South Asia Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Climate=== [[File:South Asia map of Köppen climate classification.svg|thumb|upright=1.75|right|South Asia's [[Köppen climate classification]] map<ref name="Peel"> {{cite journal |author1=Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. |year=2007 |title=Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification |journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P |url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html |issn=1027-5606 |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210144308/http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html |archive-date=10 February 2017 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }} ''(direct: [http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf Final Revised Paper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203170339/http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf |date=3 February 2012 }})'' </ref> is based on native vegetation, temperature, precipitation and their seasonality. {{columns-list|colwidth=12em| {{legend|#0000FE|<small>[[tropical rainforest climate|(Af) '''Tropical rainforest''']]</small>}} {{legend|#0077FF|<small>[[tropical monsoon climate|(Am) '''Tropical monsoon''']]</small>}} {{legend|#46A9FA|<small>[[tropical savanna climate|(Aw) '''Tropical savanna''', wet & dry]]</small>}} {{legend|#FE0000|<small>[[hot desert climate|(BWh) '''Hot desert''']]</small>}} {{legend|#FE9695|<small>[[cold desert climate|(BWk) '''Cold desert''']]</small>}} {{legend|#F5A301|<small>[[hot semi-arid climate|(BSh) '''Hot semi arid''']]</small>}} {{legend|#FFDB63|<small>[[cold semi-arid climate|(BSk) '''Cold semi arid''']]</small>}} {{legend|#FFFF00|<small>[[hot-summer Mediterranean climate|(Csa) '''Mediterranean''', dry, hot summer]]</small>}} {{legend|#C6FF4E|<small>[[humid subtropical climate|(Cfa) '''Subtropical''', humid]]</small>}} {{legend|#96FF96|<small>[[humid subtropical climate|(Cwa) '''Subtropical''', humid summer, dry winter]]</small>}} {{legend|#63C764|<small>[[subtropical highland climate|(Cwb) '''Subtropical highland''', dry winter]]</small>}} {{legend|#FF00FE|<small>[[humid continental climate|(Dsa) '''Continental''', hot summer]]</small>}} {{legend|#C600C7|<small>[[humid continental climate|(Dsb) '''Continental''', warm summer]]</small>}} {{legend|#5A77DB|<small>[[humid continental climate|(Dwb) '''Continental''', dry winter]]</small>}} {{legend|#4C51B5|<small>[[subarctic climate|(Dwc) '''Continental Subarctic''', dry winter]]</small>}} }}]] The climate of this vast region varies considerably from area to area from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. The variety is influenced by not only the altitude but also by factors such as proximity to the seacoast and the seasonal impact of the [[monsoon]]s. Southern parts are mostly hot in summers and receive rain during monsoon periods. The northern belt of [[Indo-Gangetic plain]]s also is hot in summer, but cooler in winter. The mountainous north is colder and receives snowfall at higher altitudes of Himalayan ranges. As the [[Himalayas]] block the north-Asian bitter cold winds, the temperatures are considerably moderate in the plains down below. For the most part, the climate of the region is called the monsoon climate, which keeps the region humid during summer and dry during winter, and favours the cultivation of [[jute]], tea, rice, and various vegetables in this region. South Asia is largely divided into four broad climate zones:<ref name=olive1>John E. Olive, ''The Encyclopedia of World Climatology'', page 115-117, Springer, 2005, {{ISBN|978-1-4020-3264-6}}</ref> * The northern Indian edge and northern Pakistani uplands have a dry subtropical [[continental climate]] * The far south of India and southwest Sri Lanka have an [[equatorial climate]] * Most of the peninsula has a tropical climate with variations: ** Hot [[Subtropics|subtropical]] climate in northwest India ** Cool winter hot [[tropical climate]] in Bangladesh ** Tropical [[semi-arid climate]] in the center * The Himalayas and most of the [[Hindu Kush]] have an [[Alpine climate]] Maximum relative humidity of over 80% has been recorded in [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills]] and Sri Lanka, while the area adjustment to Pakistan and western India records lower than 20%–30%.<ref name=olive1/> Climate of South Asia is largely characterized by monsoons. South Asia depends critically on monsoon rainfall.{{sfn|Mitra|Kumar|Kumar|Abrol|2002|p=83}} Two monsoon systems exist in the region:{{sfn|Mitra|Kumar|Kumar|Abrol|2002|p=76}} * The summer monsoon: Wind blows from the southwest to most parts of the region. It accounts for 70%–90% of the annual precipitation. * The winter monsoon: Wind blows from the northeast. Dominant in Sri Lanka and Maldives. The warmest period of the year precedes the monsoon season (March to mid June). In the summer the low pressures are centered over the [[Indus-Gangetic Plain]] and high wind from the Indian Ocean blows towards the center. The monsoons are the second coolest season of the year because of high humidity and cloud covering. But, at the beginning of June, the jetstreams vanish above the [[Tibetan Plateau]], low pressure over the [[Indus Valley]] deepens and the [[Intertropical Convergence Zone]] (ITCZ) moves in. The change is violent. Moderately vigorous monsoon depressions form in the Bay of Bengal and make landfall from June to September.<ref name=olive1/> [[Climate change in South Asia]] is causing a range of challenges including [[sea level rise]], cyclonic activity, and changes in [[ambient temperature]] and precipitation patterns.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kreft|first1=Sönke|url=https://germanwatch.org/en/download/16411.pdf|title=Global Climate Risk Index 2017|last2=David Eckstein|first2=David|last3=Melchior|first3=Inga|date=November 2016|publisher=Germanwatch e.V.|isbn=978-3-943704-49-5|location=Bonn|access-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925181000/https://germanwatch.org/en/download/16411.pdf|archive-date=25 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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