Climatic zones of Russia - general information

The climatic zones of the Earth were formed under the influence of several main factors, which include the amount of heat, moisture and radiation in the atmosphere, as well as the dynamics of air masses. According to the accepted classification, all air masses that determine the nature of climate are divided into four types: arctic, temperate, tropical and equatorial. Based on the nature of the surface above which air masses are formed , they are further divided into continental and marine.

The climatic zones of Russia, like the whole planet, are designated according to the names of the air masses. To some names the prefix "sub" is added, if the air masses in the given region change seasonally.

Except for equatorial, all climatic zones are present both in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Russia has a huge territory with diverse types of climate, since the surface character, humidity, temperature and radiation background vary significantly in different parts of the country.

The climatic zones of Russia are temperate, arctic and subarctic. In the temperate zone, there are several distinct types of climate, which, despite some common features of weather and seasonal changes, have significant differences in temperature and precipitation.

Characteristics of climatic zones of Russia:

1. Arctic belt - the coast of the Arctic Ocean in Siberia and the nearby islands, except for the southern islands of the Barents Sea. The coldest of all belts. There is very little solar heat here, and during the long polar night it is not at all. The average temperature in winter is minus 30-35 degrees, in summer - from zero to plus five. Solar heat in summer is used mainly for melting ice and snow, as well as partial warming of cold air, which comes from the ocean. The weather at this time of year is rainy, cloudy.

The amount of precipitation, with the exception of small areas, is not so great - from 200 to 300 mm per year.

Separate several climatic regions of the Arctic zone:

- intraarctic, with the longest and harsh polar night;

- Siberian - the coldest of all coastal zones;

- Pacific - Middle in severity zone;

- Atlantic - the warmest and windiest.

Within the Arctic belt, the climate of the tundra and the arctic desert is formed.

2. Subarctic belt - includes the southern islands of the Barents Sea, Western Siberia, the East European Plain and the northeast of Russia to 60 degrees north latitude. In this belt there is a seasonal change of air flows. The severity and frostiness of winter gradually increases to the east. On the Kola Peninsula, on average, in winter -7 ... -12, and on the Pacific coast is already -12 ... -18 degrees.

Summer is a bit warmer and longer than in the Arctic belt. On average, the temperature reaches +10 degrees. The annual precipitation is higher: an average of 400 - 450 mm.

In the subarctic belt, the Siberian climatic zone, Pacific and Atlantic, is also distinguished. Here, the climate of the forest-tundra, the Siberian woodland and the northern taiga are formed.

3. Moderate belt - the main territory of the country: the European part, Western and Eastern Siberia, the Far East. If we compare the climatic zones of Russia, then we will meet the greatest variety of weather conditions.

From the northern boundary of the belt to the south, the dryness of the climate gradually increases and the amount of precipitation decreases, and from the west to the east one can find recurring climatic zones: continental, moderately continental, sharply continental and monsoon. This is due to the peculiarities of the circulation of air masses within the temperate zone.

Everywhere there is a seasonal weather change. Frosts in winter are mostly low, and the summer is quite warm. The temperature drops increase in a sharply continental climate. The wettest and coolest type of climate is monsoon, and the smoothest of all is continental.

Replacing each other's climatic zones of Russia can almost be fully met in the mountains, since the mountain climate differs significantly from all others. Here the variability of the weather sharply increases, and at very short distances there are completely different temperatures, windiness and humidity. The more to the south and above the mountain, the more diverse is their microclimate.