerbaijan. (2014, over 60% of the world's population). In socio-economic terms, the Asian part of Russia includes the subjects of the federation that are part of the Ural, Siberian and Far Eastern federal districts.

extreme points A .: in the north - Cape Chelyuskin (77 ° 43´ N) on the Taimyr Peninsula, in the east - Cape Dezhnev (169 ° 40´ W) on the Chukotsky Peninsula, in the south - Cape Piai (1 ° 16 ´ N) on the Malay Peninsula, in the west - Cape Baba (26°10´ E) in Turkey (see Fig. physical map). The physiographic border of Azerbaijan with Europe is taken to be the main watershed of the Urals (or its eastern foot), the valley of the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Kuma-Manych depression, the Sea of ​​Azov, and Kerch Strait(sometimes - the axial part of the Greater Caucasus), Black and Sea of ​​Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.

The shores of A. are washed in the north by the Northern Arctic Ocean, in the east Pacific, in the south Indian Oceans and their marginal seas, in the west - inland seas Atlantic Ocean(Mediterranean, Aegean, Marble, Black). Vast inland regions that have no connection with the World Ocean are classified as drainless areas or areas of internal flow (basins of the Caspian and Aral Seas, lakes Balkhash, Lobnor, etc.). The shores are relatively poorly dissected. Largest peninsulas: Yamal, Taimyr, Chukchi, Kamchatka, Korean, Indochina, Malacca, Hindustan, Arabian, Asia Minor. The islands are occupied by St. 2 million km 2; among them are the largest: Severnaya Zemlya, Novosibirsk, Sakhalin, Japanese, Taiwan, Hainan, Philippine, Big Sunda, Sri Lanka . In A. are: the highest point on the globe - Mount Chomolungma (8848 m, according to other sources - 8850 m); the deepest depression is El Ghor, in which is located drainless lake Dead Sea (430 m below sea level); the largest sea-lake is the Caspian Sea; the world's deepest Lake Baikal (20% of world reserves fresh water without glaciers), included in the World Heritage List; wettest place on earth locality Cherrapunji on the Shillong Highlands in India (average over the observation period about 12,000 mm, max. 22,900 mm of precipitation per year).

The following physical and geographical regions are distinguished: Northern Asia (all of Siberia and the Russian Far East), East Asia(China east of 110 ° E, Korean Peninsula, Japanese Islands), Southeast Asia (Indochina Peninsula, Malay Archipelago), South Asia (Hindostan Peninsula, Sri Lanka), Western Asia (Caucasus and Western Asian Highlands ), Southwest Asia (Levant and Arabian Peninsula), Central Asia (Mongolia, Western China including Tibet) and middle Asia(Turan lowland, Pamir and Tien Shan).

Relief

Albania is characterized by a general uplift of the territory (three-fourths of the area), and the predominance of mountains and plateaus, with a small area of ​​plains. An extended mountain belt is formed by mountains and highlands of the Alpine (Cenozoic) folding. Asia Minor (avg. height 800–1500 m), Armenian (c. 2000 m) and Iranian (500–2000 m) highlands are framed by folded-block and folded Pontic Mountains, Taurus, Zagros, Elburs, Kopetdag, Paropamiz, Hindu Kush. To the north of the Armenian Highlands rise the Greater Caucasus (up to 5642 m, Mount Elbrus) and the Lesser Caucasus. A large mountain junction is formed by the highlands of the Pamirs (the highest point - 7495 m - Communism Peak, or Ismail Samani Peak) with the Fedchenko Glacier - the longest glacier in Asia (77 km, area about 700 km 2). The greatest mountain system in the world, the Himalayas, stretches for 2,500 km (average altitude is about 6,000 m, 11 peaks are higher than 8,000 m, including Chomolungma). The Karakoram reaches a significant height with Mount Chogori (altitude 8611 m) - the second peak in the world - and with the largest mountain glacier A. Siachen (length about 76 km, area 750 km 2). All high mountain systems - with peaks, narrow ridges and deep valleys - are covered with glaciers and snowfields. From east. the tip of the Himalayas, alpine folded structures continue in the Arakan-Yoma (Arakan) mountains and on the islands of the Malay and Philippine archipelagos, on the island of Taiwan, as well as in the northeast and east of the mainland: Koryak Highlands , median ridge on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the West Sakhalin and East Sakhalin Mountains on Sakhalin Island, on the Kuril and Japanese Islands. This is an area of ​​development of young folded mountains with strong erosional dissection and intense manifestation of volcanism and active seismicity. The relief is characterized by great contrast: the amplitude of heights between the mountains of the islands and the deep-water depressions reaches 12 km. On the Kamchatka Peninsula there is the highest active volcano A. - Klyuchevskaya Sopka(4688 m).

