The sky was overcast and flooded the steppe. Soon the deluge is to beat down the steppe. It was caught off our guard ...
The Mongol climate is of the hypercontinental type. Pretty warm in summer, with an average temperature of 20°c, the latter reaches extremes in winter time, thermometer easily dropping down to -30/-40°c.
Very scarce precipitations, estimated at 280mm/y on an annually basis of 22 days in average, coupled with an average period of sunshine reaching 255 days/y, generates a general environment of a half-desert type.
Si les précipitations mongoles sont en général soudaines et assez violentes, elles laissent rapidement place à un ciel parfaitement dégagé. Bien que la fréquence maximum des précipitations se situe entre juin et octobre, soyez assurés, pendant votre voyage estival, de bénéficier d'un ciel au bleu immaculé.
As that picture doesn't show you, Mongolia is a blue sky land...
A hot, though brief, summer coupled with a long-lasting and very cold winter typify the continental climate. We also would like you to pay attention to the little pluviometry (< 100mm in the desert of Gobi) and to the scarce period of sunshine.
Unfortunately, the mentioned average figures may not fully characterize the Mongol climate. An irregular meteorology is a significant concern to be taken into account. The latter indeed triggers a constant precariousness the steppe nomads have to face.
Spring is the hardest time for them. The confrontation of the Siberian anticyclone and the Aleutian depression spawns appalling hurricanes and fierce winds. Men and animals, exhausted by winter, have then to handle with climatic outbursts; forest fires, linked to draughts, fetch boundless proportions (1996); tempests can indistinctly engulf men and animals (1980 - 24 recorded deaths, 450,000 animals killed).
The life or death of the flock is ultimately constrained by precipitations. Dead or alive vegetation makes dead or alive nomads. Excessive snowfalls prevent the herd from eating; insufficient snowfalls prevent the latter from drinking. This so preponderant snow, required for drinking in winter times, can play a lethal role in the case of tempests. A shortage of snow results in spring draughts and absolutely desert steppes. A deficit in summer precipitations results in barren winter pastures that can't line with the flock's food needs.
The irruption of the winter season is also billed for remaining one of the most critical factors. Indeed, premature winter temperatures may crush late sheared sheep, hence the loss of a lot of them. Left in a weak situation, landing a fragile meadow, they wouldn't be able to cope with the cold of winter.
ZUD (pronounce Tsood), is the Mongol vocable for the various calamities linked to climate.
The nomads distinguish several zud:
Tsagaan Zud (white zud) | Thick snow mantle. Animals have troubles at finding food in the compact snow. |
Khar Zud (black zud) | No snowfalls. Animals lack of water and die of thirst. |
Tumur Zud (ferrous zud) | Pastures covered with a crust of ice. Unable to crack it, animals starve. |
Tuukhaiin Zud (horseshoe zud) | Pastures trampled on by animals, leading to decay of vegetation. Trouble linked to overgrazing. |
Gan Zud (dry zud) | Draught. Tremendous shortage of water. |
Emgeg Zud (disease-zud) | Epizootic decimating the flock. |
