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A comparison of the weather and climate in Akita, Japan and Almaty, Kazakhstan

Kyle Smith

GNM-1068-001: Weather and Climate in NJ

Instructor: Dr. Joseph Trout

November 23rd, 2019

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I. Introduction

The Akita Prefecture, located on the northwestern Japanese mainland of Honshu in

southeastern Asia, is situated along the coast of the Sea of Japan. The Yoneshiro River flows

through the north, the Omono River through the middle, and the Ishizawa River through the

south. These three major rivers all drain into the Sea of Japan (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1-2).

The capital city of Akita, Japan sits in the center of the prefecture along the coast. Akita’s

proximity to the coast and to major river systems likely has a significant effect on precipitation,

air circulation, and local temperature fluctuations. On warm days with a consistent intensity of

solar radiation, the land surface of the city of Akita will warm more than the water surface of the

Sea of Japan. The air over Akita becomes warmer and less dense than the air over the Sea of

Japan. A local horizontal air pressure gradient will develop between the low air pressure over

Akita and the higher air pressure over the Sea of Japan. This creates a sea breeze during the day,

which may bring cool wind and thunderstorms inland over Akita. The reversal in temperature

differential and thus in horizontal pressure gradient between Akita and the Sea of Japan at night

will likely blow winds offshore (Mills 534-535).

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Figure 1.A. Shows Akita’s position along the northwestern coast of Honshu, Japan in
southeastern Asia. Image courtesy of Google Earth.

The prefecture is located just above sea level at an elevation of 14 meters. The western

side of the prefecture, where the city off Akita is located, consists of highly developed urban

lowlands. The eastern side of the prefecture, in contrast, contains the volcanic Hachiman Plateau

and mountainous forests. Notably, the volcano Mount Komaga reaches an elevation of 1,637

meters in this region. The Ōu and Dewa mountain ranges are also to the east of the Akita Plains

(Encyclopaedia Britannica 2). This dramatic difference in elevation may also affect precipitation

and wind currents.

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Figure 1.B. Shows the transition from the urbanized Akita Plain along the Sea of Japan to the
forested mountains and plateaus of interior Akita. Image courtesy of Google Earth.

The Akita Prefecture covers an area of 11,612 km2 and includes the Oga Peninsula.

Lumbering, rice cultivation, and the mining of mineral deposits are key economic activities on

the prefecture. As of 2005, the prefecture was home to over 1.1 million people. The capital city

of Akita had a population of over 333,000 people as of the same year. The manufacturing of

petroleum products and various chemicals are the main economic activities in the capital city

(Encyclopaedia Britannica 3). Akita City is famous for its scenic coastline views and traditional

temples intertwined with modern architecture.

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II. Climate

Figure 2.A. shows the average temperature of Akita over the course of 12 months. I used

a sine wave equation, Temperature = A sin ((2pi/T)t + phi) + dc offset. The amplitude is A =

12.95, which is the difference between the average maximum yearly temperature and the average

minimum yearly temperature divided by two. The dc offset in this equation is 11.6, which is the

mean temperature. Phi in this equation is equal to 3.9 and represents the phase shift. T = 12 for

the time period, representing the 12 months in one year.

Figure 2.A. Shows the minimum, average, and maximum temperature of Akita, Japan over 12
months based on 30 years of data from 1960 to 1990. Sine wave equation models the average
temperature of Akita over the course of a year.

Due to the coastal location of Akita along the Sea of Japan, the city has a maritime

climate. Akita has no defined dry or rainy seasons, but has hot summers and cool winters. As

modeled by the graph above, we can see that the year starts out cold in January, then gradually

becomes warmer until hitting peak temperatures in August, and gradually cools off until hitting
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low temperatures in December. Our data was compiled over a 30-year span and shows that

January is the coldest winter month on average, while August is the hottest summer month on

average. Summers in Akita seem to last from May to late September, with the average monthly

temperature reaching its peak at 25.1oC in August. Winters in Akita seem to last from late

November to early March, with the average monthly temperature dipping to its lowest at -0.2oC

in January. The average maximum yearly temperature in Akita is 25.2oC. The average minimum

yearly temperature is -0.7oC. The climate of Akita is moderately similar to that of the United

States, as both display some degree of seasonal fluctuations in temperature. The average overall

yearly temperature in Akita is 11.6oC.