The mountains of Central Africa and Central Africa are structures with a blocky and arched-blocky structure with a characteristic latitudinal-linear strike of the ridges. The highest and most extended systems are Tien Shan (height up to 7439 m) and Kunlun (height up to 7723 m), Nanshan (height up to 5808 m) and Altyntag (height up to 6161 m). In the middle mountains of the Tien Shan, leveling surfaces are widely developed, lying at an altitude of 3000–4000 m. One of the deepest intermountain depressions is Turfan depression(155 m below sea level). Extensive Tibetan Plateau(altitude up to 5000 m) in the central part is occupied by high hilly stratal and denudation plains with numerous lake basins and horst ranges. Intense denudation and insignificant runoff led to a smoothing of the height differences between flat-topped ridges and intermountain depressions. In Central Armenia, in the Gobi Desert (up to 1200 m), large areas are occupied by high denudation plains of folded-block structure with ridges, areas of low hills, and volcanic plateaus. The arched-block highlands of Beishan (height up to 2583 m) are bordered by gravelly foothills. For high Dzungarian plain And Basins of the Great Lakes table heights, rocky plains (hammads), hilly and ridge sands are characteristic. in relief Kazakh uplands noticeable low-mountain massifs (height up to 1565 m). In the northeast of China and in the north of the Korean Peninsula, there are the Great Khingan Mountains (height up to 2158 m), the Liaoxi Highlands (height up to 2050 m) and Manchurian-Korean mountains(height up to 2750 m). The revived mountains include Altai (height up to 4506 m), Mongolian Altai(height up to 4204 m), Sayan and Khangai (height up to 4021 m), etc.

A rather extended fold belt begins in northeastern Siberia, where Verkhoyansk Range(height up to 2283 m) and Chersky Ridge(altitude up to 3003 m), as well as Kolyma Highlands alternate with intermontane depressions and accumulative plains (Kolymskaya, Yano-Indigirskaya, etc.), and continues on Far East mountains of Sikhote-Alin (altitude up to 2090 m). East the periphery of the Tibetan Plateau stretch blocky-folded Sino-Tibetan mountains(height up to 7556 m). On the peninsulas of Indochina and Malacca, arched-block low and medium-altitude mountains are elongated meridionally. The platform regions of Azerbaijan are characterized by medium-altitude (up to 3,000 m) blocky and arched-blocky mountains with smoothed peaks and steep slopes: in the east, these are Taishan, North Korean mountains, Dobashan and Shanxi Highlands; on the Hindustan Peninsula - Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, Aravalli; on the Arabian Peninsula - Hijaz, to the north - the ranges of Jebel Ansaria, Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon.

