The East European Plain is located on the territory of the eastern part of Europe, and includes 10 countries at once, but most of it is located in the west of Russia, which is why its second official name is the Russian Plain.

Figure 1. Climate of the Russian Plain. Author24 - online exchange of student papers

The climate of this area directly depends on several key factors:

• geographical position;
• proximity to the ocean;
• relief.

In the formation of the climatic processes of the Russian Plain, the central role belongs to the radiation aspect. Advection is also essential. The continentality of this area grows mainly to the east, and the absence of mountains in the west and north contributes to the rapid penetration of the maritime arctic air of temperate latitudes. The transformed air masses reach the Urals, and the air from the Arctic comes from the Kara and Barents Seas.

Researchers and geographers define the Russian Plain as a physico-geographical state, and the basis for its elevation to this very rank is:

Finished works on a similar topic

• Coursework 480 rubles.
• abstract Formation of the climate of the Russian Plain 280 RUB
• Test Formation of the climate of the Russian Plain RUB 250

• an uplifted, hilly and bedded plain formed on the plate of the ancient East European platform;
• continental-Atlantic, insufficiently humid and predominantly temperate climate, which is fully formed under the influence of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans;
• clearly represented main natural zones, the structures of which were greatly influenced by neighboring territories and flat relief.

Interestingly, when dividing the Russian Plain into large-scale natural complexes, two approaches were taken into account - azonal and zonal. Continental air dominates within the area under consideration, and the effect of advection is most noticeable in winter than in summer.

The cyclonic functionality most actively demonstrates itself in winter along the entire Arctic front, which is often located in the north of the plain, but often shifts to the Black Sea coast. In the summer half of the year, three zones of cyclone activity are formed at once. The first zone is observed across the Arctic front, the second zone acts on polar frontal occlusions, and the third zone occupies an entire strip from the Crimea to the Middle Volga.

Northern climatic region

The northern climatic region is located near the northern zone of high atmospheric pressure, therefore, it is characterized by the dominance of westerly humid winds throughout the year. The western transformation of air masses prevailing in this zone is increasing due to the systematic recurrence of cyclones of the polar and arctic fronts.

Remark 1

In the formation of the climatic phenomena of the Northern region, the Arctic air plays a huge role, which is gradually transformed when moving to the south. Sometimes hot tropical air comes in from the south at the height of summer.

It is worth noting that sometimes continental tropical air can form in the south of the Northern Region, which acts under the influence of polar air. However, such a phenomenon can be observed only in anticyclonic weather, therefore, the last time the transformation of polar air masses was recorded in 1936 in the Moscow region.

In this climatic zone, winters are snowy and cold. In the northeast, the average January temperature reaches -15-20 ° С, and the snow cover, whose height is 70 cm, pleases local residents up to 220 days a year. Winter is significantly milder in the southwestern region: the average air temperature in winter period does not fall below -10 °, and the duration of the white ice sheet is reduced to 4 months a year.

The entire territory of the Northern Region belongs to the subarctic, arctic and temperate climatic zones. These natural zones with forest-tundra and tundra types of climate cover the coast of the Barents Sea and the Arctic islands. The temperate zone has two types of terrain here - taiga and mixed forests.

Southern climatic region

The southern climatic region extends along the southern belt of high atmospheric pressure. The direction of air masses in this area is not stable, since the westerly winds prevailing in warm weather are transformed in winter into southeasterly cold winds.

Remark 2

Under the conditions of constant anticyclones, the processes of movement of air masses intensify, as a result of which the western humid air is rapidly transformed into moderate continental.

In summer, all processes of transformation of polar air in the southern region end with the formation of a tropical climate.

From the side Mediterranean Sea sea ​​tropical air gradually enters in a transformed form. The systematic recurrence of temperate tropical cyclones in summer sharply distinguishes the southern region of the Russian Plain from the North, where tropical air masses are observed only as exceptions.

The absence of sharp contrasts between the polar and continental tropical air is explained by the passivity of the cyclones originating here and the low humidity of the moving air masses, which, as a result, do not provide the required amount of precipitation.

Such a ratio of moisture and heat in the south of the Russian Plain is an unfavorable element for Agriculture that needs sustained hydration. Long-term absence of precipitation automatically causes drought - one of the most peculiar and characteristic phenomena of the southern climatic region.

