three large forces shaping the landforms
- Tectonic collision (n-s uplifting) example - Himalayan mountains
- Compression (east-west warping) example - Hengduan mountains
- Volcanism (island arcs) example - ring of fire
the pacific ring of fire
large 40 000km belt surrounding the Pacific Ocean composed of tectonic plates and sea trenches, important subduction of plates, the most seismic region of the world , account for more than 90% of the worlds earthquake
Chinas three major east-west stair steps
- West china - numerous high and rugged mountain chains alternating with high elevation deserts and plateaus and steep gorges cut by fast moving rivers
- central mountains/plateau region - numerous mountain systems and dry plateau, alluvial plains area won wider and more amenable to agriculture and settlement closer to the east coast
- Eastern Coastal China - erosional process in west and central china with alluvial deposition creating massive coastal plains
the three great topographic steps
- Qinghai Tibetan Plateau
2, Central Mountains and plateau - East/Northeast china lowlands
highlands
diverse environments and ecologies
passage ways
protected regions
source regions
lowlands
homogenous environments and ecologies
regions of enclosure
potential environmental hazards
discharge regions
six climate zones
- cold/frigid temperate
- mid temperate
- warm temperate
- sub tropical
- tropical
- equatorial
suitable for human settlement
mid temperate, warm temperate and sub tropical have clearly identifiable 4 seasons
human settlements
Populations are generally clustered in plains,basins and coastal lowlands
west china pros and cons
cons
- limited water resources including rainfall
- flat arable land at a premium limits agricultural incomes
- high transport costs
- uneven population distribution
pros
- vast mineral resources
-energy resources and growing processing capacity
improved transportation systems
emerging links to central asian economics
