What impact does the Caspian Sea have on Central Asia?

The Caspian Sea plays an important role in transportation: oil, timber, grain, cotton, rice and sulfates are the basic goods transported, while Astrakhan, Baku, Makhach Kara, Turkmenbashi and Shevchenko are the most important ports. They are also connected by regular passenger transport, while between Baku and Turkmenbashi rail freight is directly ferried without loading or unloading. The northern part of the Caspian Sea is located in the temperate continental climate zone, while the entire central Caspian Sea (and most of the southern sea area) is located in the temperate tropical zone. The southwest is affected by a subtropical climate, while the east coast is dominated by a desert climate, resulting in a changeable climate. Atmospheric circulation is dominated by the cold, clear Asian anticyclone in winter, while in summer the branches of the Azov Islands high pressure and the South Asian low pressure center are affected. Severe storms are associated with northerly and southeasterly winds.

The sea area spans several different climate zones. Although the Northern Caspian Sea has a continental climate, it does not change drastically; the western part of the Central Caspian Sea has a mild climate, while the eastern part has a dry desert climate; the Southern Caspian Sea has a subtropical climate with dry summers. The weather in the Caspian Sea is unstable in winter, with large temperature changes. The average temperature is -8~-10°C in the north and 8~10°C in the south. The wind direction is variable, with east and northeast winds being dominant. The wind force is 5.5 to 10.7 meters/second, and sometimes reaches 20.8 to 28.4 meters/second in the middle part. In summer, the sea is controlled by high pressure, and weak sea breezes often blow inland, making the weather very stable. The temperature does not change much. The average temperature in the hottest month is 28-29°C, and the extreme maximum temperature can reach 44°C. The average annual precipitation is 200 to 1,700 mm, which is unevenly distributed, with less on the east coast and more on the southwest coast. The annual evaporation is generally 1000 mm, reaching 1400 mm in the eastern part of the South Caspian Sea and the Apseren Peninsula.

The temperature distribution in summer is quite even - the average temperature from July to June to August is 24 to 6 to 526 degrees Celsius (75 to 6 to 579 degrees Fahrenheit), and the absolute maximum temperature on the sun-baked east coast is 44℃(111℉) - but the winter temperature is -10℃(14℉) in the north and 10℃(50℉) in the south. The average annual rainfall at sea ranges from 200 to 6 to 51,700 millimeters (8 to 6 to 567 inches), with the smallest rainfall in the east and the highest rainfall in the southwest. Most fall in winter and spring. Sea surface evaporation is very high, reaching 1,000 millimeters (40 inches) per year. Ice affects the northern part of the Caspian Sea, which is usually completely frozen by January. In very cold years, ice drifts along the west coast as far as the Apsheron Peninsula. Oil and natural gas are the most important resources in this region. Development began in the 1920s and has developed considerably since the end of World War II. Oil wells along the Caspian Sea coast near Baku, Azerbaijan. Drilling platforms and artificial islands are now used to extract oil from the seabed. The extraction of minerals such as sodium sulfate from Karabogazgor Bay is also of considerable economic significance.

The Caspian Sea region is rich in oil resources. Baku on both sides of the strait and the Mangeshlak Peninsula area on the east coast, as well as the bottom of the Caspian Sea, are important oil producing areas. Oil production at the bottom of the Caspian Sea has expanded to waters dozens of kilometers offshore.

The water in the Caspian Sea is salty, and there are many aquatic animals and plants that are similar to marine life. The Caspian Sea is rich in biological resources. Various fish species such as sturgeon, salmon, and silver sweaters thrive, and marine animals such as seals also inhabit it. There are approximately 850 species of animals and more than 500 species of plants; although the number of biological species is low for such a vast body of water, many of them are endemic. Blue-green algae and diatoms make up the largest biomass groups, along with several species of red and brown algae. Animals—which have been greatly affected by changes in salinity—include sturgeon, herring, pike, perch, and sprat; several species of molluscs; and various other microorganisms, including sponges. About 15 Arctic Ocean-type (such as Caspian Sea seals) and Mediterranean-type species round out the basic animals. The Caspian Sea has long been famous for its sturgeons, which account for about 4/5 of the world's catch. During long periods of falling water levels and the consequent drying up of the spawning grounds where conditions are most favorable, sturgeon populations plummet. A number of measures have been taken to improve the situation, including a ban on sturgeon fishing on the high seas and the promotion of aquaculture. The sealing industry developed in the northern waters.

The Caspian Sea has a high salt content and is rich in salt and Glauber's salt.