Why do deserts around Kyrgyzstan influence its climate?

The deserts surrounding Kyrgyzstan on the north, west, and southeast significantly influence the country's climate by creating a striking contrast with its mountainous interior. These desert regions contribute to the country's climate in the following ways:

• Hot, Drying Winds: The lower parts of Kyrgyzstan’s fringing mountain ranges are exposed to hot, drying winds that originate from the surrounding deserts.1
• Temperature and Precipitation: Because Kyrgyzstan is located a great distance from the oceans, these surrounding plains and deserts, combined with sharp changes in elevation, dictate the regional weather patterns. While the mountainous interior experiences varying precipitation levels based on slope orientation, the valleys are characterized by hot, dry summers.1

This interaction between the arid lowlands and the high-altitude terrain is a defining feature of the climate of Kyrgyzstan, distinguishing it from the vast steppes and desert landscapes that dominate much of the broader Central Asia region.12