How do winds from the Mongolian Plateau affect Qinghai agriculture?

Strong winds originating from the Mongolian Plateau significantly impact agriculture in Qinghai by blanketing the region with sand, which poses a serious menace to farming efforts.1

These winds are part of the broader influence of the polar continental air mass, which dominates much of China during the winter months. As this cold, dry air mass moves southward from the north, it contributes to the long, dry, and windy winters characteristic of Qinghai’s continental climate. While these harsh conditions and the resulting sandstorms present challenges for cultivation, the region’s plentiful sunshine remains beneficial for plant growth, supporting the development of vast pasturelands used for raising sheep, horses, and yaks.21