The climatic diagram map of High Asia.

Purpose and concepts

Abstract

A new map containing climatic diagrams of High Asia and its surrounding lowlands is presented. Its main focus is to provide a data base for climatic-ecological investigations (e. g. evaluation of potential vegetation cover), whereas purely climatic analysis should consider several critical constraints. The work is based on the approach of Walter and Lieth (1960–1967) but includes a great number of newly available data sets and is completed by modelled time series. Critical aspects of data quality and climatic conditions (vertical climatic gradients) are discussed and methodical approaches for future work are mentioned. A detailed station based analysis will be published as climatic diagram handbook.