Figure 2.B. Shows the minimum and maximum monthly temperatures for Akita, Japan. Graph
courtesy of www.weather-and-climate.com.

Comparing the graph I made to the graph borrowed from www.weather-and-climate.com,

an overwhelmingly similar trend in monthly temperature variations can be observed. Both graphs

show that the year starts out cold in January at sub-0oC temperatures, gradually gets warmer until

reaching peak temperatures above 20oC in August, and then gradually cools down until hitting

low temperatures again in December. Both figures also show that August is generally the

warmest summer month and that January is generally the coldest winter month.
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III. Climate Trends

Figure 3 shows the yearly maximum temperature in red at the top of the graph, the yearly

average temperature in green at the middle of the graph, and the yearly minimum temperature in

blue at the bottom of the graph. These long-term data have been compiled over a period of 104

years. Since all of the trendline equations have positive slopes, it is apparent that there has been a

small increase in the minimum, average, and maximum temperatures from 1886 to 1990. The y-

intercept values given by the trendline equations predict the temperature in degrees Celsius at

year 0 for Akita. However, due to the dynamic nature of the atmosphere and considering year 0

lies outside the range of our data set, it is not reasonable to extrapolate what the temperature of

Akita would have been at year 0 from these equations. The low R2 values for our trend lines

indicate that they do not account for much of the variability in the data.

Figure 3. Shows Akita’s yearly minimum, average, and maximum temperatures over the course
of 104 years, from 1886 to 1990.

The weather in Akita seems to be getting warmer over the course of this time period. The

average yearly temperature from 1886 to 1916 was 11oC. The average yearly temperature from
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1960 to 1990 was 11.6oC, an increase of 0.6oC. From the trendlines, we can see that the yearly

average temperature of Akita is increasing by 0.0077oC/year. The winters are getting warmer by

0.0138oC/year and the summers are also getting warmer by 0.0072oC/year. This trend is likely

due to anthropogenic-influenced global warming of the troposphere. From these three sets of

data, we can conclude that the yearly temperatures in Akita, Japan are slowly increasing.

IV. Introduction

The city of Almaty is located in the southeastern corner of the central Asian country of

Kazakhstan. Almaty borders China and Kyrgyzstan.

Figure 4.A. Shows the location of Almaty, Kazakhstan in central Asia. Image courtesy of Google
Earth.
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To the southeast of the city lies the large Lake Issyk Kul and to the northeast lies the

substantial Kapshagay Reservoir. In addition, Lake Balkhash also drains into the city from the

northwest through the Ile River. The Bolshaya and Malaya Almatinka Rivers also flow into

Almaty from the southeast (New World Encyclopedia 5-10). The location of the city between

large bodies of water has a major effect on precipitation and wind patterns, also presenting

potential hazards such as flooding or mudslides.

Figure 4.B. Shows Almaty’s proximity to the Tian-Shan Mountain Range, Lake Issyk Kul, and
Kapshagay Reservoir. Image courtesy of Google Earth.

Almaty is located in the foothills of the northern Tian-Shan Mountain Range.

The elevation of the city varies greatly from about 500 to 1,700 meters. The southern half of the

city is dominated by IIe-Alatau National Park and is quite mountainous, whereas the northern

half consists of heavily developed urban areas that lie on flat plains (New World Encyclopedia 5-

10). This transition from high elevation mountains to low elevation plains can result in

mountain-valley circulation on fair, sunny summer days. After some of the winter snow has
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melted from the Tian-Shan Mountain Range, the bare walls of the valley absorb incoming solar

radiation from the sun and sensible heating increases the temperature of the air above the bare

valley walls. This warm, buoyant air is less dense than the cold, dense air at the same altitudes

over the valley floor. As a result, a valley breeze develops where winds blow upslope, as cold,

dense air over the valley descends into the valley floor. This leads to cumulus cloud formation

during the day and may trap industrial air pollution in the atmosphere above Almaty. At night,

this circulation is reversed. A mountain breeze develops where cold winds blow down the Tian-

Shan Mountain Range, as air over the valley floor ascends. This can create fog over the city of

Almaty (Mills 536). The elevation of the city and its proximity to a mountain range greatly

influence the climate of the city.