South Asia

South Asia covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Most of the population of Hindustan belongs to the Indo-Afghan. variant of the Indo-Mediterranean race, among the untouchable castes, etc. aboriginal tribes (adivasi) dominated by the South Indian. race. Among the population of the Himalayan zone, the south is dominated. representatives of South Asia. Mongoloid race. To the most ancient ethnic The carriers of the Dravidian languages ​​\u200b\u200b(Dravids), which are now spoken by large peoples of the south, ascend to the layer of the population of Hindustan. states of India (Kannara, Telugu, Tamils, Malayali), as well as many others. tribes of the south. and Center. Decana and bragui in southern Pakistan. In the 4th-3rd millennium BC. e. Tibeto-Burmese settled in the Himalayan zone. peoples, in Orissa and Bihar (from North Indochina) - Munda, in the 2nd millennium BC. e. speakers of the Indo-Aryan languages ​​(Aryans), now dominant in the North, migrate from Front A. and Middle A. to India. and Center. Hindustan. The Burishi in the Khunzakh-Gilgit valley of the Karakoram speak an isolated language that, according to some scholars, is distantly related to the Caucasian languages. Main occupation - arable farming, irrigated and rainfed. They cultivate wheat and millet (in the north), rice (in the south), various legumes and oilseeds. Some peoples are engaged in semi-nomadic and transhumance (in the Himalayan zone) cattle breeding (buffaloes, sheep), hunting and gathering. Main food - cakes, cereals, cereal koloboks with spicy seasonings and sauces from legumes (Hindi dal), vegetables, less often meat or fish (curry). In the upper castes, the tendency towards vegetarianism is strong, only representatives of the lower castes eat beef and pork. Cow butter is used primarily in ritual food. A unique feature of the peoples of the South. A. is a comprehensive division of society into castes. The caste system is most developed among Hindus, representatives of other confessions - Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians - usually remember their caste origin and take it into account in everyday behavior; hunter-gatherer tribes with their tribal cults are outside the caste division, but their communities can turn into lower castes. Of great importance is the opposition of concepts: pakka (real, correct) and kachcha (unworthy, not prestigious). Pakka is a complete costume with all accessories, a brick or stone dwelling, food fried in oil; caccha - an incomplete and random set of clothes, a adobe or reed hut, raw or boiled food in water. Hinduism serves as the basis of the Hindu civilization with Sanskrit (in various local variants of graphics) as the main language. language of culture. Buddhism in its homeland, India, is now poorly represented. It dominates in Ladakh (East Kashmir), Nepal and Bhutan - in the northern, close to Tibetan form, and in Sri Lanka - in the south. form. Islam dominates in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. Traditional clothes in the north - dec. forms of caftans and narrow pants, the rest of Hindustan is dominated by unsewn clothing - saris for women, loincloths (lungi, languti, dhoti) for men. Dwelling forms are extremely diverse depending on the climate and local traditions.

central Asia

Central Asia, separated from Hindustan by the Himalayas, includes the territories of Mongolia, North., North-West. and Zap. China (Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Tibet), inhabited by Mongols, Tibetans and partly Turks. peoples. Central Asian predominates. North Asian variant. race. to the Central Asian. Mongolian-speaking Buryats and Kalmyks, geographically remote from them, are close in culture to the peoples. Main occupation - nomadic cattle breeding (small and large horned cattle, yaks, camels, horses), in valleys and oases - arable farming (main arr. barley). Main food - meat (main arr. in winter) and dairy (summer) products (sour milk, including koumiss, fresh and dried cottage cheese, pressed foams, etc.), fried flour; in Tibet - cereals (Tibetan. Tszamba), which is seasoned with tea with the addition of milk, butter, lard, meat flour and salt. Main clothes - dressing gowns, right-sided, with an additional left floor, sheepskin coats, shoes - leather and felt boots. The dwelling is collapsible, covered with woolen cloth: among the Mongols and Turks (as well as in Central A. and Front A.) - a lattice yurt made of light felt, among the Tibetans (also among Iranian and Arab. nomads of Front A. and Afghanistan) - so-called. black tent or black tent made of coarse woolen fabric. Central Asian. civilization is based on northern, or Tibetan, Buddhism (Lamaism), which absorbed elements of the Himalayan-Tibet. shamanism, in Old Tibet. and old Mong. literature Actually shamanism is also widespread.

