The variety of climate in Asia
Asia is the largest continent in the world and has many types of climate because of its vast size and differences in latitude. Latitude, distance from the sea and altitude all affect the climate of an area.
Key idea
The main climates in Asia are equatorial, monsoon, desert, Mediterranean and continental.
Types of climate
- Equatorial climate — hot and wet all year; for example Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
- Monsoon climate — seasonal monsoon winds bring wet and dry seasons; for example South Asia such as India.
- Desert climate — very dry with little rain; for example the Gobi Desert and the Arabian Peninsula.
- Mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters; found along the Mediterranean coast in West Asia.
- Continental climate — a large temperature range with cold winters and hot summers; for example the interior of Central Asia.
Factors affecting climate
Areas near the equator are hotter because they receive sunlight almost vertically. Inland areas far from the sea experience a large temperature range.
Remember
Latitude is the most important factor: the closer to the equator, the hotter the climate.