How does Siberian air affect the Gobi Desert in winter?

The Gobi Desert experiences its harsh winter conditions largely due to its exposure to cold air masses that descend from Siberia. These frigid winds sweep across the desert's vast plains, bringing frost and snow to the region.1

This influence is part of a broader continental climate pattern where the winter season is dominated by anticyclones centered over Siberia. As a result, the Gobi experiences long, bitter winters with temperatures that can frequently drop below −40 °C (−40 °F). While the desert receives very little annual precipitation, much of the moisture that does fall during these months arrives as snow, further defining its classification as a cold desert.21