Difference between revisions of "World Cultures Portfolio/South Asia"

From ThePlaz.com

Jump to: navigation, search
(write 3 paragraphs + closing)
(add red book as source for map)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by one user not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
{{World Cultures South Asia}}
 
{{World Cultures South Asia}}
 
{{World Cultures Portfolio}}
 
{{World Cultures Portfolio}}
{{Draft}}
+
{{Tan Message|This essay came out kinda weird because of the to-be words ban.  I don't think it's my best work, but time is running out...}}
 
----
 
----
Rainfall in South Asia varies greatly and has many effects on aspects of South Asian life.  Not only does the rainfall map match closely with the climate map, but with the population map.  Monsoons  have a great deal of effects on the population, morale, and agriculture.  India, a large nation, made up of many sections gets affected by many different climates.  Dry as deserts, the western side lays, but rain ravages the eastern side.  India's rain falls seasonally and unpredictability.  But when it differs from it's normal habits, problems, such as floods and droughts emerge.
+
<nowiki>Won't show up! [[Image:South Asia Rainfall Map.JPG|thumb|300px|South Asia Rainfall Map]]</nowiki>
 +
[[Image:Average Rainfall Textbook.JPG|thumb|200px|Textbook South Asian Rainfall Map]]
  
Various regions and countries make up South Asia.  In the north-east lies Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Both are very dry, similar to the rest of the Middle East.  The Thar Desert exists here, a large dry region in Rajasthan (an Indian state) and Pakistan (Wikipedia).  The desert covers 92,200 square miles and receives less then 40 inches of rain per year (WWF via Wikipedia; Textbook).  Few people wish to live in this region and thus it's sparsely populated, similar to deserts around the world.
+
Rainfall in South Asia varies greatly and has many effects on aspects of South Asian life.  Not only does the rainfall map match closely with the climate map, but with the population map.  Monsoons  have a great deal of effects on the population, morale, and agriculture.  India, a large nation, made up of many sections gets affected by many different climates.  Dry as a desert, the western side lies, but rain ravages the eastern side.  India's rain falls seasonally and unpredictability.  But when it differs from it's norm, problems such as floods and droughts emerge.
 +
 
 +
Various regions and countries make up South Asia.  In the north-east lies Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Both are very dry, similar to the rest of the Middle East.  The Thar Desert exists here, a large dry region in Rajasthan (an Indian state) and Pakistan (Wikipedia).  The desert covers 92,200 square miles and receives less then 40 inches of rain per year (WWF via Wikipedia; Ahmad et al).  Few people wish to live in this region and thus it's sparsely populated, similar to deserts around the world.
  
 
The north-west portion of South Asia contains Nepal, and Bangladesh, among others.  The northern part of this region, the part bordering the plains of China, does not receive as much rain, and gets designated "temperate humid" on the Encarta climate map.  The region then gets divided into further smaller sub-regions.  The largest sub-region climate appears as "winter drought, hot summer."  Small different sub-variations with different drought seasons and summer temperatures border this.   
 
The north-west portion of South Asia contains Nepal, and Bangladesh, among others.  The northern part of this region, the part bordering the plains of China, does not receive as much rain, and gets designated "temperate humid" on the Encarta climate map.  The region then gets divided into further smaller sub-regions.  The largest sub-region climate appears as "winter drought, hot summer."  Small different sub-variations with different drought seasons and summer temperatures border this.   
  
As one moves south-west towards Southwest Asia, one moves into the tropics.  This region us wetter and receives significantly more rain.  Larger populations also crowd this wetter region.  For the most part this region borders South East Asia and receives about 200-400 inches per year with some spots receiving up to 400 inches per year (Textbook).
+
As one moves south-west towards Southwest Asia, one moves into the tropics.  This region gets wetter and receives significantly more rain.  Larger populations also crowd this wetter region.  For the most part this region borders Southeast Asia and receives about 200-400 inches per year with some spots receiving up to 400 inches per year (Ahmad et al).
  
