Climate

The climate of the Zomin National Nature Park is diverse and characterized as sharply continental, with rapid changes in weather conditions. The highest air temperatures occur in June–August, while the coldest are observed in December–January.

The presence of a powerful mountain barrier on the southeastern part of the Turkestan mountain system, and the openness of its northern section, have a significant impact on the park’s microclimate. The diversity of relief forms, which depend on the steepness of slopes, leads to an uneven distribution of solar radiation and precipitation. As a result of external influences, soil fertility varies across the territory.

According to geobotanical zoning, the juniper forests are divided into two groups: new thermophilic and microthermic types.

In the first zone, the dominant formation is the Zarafshan juniper (Juniperus seravschanica), while in the second zone — the semi-spherical juniper (Juniperus semiglobosa) and the Turkestan juniper (Juniperus turkestanica) prevail.

The Zarafshan juniper grows in the lower mountain zone at altitudes of 1,700–2,300 meters above sea level. The semi-spherical juniper occurs in the middle mountain zone between 2,000–2,500 meters, and the Turkestan juniper is found in the upper mountain zone at altitudes of 2,500–3,300 meters. As elevation increases, the climate of the park gradually changes.

Based on hydrometeorological data, three main climate types are identified within the park:

• in the upper zone — dry,

• in the middle zone — humid (sub-humid),

• in the lower zone — moist sub-nival (humid-subnival).

The park’s climate is distinguished by its regional specificity and seasonal temperature variation. The difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures is quite significant. Local atmospheric circulation is determined by the daily wind regime: at night, winds blow from the mountains down to the valleys, while during the day, the opposite occurs.

Precipitation

The annual amount of precipitation in the park varies between 295 and 405 mm. About 70.4% of this falls between April and October. In summer, precipitation occurs mostly as rain, while at higher elevations it can fall as snow or hail. In the high mountain zones, snow avalanches may occur until June.

This phenomenon results from cold, moist air masses entering from the western slopes of the Turkestan mountain range, which, due to the width of the mountain system, cannot be completely blocked.

Seasonal distribution of precipitation is as follows:

• 50–63% during the spring season,

• 6–18% during the summer season.

In the middle mountain zone, the drought period can last up to three months. In the upper mountain parts, precipitation is distributed more evenly — about 50% in winter and 50% in spring. During the summer-autumn period, the main precipitation occurs in August–September.

The snow cover begins to form in the upper mountain zone at the end of September or early October, and in the middle zone in mid-October or early November. The duration of snow cover ranges from 60 to 190 days; in the middle zone it lasts 120–124 days.

The melting period of snow occurs between late March and early April. The average snow depth is 30–40 cm, and the number of frost-free days is approximately 164 days.