The main cause of air pollution is that Almaty is located at the foot of Zailiyskiy Alatau with heights over 4000 meters in the vicinity of the city, and mountain glaciers. The high altitude, the accumulation of snow and ice, leads to the fact that down through the valleys into the city drains very cold air that creates the city's temperature inversion.
Another, no less serious cause of air pollution of Almaty specialists associated with reckless construction of high rise buildings that have become a barrier to mountain-valley air circulation.
The dominance of transport is also a significant source of air pollution in Almaty.