The western ghats also receive a lot of rain.  This occurs because of the normal rain-trapping properties of the mountains, which has been seen before in other regions.
+
The western ghats also receive a lot of rain (Ahmad et al).  This occurs because of the normal rain-trapping properties of the mountains, which can be seen all over the globe.
  
In the middle of Sri Lanka, Mount Pidurutalagala receives an excess of 400 inches of rain per year.  On the map a small spot of dark green shows the mountains peak.  Again the mountains are what cause this small sport of heavy rain.
+
In the middle of Sri Lanka, Mount Pidurutalagala receives an excess of 400 inches of rain per year (Ahmad et al).  On the map a small spot of dark green shows the mountain's peak (Ahmad et al).  Again the mountains are what cause this small spot of heavy rain.
  
The rain levels in India vary along with the season.  In January, India receives almost no rain except in the southern and north-eastern corners (Encarta Map).  However, the story in July differs greatly (Encarta Map).  Rainfalls heavily during the summer, especially in the north-eastern corner.  However, there's one fluke.  A dry patch exists just west of the northern tip of Sri Lanka (Encarta Map).  Unfortunately there seems to be no explanation.
+
The rain levels in India vary along with the season.  In January, India receives almost no rain except in the southern and north-eastern corners of the country (Encarta Map).  However, the story in July differs greatly (Encarta Map).  Rain falls heavily during the summer, especially in the north-eastern corner of South Asia.  However, there's one fluke.  A dry patch exists just west of the northern tip of Sri Lanka (Encarta Map).  Unfortunately no explanation could arise to why this abnormality occurs.
  
Commonly a monsoon gets defined as the rain and wind which comes from southwest India during different seasons (Wikipedia).  However, a monsoon, properly defined, represents a wind pattern that reverses direction with the seasons (Wikipedia).  And change with the seasons it does, as it can pour inches of rain in the few months from July to September (Baldauf).  This provides almost all of India's water for the entire year.
+
When one thinks of monsoons, one usually only thinks about the heavy rains which occur in India during the summer.  However, a monsoon, properly defined, represents a wind pattern which reverses direction with the seasons and can occur in other regions (Wikipedia).  However, back to the common definition, the monsoons rains provide almost all of India's water for the entire year.  This makes India very reliant on the rains which occur from July to September each year (Baldauf).
  
Agriculture powers 70% of India's economy (Baldauf).  So when the rains come late, everyone suffers.  This causes starvation among the poor villages and hardship in the cities.  The rain also partially abates the heat, so when it's missing, everyone feels it (Baldauf).  This heat causes a massive demand for air-conditioning, one which the power company can not keep up with.  So once again, the lack of rains affect the Indian people.
+
Agriculture powers 70% of India's economy (Baldauf).  So when the rains come late, everyone suffers.  This causes starvation among the poor villages and hardship in the cities.  The rain also partially abates the heat, so when it's missing, everyone feels it (Baldauf).  This heat causes a massive demand for air-conditioning, one which the power company can not keep up with (Baldauf).  So once again, the lack of rains affect the Indian people.
  
 
But as a lack of water brings hardship, so does flooding.  Floods, such as the ones near Nepal in 2004 left thousands homeless (Baldauf).  Just as flood waters do in the United States, flooding wipes out houses in India, gutting everything in their paths.
 
But as a lack of water brings hardship, so does flooding.  Floods, such as the ones near Nepal in 2004 left thousands homeless (Baldauf).  Just as flood waters do in the United States, flooding wipes out houses in India, gutting everything in their paths.
  
