Describe the broad relief of China from west to east.

It falls in three great steps: the Tibetan Plateau in the west, a belt of basins and plateaux in the centre, and the low coastal plains of the east.

Why is the Yellow River known as China's sorrow?

It carries an enormous silt load from the loess plateau, which raises its bed above the surrounding plain so that a breach causes catastrophic and widespread flooding.

What is the loess plateau, and why does it erode so readily?

It is a thick deposit of wind-blown silt in north-central China, and being unconsolidated it is cut into deep gullies by run-off wherever vegetation is removed.

Describe the climate of eastern China.

It is monsoonal, with hot wet summers as moist Pacific air moves inland and cold dry winters as high pressure builds over Siberia.

Describe the climate of western China.

It is arid to semi-arid and strongly continental, with very cold winters and hot summers, and the Tibetan Plateau is cold at all seasons because of its altitude.

WJEC A-Level Geography 601-8455-3

Coastal Landscapes

Glaciated Landscapes

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Global Migration

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Economic Growth and Challenge: IndiaContemporary theme

Topic overview India's relief, drainage and climate India's population, society and governance India's resources, hazards and economic geography India's global role and economic growth Environmental pressures of India's growth Sustainable development strategies in India

Economic Growth and Challenge: ChinaContemporary theme

Topic overview China's relief, drainage and climate China's population, society and governance China's resources, hazards and economic geography China's global role and economic growth Environmental pressures of China's growth Sustainable development strategies in China

Development in an African ContextContemporary theme

Topic overview Defining and measuring development Physical factors influencing development Economic factors influencing development Political, social and cultural factors in development The environmental cost of development Desertification Strategies to promote development

Energy Challenges and DilemmasContemporary theme

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Weather and ClimateContemporary theme

Topic overview Structure of the atmosphere and the heat budget Global atmospheric and oceanic circulation The world's major climate types Weather and climate of Wales and the UK Extreme weather and ENSO Hazards of low and high pressure systems Urban climates and air quality People, climate and the future

Fieldwork and Geographical Skills

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Key Concepts in Geography

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Economic Growth and Challenge: China

China's relief, drainage and climate

3 things to know
A2 Unit 4

Overview

Broad relief of China from west to east, three main river systems of China and loess plateau.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Name the three main river systems of China.

Key term

Explain the general pattern of rainfall across China.

Key term

Why is northern China so much drier than the south?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Describe the broad relief of China from west to east.
Model answer
It falls in three great steps: the Tibetan Plateau in the west, a belt of basins and plateaux in the centre, and the low coastal plains of the east.
2
Name the three main river systems of China.
Model answer
The Yangtze, the Yellow River or Huang He, and the Pearl River in the south.
3
Why is the Yellow River known as China's sorrow?
Model answer
It carries an enormous silt load from the loess plateau, which raises its bed above the surrounding plain so that a breach causes catastrophic and widespread flooding.
4
What is the loess plateau, and why does it erode so readily?
Model answer
It is a thick deposit of wind-blown silt in north-central China, and being unconsolidated it is cut into deep gullies by run-off wherever vegetation is removed.
5
Describe the climate of eastern China.
Model answer
It is monsoonal, with hot wet summers as moist Pacific air moves inland and cold dry winters as high pressure builds over Siberia.
6
Describe the climate of western China.
Model answer
It is arid to semi-arid and strongly continental, with very cold winters and hot summers, and the Tibetan Plateau is cold at all seasons because of its altitude.

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