middle Asia

Central Asia in many relations occupies an intermediate position between the Center. and Southwest. A., includes Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Xinjiang (North-West China) and Afghanistan. The peoples of Central Armenia speak Iranian and, later, Turkic, which spread there. languages. Physical type is presented in the main. dec. combinations of Caucasoid Indo-Mediterranean and contact (Caucasoid-Mongoloid) South Siberian races. Thanks to the hot climate and full-flowing rivers fed by mountain glaciers, irrigated agriculture has been developing here since ancient times (5th millennium BC). In the steppe regions, nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding is traditionally more developed, in the foothills - pasture cattle breeding. Main food - cakes baked in a adobe oven with a domed vault - tandoor, pilaf, noodles, dumplings, sour milk (airan, katyk), cream (kaymak), cottage cheese (suzme, kurt); great importance, in contrast to the Central Asian. cuisine, have vegetables and fruits. Religion - Sunni Islam (in the Pamirs - Shiite Ismaili), combined with elements of shamanism, the further north, the more pronounced. In literature and art, the Middle Asian (Iranian, to a lesser extent Arabic) influence prevails. Dwelling so-called. Anterior Asian. type: adobe or adobe dwellings and households. buildings with a flat roof face the inside. courtyard, facing the street with a blank wall (Turk. duval). Nomads have felt yurts. Clothing - pants with a tunic-shaped shirt dress, sometimes with a dress or sleeveless jacket for women, a robe (other than in Central A., cut - without a collar and buttons) and a narrow jacket or sleeveless vest (turkish beshmet) for men. Men's hats - skullcaps and turbans, sheepskin hats. Married women had to completely hide their hair with towel hats (which, in particular, was dictated by the norms of Islam - see Hijab), sometimes - the whole figure (see Paranja), girls wore hats (skullcaps, etc.).

Southwestern (Anterior) Asia

Southwestern (Anterior) Asia includes Iran and Asian countries. Middle East. The peoples of Western Armenia speak Iranian (in the east), Semitic (in the southwest), and Turkic (in the northwest) languages. Representatives of the Near East predominate. and the Mediterranean variants of the Indo-Mediterranean Caucasian race. Perednyaya A. is one of the oldest centers of irrigated agriculture, horticulture, and viticulture; in the west, the date palm plays an important role; cattle breeding developed in the steppe and mountain regions. Main food - cakes, sour milk, meat fried on a spit (shish kebab) and in the form of minced meat, bean sauce, dried fruits and dishes based on them. Housing and clothing are close to Central Asian. Perednyaya A. is the birthplace of all Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam); now Islam predominates here, in the main. Sunnism, in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon - Shiism; from Zap. Iran to Syria and Lebanon also live representatives of dec. fractional denominations of Islam, Christians of different faiths, Judaists, Samaritans, Druzes, Yezidis, Zoroastrians, Mandaeans, etc. Under the influence of Islam, ornament and calligraphy were predominantly developed in art, depict. art developed under the influence of the Persian. traditions. The architecture is characterized by spindle-shaped columns, pointed domes, coffered and stalactite-honeycomb ceilings, covered terraces-aivans.