So Indians demand a balance of rain each year.  But when too much falls, or too little, or not at the right time, Indians suffer.  Floods, drought, famine, and power outages can all result from India's haphazard rainfall.  In addition, different sections of Inida receive different amounts of rain.  This also happens to correspond to the population levels in certain regions.
+
So, India need a balance of rain each year.  Not too much, but at the same time, not too little.  But when this balance gets upset, Indians suffer.  Floods, drought, famine, and power outages can all result from India's haphazard rainfall.  However, the rains also affect the climate and population distribution in South Asia.  Different sections of Asia receive different amounts of rain.  These factors all affect the daily life of many Indians, just as they do worldwide.
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
"Thar Desert." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Dec 2006, 10:24 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 17 Dec 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thar_Desert&oldid=94484869>.
+
*Ahmad, Ifikhar, Herbert Brodsky, Marylee Susan Crofts, and Elisabeth Gaynor Ellis. <u>World Cultures: A Global Mosaic</u>.  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001.
 
+
*Baldauf, Scott. "India's monsoon: a time of washouts and waiting." <u>The Christian Science Monitor</u>. 20 July 2004. 2 Jan 2007 <http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0720/p07s01-wosc.html>.
[http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/MapPrintPreview.aspx?lat=18.3870980570115&long=78.9589470696392&alt=2&mapsize=Medium&mapstyle=precipitationannual&mapstyleselectedindex=9&selectedent=47614&entityname=South%20Asia%20(region),%20Asia]
+
*<u>Global Insights: People and Cultures</u>. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1993.
[http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/MapPrintPreview.aspx?lat=18.3870980570115&long=78.9589470696392&alt=2&mapsize=Medium&mapstyle=climate&mapstyleselectedindex=8&selectedent=47614&entityname=South%20Asia%20(region),%20Asia]
+
*"South Asia Annual Precipitation Map." Encarta. Microsoft. 17 Dec 2006 <http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/MapPrintPreview.aspx?lat=18.3870980570115&long=78.9589470696392&alt=2&mapsize=Medium&mapstyle=precipitationannual&mapstyleselectedindex=9&selectedent=47614&entityname=South%20Asia%20(region),%20Asia>.
[http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/MapPrintPreview.aspx?lat=18.3870980570115&long=78.9589470696392&alt=2&mapsize=Medium&mapstyle=population&mapstyleselectedindex=6&selectedent=47614&entityname=South%20Asia%20(region),%20Asia]
+
*"South Asia Climate Map." Encarta. Microsoft. 17 Dec 2006 <http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/MapPrintPreview.aspx?lat=18.3870980570115&long=78.9589470696392&alt=2&mapsize=Medium&mapstyle=climate&mapstyleselectedindex=8&selectedent=47614&entityname=South%20Asia%20(region),%20Asia>.
*precip jan
+
*"South Asia January Precipitation Map." Encarta. Microsoft. 20 Dec 2006 <http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/MapPrintPreview.aspx?lat=18.3870980570115&long=78.9589470696392&alt=2&mapsize=Medium&mapstyle=precipitationjanuary&mapstyleselectedindex=10&selectedent=47614&entityname=>.
*july
+
*"South Asia July Precipitation Map." Encarta. Microsoft. 20 Dec 2006 <http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/mapcenter/map.aspx?TextLatitude=39.45&TextLongitude=-98.907&TextAltitude=0&TextSelectedEntity=39070&SearchEnc=false&MapStyle=Comprehensive&MapSize=Medium&MapStyleSelectedIndex=0&searchTextMap=South+Asia&MapStylesList=Comprehensive&ZoomOnMapClickCheck=on>.
*http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0720/p07s01-wosc.html
+
*"South Asia Population Map." Encarta. Microsoft. 17 Dec 2006 <http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/MapPrintPreview.aspx?lat=18.3870980570115&long=78.9589470696392&alt=2&mapsize=Medium&mapstyle=population&mapstyleselectedindex=6&selectedent=47614&entityname=South%20Asia%20(region),%20Asia>.
 +
*"Thar Desert." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Dec 2006, 10:24 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 17 Dec 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thar_Desert&oldid=94484869>.

