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Much of Central Asia is in subtropical region. But due to the location being far from oceanic influences, its climate has strong temperature swings during the year (hypercontinental).
If it doesn't have vegetation evolved to growing/flowering/fruiting at any time of year, I don't see it as being subtropical.
Hyper continentality is the very reason it isn't subtropical. Everything about the climate can be explained by distance from the sea, and everything about the native flora, can be explained by the climate.
If it doesn't have vegetation evolved to growing/flowering/fruiting at any time of year, I don't see it as being subtropical.
Hyper continentality is the very reason it isn't subtropical. Everything about the climate can be explained by distance from the sea, and everything about the native flora, can be explained by the climate.
I disagree with that. Continental subtropic also exists in nature. Vegetation evolved any time of the year is tropical climate(sum of effective t is 8000<). Even in tropical climate vegetation can be disrupted because of droughts. Subtropical means very long vegetation period(sum of effective t is 4000-8000).
Central Asia is a unique place in that case.
"Central Asia includes the republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and also the southern part of Kazakstan. The region can roughly be divided into two regimes. Areas to the south of 40° latitude are subject to diverse climatic influences and have particularly variable weather, especially in winter. In any given place, winter temperatures can range dramatically from -15° F to 70° F (-26° to 21° C), and even the average temperatures also range widely. For example, in Ashkhabad the average January mean can be 22° F (-5° C) in one year but 45° F (7° C) in the next"
Have a look at Ashgabad's climate chart. It is very subtropical!
I disagree with that. Continental subtropic also exists in nature. Vegetation evolved any time of the year is tropical climate(sum of effective t is 8000<). Even in tropical climate vegetation can be disrupted because of droughts. Subtropical means very long vegetation period(sum of effective t is 4000-8000).
Central Asia is a unique place in that case.
"Central Asia includes the republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and also the southern part of Kazakstan. The region can roughly be divided into two regimes. Areas to the south of 40° latitude are subject to diverse climatic influences and have particularly variable weather, especially in winter. In any given place, winter temperatures can range dramatically from -15° F to 70° F (-26° to 21° C), and even the average temperatures also range widely. For example, in Ashkhabad the average January mean can be 22° F (-5° C) in one year but 45° F (7° C) in the next"
There is a big difference between vegetation being disrupted by drought vs cold.
Accumulated growing hours are skewed towards hot summer climates, and do nothing to predict the year-round suitability of a climate, for a species. As hot as the summers are, even the most basic subtropical crops like citrus, won't grow there.
There is a big difference between vegetation being disrupted by drought vs cold.
Accumulated growing hours are skewed towards hot summer climates, and do nothing to predict the year-round suitability of a climate, for a species. As hot as the summers are, even the most basic subtropical crops like citrus, won't grow there.
Citrus does grow in Central Asia. Not only that, but also cotton, Japanese persimmon, olive, date palm, pomegranate. Sum of active temperatures necessary for growth of persimmon 4200C, lemon 4300C and orange 4500C.
Taraz has 4200C, Tashkent 4500, Ashgabad over 5000C.
Citrus does grow in Central Asia. Not only that, but also cotton, Japanese persimmon, olive, date palm, pomegranate. Sum of active temperatures necessary for growth of persimmon 4200C, lemon 4300C and orange 4500C.
Taraz has 4200C, Tashkent 4500, Ashgabad over 5000C.
Ashgabad is obviously a different climate, one I would consider marginally subtropical, rather than very subtropical.
Even with 5000C, Taraz still wouldn't grow citrus.
Here must have higher growing units, as persimmon and citrus thrive. That shows that the period of warmth is more important than the intensity of warm.
I think Taraz is semi-arid continental warm temperate.
I don't think warm/cool/cold temperate are useful terms. They say nothing about actual climates, and the term itself makes it hard to make a general statement about an area's climate
Continental by itself makes much more sense, as extremes of hot and cold are much easier to put in context.
Without precise knowledge I think an interesting climate where relatively cold winter temps and very hot summer temps can exist together. I have red a Russian book about former USSR's geography and climate and the authors were also in a quandary or could not find a very good analogue to the Central Asian climate for these contrasts.
Taraz does NOT have a subtropical climate.. not even close. Where I live has winters far warmer than Taraz and it's definitely not subtropical. Ashgabat would be borderline subtropical IMO.
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