Caucasus

To the ancient ethnic carriers of the North Caucasian and Kartvelian languages ​​ascend the formation of the Caucasus. Indo-European languages ​​are spoken by Ossetians, Armenians, and others. In the 1st millennium, a Turkic-speaking population appeared here. South European Balkan-Caucasian and Indo-Mediterranean races predominate. Until the 11th–12th centuries South Caucasus (Transcaucasia) can be considered as sowing. the periphery of the Anterior A., ​​and the flat and foothill regions of the North. Caucasus - like the south. steppe periphery Vost. Europe. The cultural unity of the Caucasus was formed during its unification in the 12th-13th centuries. Georgian kingdom. Main traditional occupation - arable farming archaic. appearance, often terraced (wheat, spelt, barley), transhumance (especially sheep), horticulture, viticulture and winemaking. The peoples of the North Caucasus since the 14th century. wine is displaced by light alcoholic beverages from grain (buza, beer). Settlements in the mountains ( auls) are very crowded, adapted for defense. Houses in the main from stone. In places, tower houses and dugout dwellings with a hearth in the center and a light-smoke hole in the false-vaulted ceiling resting on four pillars near the hearth are preserved (Georgian darbazi, Armenian glkhatun, Azerbaijani karadam). In the steppe treeless regions, adobe and adobe dwellings and large settlements with a street layout are common, in wooded areas - trees. houses and scattered settlements. Men's costume took shape by the 17th-18th centuries; includes trousers, a shirt, a tight jacket (arkhaluk, beshmet) and a fitted caftan made of cloth (cherkeska), a felt cape (burka), a sheepskin headdress (hat hat) or a towel type (bashlyk), shoes such as pistons (chuvyaki, chirki) or boots. Women's clothing - a tunic-shaped shirt-dress and trousers, a swinging fitted dress with a deep neckline. Of the world religions, Christianity was the first (since the 4th century) to spread (for the first time in the world it became the state religion in the Armenian kingdom in 301), from the beginning it was an Arab. conquests (7th century) - Islam. Pre-Islamic and pre-Christian cults, mythology, archaic are preserved. customs (blood feud, ritual feast, hospitality, etc.).

Substantial part Overseas Asia located in the subtropical zone, the extreme south goes into the equatorial, the north - into the temperate.

In summer (from May-June to October), the summer monsoon sets in, which brings moisture to Indochina. It is amplified by the southern hemisphere.

On the whole, monsoon circulation is characteristic of most of Foreign Asia, with the exception of its western outskirts. in the western part is different. In summer, a high is set here (a spur of the Azores maximum), in winter air masses enter from. Therefore, by the nature of the circulation processes, it resembles the European Mediterranean.

The lowest January averages are in the Siberian region. It is clear, dry and frosty here, contributing to the freezing of the soil and the preservation of spots in Northern Mongolia and Northeast China. To the south, winter temperatures increase, but remain abnormally low compared to other regions of the Earth, at these latitudes.

The highest summer temperatures are in Southwest Asia, where Lower Mesopotamia and Arabia have stable hot weather, with a maximum of +55°. The coolest places in summer are in the northeast of Hokkaido - the average July temperatures reach +20°C.

In contrast to Europe, in a large part of Foreign Asia the climate is sharply continental (high annual temperature amplitudes). In the amplitudes are 66°, Urumqi 78°, seasonal fluctuations are also large.

Wet and dry areas are distinguished. The first include the south and southeast, the second - the center, west and southwest of the mainland. In humid areas, most of the precipitation occurs in the summer. Only insular part and the Malay Peninsula are plentiful in all seasons of the year. In dry areas, the maximum precipitation occurs either in winter (west) or in summer (center). In the wettest place in the world (Cherrapunji) annual precipitation ranges from 5500 mm (driest year) to 23000 mm (wettest year) with an average of 12000 mm.

Covers the Malay Archipelago (without East Java and Small), peninsula, southwest Sri Lanka and south. During the year, maritime air masses, formed from tropical trade winds, dominate. Characteristic (up to 4000 mm) and constantly high temperatures (+25 - +23 °).

Includes Hindustan, Indochina, Indo-Gangetic Plain, Southeast China, and the Philippines. The seasonal change of air masses is characteristic: in summer, humid equatorial air brought by the monsoon, in winter, relatively dry tropical trade winds of the northern hemisphere. Precipitation in summer, winter is dry and warm. The hottest time of the year is spring (up to +40°C). Precipitation increases on the windward slopes and decreases on the leeward slopes of mountains. So, on the windward slopes of the Assam Mountains, an average of 12000 mm per year, on the leeward - about 1700 mm. The southeast of Hindustan and Indochina, the northeast of Sri Lanka and the Philippines receive winter precipitation with the northeast monsoon, which is enriched with moisture over the ocean.

K includes the western part of Asia (south, south of Mesopotamia and Tar). Continental tropical air masses dominate throughout the year. Clear, dry weather. Average July temperatures are about +30°, January +12°- +16°. Precipitation everywhere is less than 100 mm, which falls in winter in the north and in summer in the south.