Climatic features of the nature of the Russian Plain

The following natural zones can be observed on the Russian Plain: forest-tundra and tundra, forest-steppe, forest, steppe, semi-desert and desert. The tundra and forest-tundra zones are moderately cold and humid climatic processes, and occupy the entire coast of the Barents Sea. The Kanin Peninsula is completely covered with tundra, and then its border goes to the Polar Urals and Naryan-Mar.

The forest-steppe in the zone of the Russian Plain is characterized by humid and warm weather, as it simultaneously experiences the influence of the non-freezing part of the Barents Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In winter, a minimum of passing cyclones can be observed here. This is clearly reflected in the division of the annual amount of all precipitation that formed permafrost (from 0 ° to -3 °), which today has transformed into glacial, marine, deltaic, river and lacustrine sediments.

Definition 1

The forest zone is a moderately humid and warm zone of the Russian Plain, which extends to the south of the forest-tundra in a strip of 1000-1200 km.

Researchers conditionally divide the forest zone of the East European Plain into two subzones: mixed forests and taiga. The taiga of the Russian Plain is very different from the Siberian one, since its geographical position is determined by the history of the development of this territory. The close location to the Atlantic Ocean and the warmest zone of the Arctic determined the growth of a powerful multiple cover glaciation and a temperate continental climate, which promotes the dispersal of animals and European plants across the plain.

Taking into account all the features of the radiation regime and the universal circulation of the atmosphere, on the territory of the Russian Plain, it is necessary to distinguish two main climatic zones - temperate and subarctic, and within their boundaries - five climatic zones. An increase in the continentality of the climate from west to east is observed in all regions. Differences in the climate of the East European area directly affect the nature of vegetation and the presence of a pronounced soil zoning.

The East European Plain is located on the territory of the eastern part of Europe, and includes 10 countries at once, but most of it is located in the west of Russia, which is why its second official name is the Russian Plain.

Figure 1. Climate of the Russian Plain. Author24 - online exchange of student papers

The climate of this area directly depends on several key factors:

• geographical position;
• proximity to the ocean;
• relief.

In the formation of the climatic processes of the Russian Plain, the central role belongs to the radiation aspect. Advection is also essential. The continentality of this area grows mainly to the east, and the absence of mountains in the west and north contributes to the rapid penetration of the maritime arctic air of temperate latitudes. The transformed air masses reach the Urals, and the air from the Arctic comes from the Kara and Barents Seas.

Researchers and geographers define the Russian Plain as a physico-geographical state, and the basis for its elevation to this very rank is:

Finished works on a similar topic

• Coursework 480 rubles.
• abstract Formation of the climate of the Russian Plain 240 RUB
• Test Formation of the climate of the Russian Plain RUB 250

• an uplifted, hilly and bedded plain formed on the plate of the ancient East European platform;
• continental-Atlantic, insufficiently humid and predominantly temperate climate, which is fully formed under the influence of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans;
• clearly represented main natural zones, the structures of which were greatly influenced by neighboring territories and flat relief.

Interestingly, when dividing the Russian Plain into large-scale natural complexes, two approaches were taken into account - azonal and zonal. Continental air dominates within the area under consideration, and the effect of advection is most noticeable in winter than in summer.

The cyclonic functionality most actively demonstrates itself in winter along the entire Arctic front, which is often located in the north of the plain, but often shifts to the Black Sea coast. In the summer half of the year, three zones of cyclone activity are formed at once. The first zone is observed across the Arctic front, the second zone acts on polar frontal occlusions, and the third zone occupies an entire strip from the Crimea to the Middle Volga.

Northern climatic region

The northern climatic region is located near the northern zone of high atmospheric pressure, therefore, it is characterized by the dominance of westerly humid winds throughout the year. The western transformation of air masses prevailing in this zone is increasing due to the systematic recurrence of cyclones of the polar and arctic fronts.

Remark 1

In the formation of the climatic phenomena of the Northern region, the Arctic air plays a huge role, which is gradually transformed when moving to the south. Sometimes hot tropical air comes in from the south at the height of summer.

It is worth noting that sometimes continental tropical air can form in the south of the Northern Region, which acts under the influence of polar air. However, such a phenomenon can be observed only in anticyclonic weather, therefore, the last time the transformation of polar air masses was recorded in 1936 in the Moscow region.

In this climatic zone, winters are snowy and cold. In the northeast, the average January temperature reaches -15-20 ° C, and the snow cover, whose height is 70 cm, pleases local residents up to 220 days a year. Winter is much milder in the southwestern region: the average air temperature in winter does not drop below -10 °, and the duration of the white ice sheet is reduced to 4 months a year.

