General climatic controls and topoclimatic variations in Central and High Asia

Abstract

Basic features of current spatial and seasonal climate variations in Central and High Asia are presented. Large-scale circulation modes were inferred from NCAR/CDAS General Circulation Model (GCM) data and interpreted with particular emphasis on the Asian Monsoon circulation. Using spatial high-resolution estimates of radiation, temperature and precipitation covering Central and High Asia in a regular grid network with a grid-cell spacing of 1 km2, topoclimatic variations are investigated and discussed with respect to their major barometric and topographic controls. In general, weather patterns of Central and High Asia are determined by tropical monsoon as well as extratropical circulation modes. Associated synoptic conditions and processes, in particular the alternation of tropical and polar air masses, lead to distinct large-scale variations valid for all climatic parameters in all seasons. The regional analysis and discussion of climatic gradients and environmental lapse rates stress the significant role of Asia's marked orography and its influence on advective processes, flow currents and topoclimatic settings. Preliminary estimations of the annual water balance, however, are still afflicted with major uncertainties owing to methodical limits in the spatial estimation of precipitation rates and widely lacking evapotranspiration records, particularly in the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent high mountain systems. Given the importance of the mountainous water resources for the affected economies, further regional investigations on the water cycle and its components are vital future tasks for climate research.