Latest revision as of 03:57, 19 January 2007

World Cultures South Asia Report about Rainfall

This essay came out kinda weird because of the to-be words ban. I don't think it's my best work, but time is running out...


Won't show up! [[Image:South Asia Rainfall Map.JPG|thumb|300px|South Asia Rainfall Map]]

Textbook South Asian Rainfall Map

Rainfall in South Asia varies greatly and has many effects on aspects of South Asian life. Not only does the rainfall map match closely with the climate map, but with the population map. Monsoons have a great deal of effects on the population, morale, and agriculture. India, a large nation, made up of many sections gets affected by many different climates. Dry as a desert, the western side lies, but rain ravages the eastern side. India's rain falls seasonally and unpredictability. But when it differs from it's norm, problems such as floods and droughts emerge.

Various regions and countries make up South Asia. In the north-east lies Afghanistan and Pakistan. Both are very dry, similar to the rest of the Middle East. The Thar Desert exists here, a large dry region in Rajasthan (an Indian state) and Pakistan (Wikipedia). The desert covers 92,200 square miles and receives less then 40 inches of rain per year (WWF via Wikipedia; Ahmad et al). Few people wish to live in this region and thus it's sparsely populated, similar to deserts around the world.

The north-west portion of South Asia contains Nepal, and Bangladesh, among others. The northern part of this region, the part bordering the plains of China, does not receive as much rain, and gets designated "temperate humid" on the Encarta climate map. The region then gets divided into further smaller sub-regions. The largest sub-region climate appears as "winter drought, hot summer." Small different sub-variations with different drought seasons and summer temperatures border this.

As one moves south-west towards Southwest Asia, one moves into the tropics. This region gets wetter and receives significantly more rain. Larger populations also crowd this wetter region. For the most part this region borders Southeast Asia and receives about 200-400 inches per year with some spots receiving up to 400 inches per year (Ahmad et al).

The western ghats also receive a lot of rain (Ahmad et al). This occurs because of the normal rain-trapping properties of the mountains, which can be seen all over the globe.

In the middle of Sri Lanka, Mount Pidurutalagala receives an excess of 400 inches of rain per year (Ahmad et al). On the map a small spot of dark green shows the mountain's peak (Ahmad et al). Again the mountains are what cause this small spot of heavy rain.

The rain levels in India vary along with the season. In January, India receives almost no rain except in the southern and north-eastern corners of the country (Encarta Map). However, the story in July differs greatly (Encarta Map). Rain falls heavily during the summer, especially in the north-eastern corner of South Asia. However, there's one fluke. A dry patch exists just west of the northern tip of Sri Lanka (Encarta Map). Unfortunately no explanation could arise to why this abnormality occurs.

When one thinks of monsoons, one usually only thinks about the heavy rains which occur in India during the summer. However, a monsoon, properly defined, represents a wind pattern which reverses direction with the seasons and can occur in other regions (Wikipedia). However, back to the common definition, the monsoons rains provide almost all of India's water for the entire year. This makes India very reliant on the rains which occur from July to September each year (Baldauf).

Agriculture powers 70% of India's economy (Baldauf). So when the rains come late, everyone suffers. This causes starvation among the poor villages and hardship in the cities. The rain also partially abates the heat, so when it's missing, everyone feels it (Baldauf). This heat causes a massive demand for air-conditioning, one which the power company can not keep up with (Baldauf). So once again, the lack of rains affect the Indian people.

But as a lack of water brings hardship, so does flooding. Floods, such as the ones near Nepal in 2004 left thousands homeless (Baldauf). Just as flood waters do in the United States, flooding wipes out houses in India, gutting everything in their paths.

So, India need a balance of rain each year. Not too much, but at the same time, not too little. But when this balance gets upset, Indians suffer. Floods, drought, famine, and power outages can all result from India's haphazard rainfall. However, the rains also affect the climate and population distribution in South Asia. Different sections of Asia receive different amounts of rain. These factors all affect the daily life of many Indians, just as they do worldwide.

Sources