Environmental Issues in
East and South Asia
SS7G10 The student will discuss environmental issues across
Southern and Eastern Asia.
a. Describe the causes and effects of pollution on the Yangtze and
Ganges Rivers.
b. Describe the causes and effects of air pollution and flooding in
India and China.
All images are from Google Images. Video is from NBC News
Warm Up:
Which environmental issue does each picture depict?
List as many facts as you can about each issue.
Monsoon Cycles
Summer Cycle (wet
monsoon season): The
winds come off the
ocean carrying warm,
moist air which becomes
rain on land.
Winter Cycle (dry
monsoon season):
The winds come from
the land bringing cool,
dry air. Rain occurs
off land.
The dry monsoon season
can lead to a period of
extreme drought. This
picture shows people in
India visiting a communal
well for their water needs.
The wet monsoon
season can bring
floods. This pictures
shows a young boy
trying to pull his cart
through a flooded
city street.
The Polluted Ganges River
http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=msnbc&fg=&vid=7c8d7838c315-4d25-b80b-7815ab64f4c5&from=00
NBC News: Polluted Rivers Series
Pollution problems are similar on the
Yangtze River.
This picture shows a
stream polluted by
industrial waste
feeding into the
Yangtze River.
This picture shows
Chinese boys fishing on
the trash-filled banks of
the Yangtze. Despite the
high levels of pollution,
people still must rely on
this river as both a water
and a food source.
Asian Brown Cloud
Satellite image of the Asian Brown Cloud.
Brown cloud blocks out the sun.
The city skyline is barely visible
through the cloud.
People out walking
and biking through
the cloud. Should
they be protecting
themselves? What
should they do?
Copy The Chart
Name of
Concern
Monsoons
What it is
Cause
Effects
Possible solutions
Season winds
Tilting of the earth
Brings 80% of
Better water management
that bring
that changes the
region’s rainfall
strategies such as dams, water
summer rains and direction of the
Causes flooding,
conservation, and evacuation
cool dry winter
wind
landslides, drought,
procedures
air.
agricultural and
human losses
Asian Brown
Two mile thick
Industrial waste,
Damage to
Reduce industrial wastes,
Cloud
cloud of air
slash and burn
agriculture,
change agricultural practices,
pollution
agriculture
respiratory illnesses,
reduce vehicle emissions
stretching from
practices, vehicle
and acid rain
SW to SE Asia
exhaust
Pollution on the Ganges is the
Religious and
Unsafe drinking
Change in religious and
Ganges River most sacred river cultural practices, water, disease and
cultural practices, institute
in India and in the
industrial and
possible death,
water treatment practices
most populated agricultural waste, tainted agriculture
including human, industrial
region of the
lack of water
and agricultural wastes
country
treatment practices
Pollution on the Yangtze is the
Industrial and
Loss to marine life,
Change in agricultural and
Yangtze River third largest river agricultural waste
unsafe drinking
industrial waste policies
in the world and
water
the cradle of
Asian civilization
Show What You Know
• Create a 3-section flipbook that uses each
section to describe the environmental issues
of monsoon winds, river pollution, and Asian
Brown Cloud.
– Use personalization as your technique to describe
the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)
– Include a description of the issue, its cause and
effect, and possible solutions to the problem.
– Draw a picture on the front and put your
information on the inside.
Example
I am the Yangtze River. Once, I
was a mighty river and the
location of the beginning of
civilization in China. I supplied
both food and water to my
people. Now, my water and the
food I help provide poison my
people. Their agricultural and
industrial waste have polluted me
beyond all safe levels. I feel sad
and useless. If only my people
would enforce laws to protect me
from those waste products and
clean up the damage already
done, I could again provide
clean, safe water for the people
and the food I help provide would
again nourish a nation.
Outside flap
Inside flap
Show What You Know
• Create a digital story using storybird.com
– Use personalization as your technique to describe
the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)
– Include a description of the issue, its cause and
effect, and possible solutions to the problem.
Show What You Know
• Create a fake facebook page using
Fakebook.com
– Use personalization as your technique to describe
the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)
– Include a description of the issue, its cause and
effect, and possible solutions to the problem.