The subtropical zone is characterized by the dominance of moderate air masses in winter and tropical air masses in summer. There are several types in the belt. In the west, south and West Coast Asia Minor, the Levant and the north of Mesopotamia - climate (dry hot summers, warm wet winters). average temperature January from +4° in the north to +12° in the south. Precipitation on the plains is 500-600 mm, in mountainous areas up to 3000 mm. The Western Asian highlands and southern Central Asia are characterized by a subtropical continental climate with hot summers and relatively cold winters. In summer, the air acquires the properties of continental tropical air masses. Large annual amplitudes. Precipitation less than 300 mm. In the western part, they are associated with the passage of the Iranian branch of the polar front in spring. IN eastern part Iranian highlands rainfall brings southwest monsoon. In the eastern sector of the subtropical belt are located (excluding Hokkaido), Eastern China, and the south of the Korean Peninsula. A subtropical monsoon climate is characteristic: in winter, cold, moist air masses of the Siberian anticyclone prevail. The summer monsoon brings much more precipitation than the winter monsoon. Up to 2000 mm of precipitation falls on the windward slopes of the mountains, and 700-900 mm on the plains.

Tibet is characterized by a sharply continental alpine climate.

IN temperate zone There are also two types of climate: monsoonal and continental. and Northwestern China (Dzungaria) have . Average January temperatures range from -16 to -24°. Summer is hot, precipitation falls mainly in the warm season, their amount is small (up to 200 mm). Hokkaido, northeast China and northern Korea are characterized by a temperate monsoonal climate. In winter, cold continental air masses (spurs of the Siberian anticyclone) dominate, and in summer, the southeast monsoon brings up to 70% of precipitation.

The formation of the climate of Southeast Asia is determined by its geographic location, compactness of land and the predominance of mountainous and plateau terrain.

Over the Southeast, as well as over the South Asia installed summer monsoon circulation, and is mainly associated with Intertropical Convergence Zone And the formation of the South Asian (Punjab) thermal depression.

Equatorial regions of insular Asia characterized the predominance of equatorial air during the whole year, intense convection. The variability of wind directions indicates an active exchange of air between the hemispheres. In the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITC), the air currents of the northern and southern hemispheres meet. The ETC differs sharply from extratropical fronts in that the convergent air masses differ only in humidity with no or very small horizontal temperature contrasts. IBD usually occurs in areas of the highest temperatures in the surface waters of the oceans and land. This is a fairly wide area where one or more convergence lines of the surface wind can be observed simultaneously. It moves between extreme seasons over long distances - in the north of the Indian Ocean and in southern Asia at 25--30 ° (against 10 ° in Africa). Since the meeting of the trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres occurs in a fairly wide zone, with the smallest changes in pressure, pockets and bands of high and low pressure arise. This leads to the fact that continuous clouds are not formed in the ETC system, it has a cellular structure.

equatorial regions are not areas of continuous low pressure. The alternation of small depressions and pressure ridges causes significant changes in the weather. In intensity, they are not comparable with cyclones and anticyclones of extratropical latitudes, but showers, thunderstorms, and squalls are associated with them. Tropical depressions can form in the area, which, if the conditions are right, turn into destructive tropical hurricanes.

In winter, the surface of Asia is noticeably colder than the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Over the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the pressure at this time is about 1012 hPa. In southern China, in the area of ​​convergence of cold continental and warm sea air, cyclonic activity develops and it rains. South over Hindustan and Indochina, the northeast air current prevails, carrying tropical air and being, in essence, a winter trade wind. The weather in this season has a stable anticyclonal character: clear, dry and warm.

Southeast of the Malay Archipelago during the summer is in development zone of the Australian (winter) anticyclone, accompanied by dry and hot weather. Average per year the western slopes of the Rakhine (Arakan) mountains receive the greatest amount of precipitation And Tanentaunji in Burma. In particular, the windward slopes of the islands of South and Southeast Asia receive 2,000-4,000 mm per year, and the Cherrapunji weather station (altitude 1,300 m) on the Shillong plateau receives more than 12,000 mm. In Southeast Asia, up to 95% of the annual precipitation falls in summer. The exception is the equatorial region, where precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year.