Figure 4.C. Shows the transition from urban northern Almaty to mountainous southern Almaty.
Image courtesy of Google Earth.

Almaty is currently the largest city in Kazakhstan, with an area of 325 km2. This former

capital city is now a bustling industrial center, with scenic views and a thriving urban night-life
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that attracts a significant deal of tourism. The manufacturing of food, appliances, electronics,

clothing, building materials, and lighting accounts for much of the city’s industrial output. As of

2018, the population was estimated to be over 1.8 million people, most of whom are of Kazakh

or Russian descent (Encyclopaedia Britannica 7). The official language of Almaty is Russian,

and Russian Orthodox and Islam are the two primary religious factions (New World

Encylopaedia 31-34). The city is modernizing rapidly and boasts several noteworthy scientific

and collegiate institutions.

V. Climate

Figure 5.A. shows the average temperature of Almaty over the course of 12 months. I

used a sine wave equation, Temperature = A sin ((2pi/T)t + phi) + dc offset. The amplitude is A

= 15.4, which is the difference between the average maximum yearly temperature and the

average minimum yearly temperature divided by two. The dc offset in this equation is 8.5, which

is the mean temperature. Phi in this equation is equal to 4.2 and represents the phase shift. T = 12

for the time period, representing the 12 months in one year.

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Figure 5.A. Shows the minimum, average, and maximum temperature of Almaty, Kazakhstan
over 12 months based on 30 years of data from 1959 to 1989. Sine wave equation models the
average temperature of Almaty over the course of a year.

Due to the interior location of Almaty in central Asia and its proximity to large bodies of

freshwater, the city has a humid continental climate. Almaty has no defined dry or rainy seasons,

but has hot summers and cold winters. As modeled by the above graph, we can see that the year

starts out cold in January, then gradually becomes warmer until hitting peak temperatures in July,

and gradually cools off until hitting low temperatures in December. Our data was compiled over

a 30-year span and shows that January is the coldest winter month on average, while July is the

hottest summer month on average. Summers in Almaty seem to last from May to early

September, with the average monthly temperature hitting its peak at 23.0oC in July. Winters in

Almaty seem to last from early November to early March, with the average monthly temperature

dipping to its lowest at -6.5oC in January. The average maximum yearly temperature in Almaty

is 23.1oC. The average minimum yearly temperature is -7.7oC. The climate of Almaty is similar
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to that of the United States in respect to the seasonal fluctuations in temperature. The average

overall yearly temperature in Almaty is 8.5oC.

Figure 5.B. Shows the minimum and maximum monthly temperatures for Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Graph courtesy of www.weather-and-climate.com.

Upon examining the graph I created and the graph borrowed from www.weather-and-

climate.com, a very similar trend in monthly temperature variations emerges. Both graphs show

that the year starts out cold in January at sub-0oC temperatures, gradually becomes warmer until

hitting peak temperatures above 20oC in July, and then gradually cools off until hitting low

temperatures again in December. Both figures also show that July is generally the hottest

summer month and January is generally the coldest winter month.

VI. Climate Trends

Figure 6 shows the yearly maximum temperature in red at the top of the graph, the yearly

average temperature in green at the middle of the graph, and the yearly minimum temperature in

blue at the bottom of the graph. These long-term data have been compiled over a period of 98

years. Since all of the trendline equations have positive slopes, it is apparent that there has been a

small increase in the minimum, average, and maximum temperatures from 1891 to 1989. The y-

intercept values given by the trendline equations predict the temperature in degrees Celsius at
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year 0 for Almaty. However, due to the dynamic nature of the atmosphere and considering year 0

lies well outside the range of our data set, it is not practical to extrapolate what the temperature

of Almaty would have been at year 0 from these equations. The low R2 values for our trend lines

indicate that they do not account for much of the variability in the data.

