Turkmenistan area has extremely arid continental climate. The main climate resulted factors are the remoteness from the oceans, the lowlands relief, the specifics of the atmospheric circulation in the area, the location of the mountain systems in the south and south – east. The continentality of the climate is shown in the severe daily and annual fluctuations of the temperature, high aridity of the region, low annual precipitation, dry air and rare cloudiness, intense evaporation.

The vast open and flat desert relief of the north and north- west open the atmospheric corridor from middle and high latitudes spaces, realizing the sudden temperature changes as normal. It is more expressed in the winter and early spring periods. The Kopet-Dag mountain system in the south and south-east stop the atmospheric moisture from Indian ocean.

The main winds:

Winter period: about 60-70 % of the winds in winter and cold periods are arriving from the north and northeast of the country (Dashoguz – Turkmenabat line) and coming to south and southeast through the country to the direction of the Caspian Sea. The Kerki area can have wind coming from Afghanistan to the direction of Mary and then along Kopet Dag mountains, around 20-30 %. (The atmospheric pressure around 1025).

Summer winds: about 25- 30 % of the winds starting from the northwest, along the Caspian sea, turning to the east along Balkan and Kopet Dag mountain ranges, before Ashgabat, it joins with the main winds coming from the north (60-70 % of winds) – central Karakums, and continue to Mary – Gushgy direction. The line Bir Ata (Gaz Achak) – Turkmenabat - Kerki have separate winds from the north and northeast coming also to Gushgy- Afghanistan direction. (The atmospheric pressure between 1002-1008)

The temperatures: Turkmenistan *notes: the temperatures between the regions may differ from 2 to 7 C

Rainfall / Precipitation:

• Garabogaz bay region and Zaunguz Karakum sands – less than 100 mm annually
• Low Karakum desert regions – around 150 mm annually
• In the south, the foothills of Kopet Dag mountain range and in the southeast of the country – around 250 mm annually
• Kopet Dag mountains – more than 250 mm annually

The meteorology of Turkmenistan is well known. The first meteorological stations established in 1869 in Krasnovodsk (now Turkmenbashy), in 1876 in Kizyl Arvat (now Serdar). By 1917, it was 24 located active meteorological stations. Today, there are 56 stations and 44 meteorological posts.

The lowland of Turkmenistan is well characterized climatically. In the mountains, climate is more complex, and here are more number of existing stations located at altitudes from 500- 1,000 m: Gushgy, Germab, Firyuza, Kuitan, two stations located from 1,000 to 2,000 m Saivan and Gaudan/ Howdan and only one above 2,000 m Kheirabad.