Climate, snow cover, ghlaciers, and runoff in the Tien Shan, Central Asia

V.B. Aizen et al

Published in: 1995

Publisher: Water Resources Bulletin

Region / Country: Central Asia

Topics: Glaciers / Environment / Water / Hydrology / Clim
Abstract:

The Pica Shan, a mountainous region located on the northern periphery of central Asia, has a wide range of climatic and hydrological conditions. On the basis of long term data from 348 meteorological and glaciological stations, the annual distribution of precipitation in different regions and elevational zones of the Tien Shan was calculated. Major climatic features are the entrance of moisture during spring-summer, small winter precipitation, decrease of precipitation towards the east and the center of the mountains or with distance up valleys, and increase of precipitation with altitude up to crest-lines of ranges. Annual total evaporation from snow can be 50–60 mm per year, reaching 30 percent of snow accumulation.

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