Figure 6. Shows Almaty’s yearly minimum, average, and maximum temperatures over the
course of 98 years, from 1891 to 1989.

The weather in Almaty seems to be getting warmer over the course of this time period.

The yearly average temperature from 1891 to 1921 was 7.5oC. The yearly average temperature

from 1959 to 1989 was 8.5oC, an increase of 1.0oC. From the trendlines, we can see that the

yearly average temperature of Almaty is increasing by 0.0158oC/year. The winters are getting

warmer by 0.0303oC/year and the summers are also getting warmer by 0.0128oC/year. This trend

is likely due to anthropogenic-influenced global warming of the troposphere. From these three

sets of data, we can conclude that the yearly temperatures in Almaty, Kazakhstan are slowly

increasing.
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VII. Conclusion and Comparison

Almaty, Kazakhstan and Akita, Japan are both large, modern cities built on lower

elevation plains surrounded by mountainous forested areas and abundant sources of flowing

freshwater. As a result, both cities have a relatively humid climate and may experience some

degree of mountain-valley circulation. Both locations also show seasonal fluctuations in

temperature, and in this respect their climates can be compared to that of the United States. Both

cities have hot summers and cold winters. It is clear from our data analysis of climatic trends that

the climate for both locations is gradually becoming warmer, likely due to anthropogenic-

influenced global warming of the lower troposphere.

Despite the overwhelming similarities between Akita and Almaty, notable differences do

exist in the weather and climate of the two cities. Almaty has a much more interior location in

central Asia than Akita does on the coast of the Sea of Japan. As a result, Akita is much more

susceptible to sea and land breezes that may affect precipitation, air circulation, and temperatures

than Almaty is. However, Almaty experiences a high degree of mountain-valley circulation from

the Tian-Shan Mountain Range to the south. From comparing Figure 2.A. and Figure 5.A., we

can see that Almaty has a continental climate and thus experiences a wider range of seasonal

temperature fluctuations than Akita, which has a maritime climate. Akita has slightly hotter

summers, as the average yearly maximum temperatures for Akita are 2.1oC warmer than those

for Almaty. The summers in Akita also appear to last farther into the month of September than

summers in Almaty. However, Almaty has considerably colder winters than Akita, as the

average yearly minimum temperatures for Almaty are 7.0oC colder than those for Akita. Overall,

this translates to Akita having a yearly average temperature that is 3.1oC warmer than the yearly

average temperature for Almaty. From looking at Figure 3 and Figure 6, we can see that the
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summers and winters are becoming warmer at a much faster rate for Almaty than for Akita. In

fact, this translates to the overall yearly average temperature for Almaty warming at about twice

the rate that the overall yearly average temperature for Akita is warming at. Although the climate

for both cities is slowly becoming warmer, Almaty’s climate is warming considerably faster in

comparison to Akita’s climate.

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References Cited

Climate and average monthly weather in Akita (Akita), Japan. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Akita,

Japan.

Climate and average monthly weather in Almaty (Almaty), Kazakhstan. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Almat

y,Kazakhstan.

Mills, E.W. (2015) Weather Studies: Introduction to Atmospheric Science (6th ed.). Boston,

MA: American Meteorological Society.

New World Encyclopaedia Contributors. (2019, March 7). Almaty. New World Encyclopedia.

Retrieved November 12, 2019 from

//www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Almaty&oldid=1018845.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2011, June 21). Akita. Retrieved November 12, 2019,

from https://www.britannica.com/place/Akita-prefecture-Japan.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2019, October 23). Almaty. Retrieved November 12,

2019, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Almaty-Kazakhstan.