Climate in Russia

Northern part of territory of the country comes far for a polar circle. Position mainly in high and average breadthes defines that on the most part of Russia a climate is severe, with precise changing of the season and with long winter. Severity of a climate is promoted also by "openness" of territory of Russia for the winds blowing from the Arctic ocean.

Significant extent of the country from the North on the South results in change of receipt of total solar radiation. Its maximal amount is received with southern areas of our country, here mark the highest temperatures of air. The difference in seasonal receipt of solar heat is great. In winterthe snow lays almost everywhere in Russia.

Huge influence on climate is rendered with oceans. The role of Atlantic ocean in formation of weather (the western carry of winds dominates) is great. In the West of Russia there are no high mountains interfering passage of air weights from Atlantic, and they are distributed down to Eastern Siberia and the Far East.

Reduction of influence of the Atlantic air weights to the climate from the West to the East is shown in increase in this direction of a degree of its continentality: the amount of dropping out deposits decreases, amplitudes of fluctuation of temperatures increase (a difference between average temperatures of day and night, summer and winter months).

The climate formative influence of Arctic ocean is very great. Above the Arctic cold pool within all year there is an area of the increased atmospheric pressure. From here cold air, being gradually transformed (being heated up and being dried up), is distributed to all territory of Russia.

Some influence renders Pacific ocean, but its influence is limited to rather narrow strip of a land along the Far East seas (the summer monsoon brings plentiful rains).

Climatic distinctions in territory of Russia are shown in formation of different types of climate. In a direction from the North to the South our country settles down in the arctic, subarctic and moderate climatic zones. But essential changes of climate are observed and within the limits of each zone: as at the movement from the West to the East (climatic areas), and at the movement from the North to the South (zone types of climate). So four subtypes of a moderate climatic zone, for example, are allocated: moderate-continental, continental, sharp-continental and monsoonal (on the Far East).

The climate renders the big influence on formation of many major branches of economic activities and condition of life of people (so, for example, the most part of territory of Siberia and the Far East is not rendered habitable and it is not mastered because of natural-climatic conditions).

The Arctic climate
This climate is shown in tundra areas on northern surburbs of Eurasia. In Siberia the southern border of this climatic zone passes considerably to the South of the Polar circle because of strongly expressed influence of extensive files of land. It results in long and coldest winters. Summer is short and cool with the average monthly temperatures seldom exceeding +10°С. To a certain extent long days compensate short duration of summer, however on the most part of territory the received heat it is not enough for full thawing of land. Constantly frozen ground named a long-term frozen ground, restrains growth of plants and a filtration of thawed snow in a ground. Therefore in the summer flat sites appear boggy. Winter temperatures are a little bit higher, and summer - is a little bit lower, than in internal areas of continent. In the summer when damp air is above cold water or sea ice, fogs appear at the Arctic coasts frequently.

The annual sum of deposits usually does not exceed 380 mm. Their big part drops out as a rain or a snow in the summer, at passage of cyclones. At coast the great bulk of deposits can be brought by winter cyclones. But low temperatures and clear weather of a cold season, characteristic for the most part of areas with a subpolar climate, are adverse for significant snow savings.

Subarctic climate
It is known also under the name "The climate of a taiga" (on prevailing type of vegetation - to coniferous woods). This climatic zone covers moderate breadthes of Northern hemisphere - northern areas of Eurasia located directly to the South from the Arctic climatic zone. Here sharp seasonal climatic distinctions because of position of this climatic zone in enough high breadthes in an internal part of continent are shown. Winters are long and the coldest, and the to the North, the days are shorter. Summer is short and cool with long days. In winter the period with temperatures below zero is very long, and in summer the temperature from time to time can exceed +32°С. In Yakutsk average temperature of January is -43°С, July - +19°С, i.e. the annual amplitude of temperatures achieves 62°С.

On the most part of the examined climatic zone less than 500 mm of deposits per year drop out, and their amount is maximum on windward coasts and minimal in an internal part of Siberia. Snows drops out very little in winter, snowfalls are connected to rare cyclones. The summer is usually more damp, and rains go basically at passage of atmospheric fronts. At coasts there are fogs frequently and continuous overcast. In winter during strong frosts ice fogs hang above a snow cover.

Damp continental climate with short summer
It is characteristic for an extensive strip of moderate breadthes of Northern hemisphere. In Eurasia it covers the most part of the East Europe and some areas of Average Siberia. The same type of climate is observed in the South of the Far East. The basic climatic features of these areas are defined by prevailing western carry and often passage of atmospheric fronts. In severe winters average temperatures of air can go down up to -18°С. Summer is short and cool, the period without frosts is less than 150 days. The annual amplitude of temperatures is not so great, as in conditions of subarctic climate. In Moscow average temperature of January is -9°С, July - +18°С. Constant threat for an agriculture is represented with spring frosts in this climatic zone. In seaside areas of the Far East winter is warmer, than in midland as East winds bring warmer oceanic air from time to time.

The annual amount of deposits changes from less than 500 mm in internal parts of continents up to more than 1000 mm at coasts. On the most part of area deposits drop out mainly in summer, frequently at storm downpours. Winter deposits, basically as snow, are connected to passage of fronts to cyclones. Blizzards are frequently observed in rear of cold front.