Climate & Weather

Mount Taishan experiences four distinct seasons. The mountains lie within the Northern temperate zone, with a semi-humid monsoon and continental climate. The rainy season is in July and August. July is the rainiest month with average rainfall of 8.6 inches. January is the coldest month. Average highs are 25 degrees and average lows of 13 degrees fahrenheit. Winter and summer months last the longest, as spring and falls duration seems shortlived. The annual and daily range in temperature in the Eastern coastal areas is smaller than inland areas.

Snow on Mount Taishan, photo- nanning-china.org 

Monsoon Winds affecting Mount Taishan's climate

The annual precipitation varies throughout Chinas large land mass. Mount Taishan (black arrow) is affected by the East Asian Monsoon in the summer months which contribute substantial amounts of rainfall.

summer winds from south. photo from disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov

From May to September, winds from the Southwest brings warm and humid air over the continent. South Eastern Asia, gets the most precipitation, as the warm moist air dissipates as it travels northward.

monsoon winds photo from
disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov

Winter Monsoon wind shifts are reversed and stronger than summer wind patterns. Cold, dry air from Siberia and the Mongolia Plateau shifts from the Northeast and contributes to Mount Taishans dry winters. Cooler temperatures occur at higher altitudes and Mount Taishan which rises from a low lying-plains experiences snowfall at its 1,545 foot summit.

Mount Taishan's mountain complex rises from the plains in the central Shandong province 1,543 meters above sea level. Its elevation and slope causes a radial drainage pattern. The six streams flowing from the mountains summit enhance the weathering process and the joints in the rocks. Vegetation which covers 80% of the mountain, grows into the fractured rock expediting the weathering process.

Yellow River flows just North of Mount Taishan(Jinan) and continues North East
to its drainage basin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yellowrivermap.jpg

The Yellow River drains into the Bohai sea and flows through nine Chinese provinces, and just north of Mount Taishan. Its total basin area is 742, 443 kilometers squared.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_River

The Loess Plateau is represented by the darker shaded area

The Yellow river carries large amounts of silts to its basin each year (1.6 5 tons annually) From the Loess Plateau, where the high rates of erosion occur, silts are transported eastward when the rivers volume is capable. When the river has recently dried up in lower elevations near the plains surrounding Taishan at Jinan, this sediment would be deposited when the stream loses velocity.

Adding to sediment deposition, From Zhengzhou to the sea, fewer tributaries add volume to the rivers flow, and sediments have significantly raised the riverbeds

Introducing Mount Taishan, China's leading sacred mountain

picture taken by my brother, 2007

Hey classmates! My name is Susannah and I am a Geography major. The location I chose to share with you all for my blog this semester is Mount Taishan. In the summer of 2007, I was lucky enough travel throughout Asia, and climb this sacred mountain. Mount Taishan has fascinating cultural, historical, as well as natural significance in China and the experience of climbing it was certainly memorable. I'm looking forward to revisiting this mountain in Shandong province and learning more about its numerous landforms as it relates to what we will learn this semester.