Since almost the entire territory of Southeast Asia is located in tropical, subtropical and equatorial latitudes, sums of active temperatures reach up to 10,000°. This makes it possible to grow a very wide range of agricultural crops and to obtain two or three crops per year in areas with thermal resources above 4000°C. Since almost the entire territory of Southeast Asia, with the exception of the area of ​​​​excessive moisture (the southern part of the Philippine, the Greater Sunda Islands, Malaysia), is characterized by long periods of aridity with an acute shortage of moisture and droughts, which are observed even in those areas where 1000- -2000 mm of precipitation per year, artificial irrigation is very important and is used almost everywhere.

A number of regions of Southeast Asia have an uncomfortable climate - in the tropics, with stable high temperatures and consistently high humidity, exhausting the body. Climatic zones are distinctly distributed here:

equatorial belt. equatorial climate characteristic of the south of Malacca, the Malay Archipelago, the south of the Philippine Islands. It is characterized by high temperatures with slight fluctuations, the absence of a dry period, and abundant and uniform precipitation; excessive moisture throughout the year.

Subequatorial belt. Monsoon climate characteristic of South and Southeast Asia. It is characterized by high temperatures (especially in spring) and sharp seasonality in precipitation. The dry seasons are winter and spring, the wet seasons are summer and autumn. In the barrier shadow and in the northwest of the belt, the dry season stretches for 8-10 months.

Tropical belt. Eastern oceanic sector ( South China, the northern part of the Indochina peninsula) has humid maritime monsoon climate. Temperatures everywhere, except for mountainous areas, are high throughout the year, heavy rainfall occurs in summer, and moisture is sufficient.

In contrast to Hindustan, where the winter monsoon is dry everywhere except in the extreme southeast, in some areas of southeast Asia it brings a large amount of precipitation: East Coast Philippine Islands, northeast of the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, Java and Lesser Sunda. Monsoon comes here from the ocean, saturated with moisture. In summer, Southeast Asia receives not only the Indian, but also the Malay monsoon (southeast winds from the Arafura and Banda Seas), as well as east and northeast air flows from the North Pacific Ocean, in which tropical cyclones can occur. In the summer of the northern hemisphere, the dry Australian monsoon comes to the Lesser Sunda Islands and the island of Java. In this regard, the eastern part of the peninsula is characterized by a sharp seasonality in precipitation (up to 80% in summer), while the western part has a somewhat more uniform annual distribution and a shift in the maximum precipitation to autumn and winter. The rainy season is characterized by tropical hurricanes that bring great destruction. The most humid are the mountain margins of the peninsula and the windward slopes of higher mountains and uplands (from 5000 to 2000 mm/year). The least precipitation falls on the internal plains and plateaus - 500--700 mm. South part The Malay Peninsula is located in the equatorial zone and is characterized by a relatively even course of temperature and precipitation.

Most of the Malay Archipelago has equatorial climate. East of Java And Lesser Sunda Islands lie in the subequatorial zone of the southern hemisphere, the Philippine - in the subequatorial zone of the northern hemisphere and have monsoon climate. The equatorial climate is characterized by high and even temperatures - their monthly amplitude does not exceed 1.5 - 2 °. Soil temperatures are even more constant, their fluctuations do not go beyond a few tenths of a degree. The annual amount of precipitation is 2000-4000 mm, with average monthly norms of at least 100 mm. Humidification everywhere excessive. At the boundaries of the equatorial climate region, there is a tendency to increase summer and weaken winter precipitation.

The seasonality of humidification is much more pronounced in the zone of action of the Malay and Australian monsoons and less - the Pacific (in the Philippine Islands). The most arid parts of the archipelago are the eastern ones, which are affected by the Australian monsoon.