Climate of Kyrgyzstan

T he climate of the Kyrgyz Republic as everywhere else is defined by its geographical location and formed by the interaction of the three major factors encompassing solar radiation, circulation processes in the atmosphere and underlying terrain. The relatively short extension of Kyrgyzstan (454 km from the north to the south and 925 km from the west to the east) barely affects the change of climatic conditions along the territory. The crucial role in formation of climatic conditions is played by the existing relief and orography.

The complicated mountain relief with high vertical distribution of altitudes and the existence of the large non-freezing Issyk-Kul Lake create a basis for significant differences in climatic pattern: there are all types of climatic conditions represented in the country – from sharp continental to maritime climate one.

The mountain relief imposes a vertical distribution of climatic belts. These can be defined as widely extended, vastly rugged ranges and intermountain troughs that greatly affect the process of climatic conditions formation.

The mountain climate can be in principle characterized by that the levels of the atmospheric pressure and air temperature are decreasing with elevation (at the average of 0.6°C per 100 m) accompanying by the decrease in daily and annual fluctuations of temperature, and the increase in precipitation levels upwards to a certain altitude.

The territory of the Kyrgyz Republic can be subdivided into the following four climatic zones:

  • The Northern and North-Western Kyrgyzstan, which include Chui, Talas and Kemin valleys embraced with their mountain ridges;
  • The South-Western Kyrgyzstan that includes Fergana, Chatkal and Alai valleys embraced with their ridges;
  • The North-Eastern Kyrgyzstan that includes Issyk-Kul hollow embraced with its mountain ridges;
  • The Inner Tyan-Shyan system.
The Northern and North-Western Kyrgyzstan (Chui and Talas valleys) are characterized by temperately warm and relatively humid climatic conditions with the average annual air temperature 5…10°C. The average temperature of January is -10…-5°C, the average temperature of July is +20…+25°C. At the bottoms of the valleys the maximum temperature is 37…44°C, the minimum temperature is -36…-42°C. At the north of Chui valley the temperature is from -44°C to -46°C.

While the altitude is increasing, the temperature is decreasing for 0.5…0.6°C per every 100 meters. The average annual air temperature at the foothills is 5…7°C; highlands are presented with the temperature of 0…-2°C. The average temperature of January at the foothills is about -4…-6°C with the absolute minimum of temperature -30…-34°C. The average temperature of July at the foothills is about 18…25°C; throughout the territory of highlands it stands at 8…9°C with the absolute maximum of temperature 34…35°C and 22…24°C, correspondingly.

The distribution of the precipitation is definitely affected by the terrain altitude. The annual precipitation level increases from 370 mm in the north of the valley to 425-500 mm upwards the valley. Going upward along the slopes of the Kyrgyz range, the level of precipitation increases up to 1,000 mm and above. Throughout the Talas valley, the precipitation level is lower and about 220 to 320 mm. The maximum of precipitations is usually registered for April-May in the valleys and lower sections of the slopes and shifts to a period of May-June as areas elevate.

The South-Western Kyrgyzstan is the warmest and dewy climatic zone, where, in contrast to the other climatic zones, a considerable proportion of precipitation falls at wintertime. This is based on that the south-western part is under the strong pressure of the southern cyclones bringing humid air while the other climatic zones experience the influence of Siberian anti-cyclones.

At the foothills of Fergana valley the average air temperature is 8…12°C; the average temperature of January is about -3…-4°C; and the average temperature of July is 23…26°C. The absolute maximum of temperature is about 40 degrees while its absolute minimum ranges from -23°C to -29°C. The annual precipitation level at the foothills varies from 300 to 650 mm. While the altitude increases, the level of precipitation also increases. At the slopes of sub-meridian ranges (Ugamskiy, Sandalshskiy, Pskemskiy, Ferganskiy and Chatkalskiy) the annual precipitation level ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 mm.; at the slopes of sub latitudinal ranges (Turkestanskiy, Alaiskiy and Zaalaiskiy ) the precipitation fallout is lower.

A high air temperature during the hot spell season, draught at the end of the year and major precipitation fallout in winter-autumn period at the foothills of Fergana valley actually are the features of sub-tropical continental climate. However, the wintertime, which is colder here than in sub-tropics, is typical for the climate of temperate zone.

At the slopes of ranges and throughout the territory of highland of the Alai valley the climatic conditions are a bit colder. In Alai valley the average annual air temperature varies from +3°C at the bottom of the valley to -3°C in highland. The average temperature of January varies from -13°C to -17°C. The absolute maximum and minimum of the air temperature reaches 29…34°C and -40…-35°C, correspondingly. The annual precipitations at the bottom of the valley reach the level of 310-370 mm. At the slopes of the ranges this precipitation level is higher. In Chatkal valley the annual precipitation level constitutes up to 440 mm.; the annual maximum of precipitations falls to the share of March while the minimum precipitation level falls at the period of August-September. This region is one of the most snowy in Kyrgyzstan.

The climate of the North-Eastern Kyrgyzstan forms under the influence of non-freezing Issyk-Kul Lake, which is located at the altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level and characterized by the maritime climate, i.e. mild winter, a relatively warm summer, and a smooth course of the annual air temperature.

The conditions of moistening change substantially from the west (semi-desert) to the east (almost sufficient moistening) and generally increase with terrain elevation. Throughout the trough the two local stormy winds are developed – “ulan” at the western part of the hollow and “santash” in the east. The “Ulan” can become especially strong. The western part of the hollow is the most arid territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. The precipitation level here is only 100 to 120 mm. While moving to the east, the precipitation level increases up to 250-300 mm at the central part and up to 400 mm and more in the east. The maximum precipitation level falls at July-August and minimum falls to the share of January-February period. At the mountain slopes the precipitation level increases substantially at the eastern part of the hollow (up to 800mm and above) while a bit lower increase in the precipitation level is observed in the west.

Within the bottom of the trough the average air temperature is 6…8°C; the average temperature of January is about -3…-7°C; and the average temperature of July varies from 17°C to 23°C. While the altitude increases, the air temperature at the slopes decreases and climatic conditions become more severe.

The mountain areas to the south of Talas and Kyrgys ranges, Teskei Ala-Too and to the east of Fergana range belong to the Inner Tyan-Shan. This closed climatic territory blocked from all sides by the periphery ranges receives quite negligible levels of moisture. A substantial spectrum of the altitude marks (from 1 to 4 kilometers at the bottoms of the troughs up to 5-6 km in the upper part of the ranges) creates a basis for great diversity of local climate, characterized in common by a high degree of continental features.

This is the coldest climatic zone throughout Kyrgyzstan. The average annual air temperature fluctuates from 9°C at the altitude of 1 km to -10°C at the altitude of 4 km. The maximum temperature decreases from 37°C to 22°C at the same altitudes; and minimum temperature is at very low level at all altitudes.

The decisive influence on the pattern of winter air temperature is determined by the relief – based on the flows of the cold air from the slopes down to the troughs, the intensive centers of cold winds with vertical distribution of temperatures along the altitude are formed. The absolute minimum of temperature in Togoz-Toro hollow (1.3 km) is -40°C; in Kochkor hollow (1.7 km) this minimum is as low as -36°C; in Suusamyr hollow (2.1 km) it is -49°C; in Ak-Sai valley (3.1 km) it equals to -54°C; and in Kumtor tract (about 3.6 km) the minimum is -49°C.

The annual precipitation level is relatively low: in Togus-Toro hollow it is 320 mm; in Kochkor hollow it equals 212 mm; in Suusamyr hollow it is as high as 376 mm; in Ak-Sai valley it equals to 275 mm; and in Kumtor tract it is 323 mm. Obviously, there is no clear dependence on the altitude ranges. The following average trends might be pointed out: the precipitation level decreases in the Inner Tyan-Shayan system from the west to the east and from the north to the south. At the same time, at the far east, where there is a wide zone of glaciation in the region of the Ak-Shirdak and Meridionalnyi ranges, the annual precipitation level, accordingly to raw data, constitutes a level of 800 mm and more. The maximum in precipitation level falls at May-June period; and the minimum – at January and December.

Sources:

  • Hand-book on the USSR Climate. Issue 32, Parts II и IY, Gidrometizdat, Leningrad, 1966.
  • Research-Apllied Hand-book on the USSR Climate. Issue 32, Series 3, Parts 1-6. Gidrometizdat, Leningrad, 1989.
  • Results of the working group “Climate Change Trends”.