The entire territory of the Northern Region belongs to the subarctic, arctic and temperate climatic zones. These natural zones with forest-tundra and tundra types of climate cover the coast of the Barents Sea and the Arctic islands. The temperate zone has two types of terrain here - taiga and mixed forests.

Southern climatic region

The southern climatic region extends along the southern belt of high atmospheric pressure. The direction of air masses in this area is not stable, since the westerly winds prevailing in warm weather are transformed in winter into southeasterly cold winds.

Remark 2

Under the conditions of constant anticyclones, the processes of movement of air masses intensify, as a result of which the western humid air is rapidly transformed into moderate continental.

In summer, all processes of transformation of polar air in the southern region end with the formation of a tropical climate.

From the side of the Mediterranean Sea, tropical sea air gradually enters in a transformed form. The systematic recurrence of temperate tropical cyclones in summer sharply distinguishes the southern region of the Russian Plain from the North, where tropical air masses are observed only as exceptions.

The absence of sharp contrasts between the polar and continental tropical air is explained by the passivity of the cyclones originating here and the low humidity of the moving air masses, which, as a result, do not provide the required amount of precipitation.

Such a ratio of moisture and heat in the south of the Russian Plain is an unfavorable element for agriculture, which requires stable moisture. Long-term absence of precipitation automatically causes drought - one of the most peculiar and characteristic phenomena of the southern climatic region.

Climatic features of the nature of the Russian Plain

The following natural zones can be observed on the Russian Plain: forest-tundra and tundra, forest-steppe, forest, steppe, semi-desert and desert. The tundra and forest-tundra zones are moderately cold and humid climatic processes, and occupy the entire coast of the Barents Sea. The Kanin Peninsula is completely covered with tundra, and then its border goes to the Polar Urals and Naryan-Mar.

The forest-steppe in the zone of the Russian Plain is characterized by humid and warm weather, as it simultaneously experiences the influence of the non-freezing part of the Barents Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In winter, a minimum of passing cyclones can be observed here. This is clearly reflected in the division of the annual amount of all precipitation that formed permafrost (from 0 ° to -3 °), which today has transformed into glacial, marine, deltaic, river and lacustrine sediments.

Definition 1

The forest zone is a moderately humid and warm zone of the Russian Plain, which extends to the south of the forest-tundra in a strip of 1000-1200 km.

Researchers conditionally divide the forest zone of the East European Plain into two subzones: mixed forests and taiga. The taiga of the Russian Plain is very different from the Siberian one, since its geographical position is determined by the history of the development of this territory. The close location to the Atlantic Ocean and the warmest zone of the Arctic determined the growth of a powerful multiple cover glaciation and a temperate continental climate, which promotes the dispersal of animals and European plants across the plain.

Taking into account all the features of the radiation regime and the universal circulation of the atmosphere, on the territory of the Russian Plain, it is necessary to distinguish two main climatic zones - temperate and subarctic, and within their boundaries - five climatic zones. An increase in the continentality of the climate from west to east is observed in all regions. Differences in the climate of the East European area directly affect the nature of vegetation and the presence of a pronounced soil zoning.

The East European Plain is located in the eastern part of Europe, and there are 10 countries on its territory, but most of it is located in the west of Russia, which is why its second name is the Russian Plain. The climate of the Russian Plain depends on several factors: geographic location, relief, proximity to the ocean. So in what climatic zones is the Russian Plain located?

general information

The East European Plain is one of the largest plains on the planet. Its area covers more than 4 million square meters. km. The Russian plain is bounded in the north by the Arctic Ocean, in the south by the Caspian and Black Seas, the Caucasus Mountains, in the east by the Urals, in the west by the state border of Russia. The entire plain can be divided into 3 parts: central, southern and northern. The central strip is distinguished by large uplands and lowlands. So, for example, the Bugulma-Belebey Upland, located just in the central part, is the most high point plains. Its height is 479 meters.

Rice. 1. Bugulma-Belebey Upland.

Of all the plains of Russia, only the Russian Plain has access to two oceans at once - the Arctic and Atlantic

Climate of the East European Plain

Most of the plain lies in the temperate climatic zone. It is formed under the influence of air masses brought in from the Atlantic Ocean. This type of climate in the East European Plain is characterized by fairly cold winters and warm summers. Depending on the area, the average temperature in summer varies from +12 degrees (for example, the coast of the Bering Sea) to +24 (for example, in the Caspian lowland). The average January temperature varies from -8 degrees in the western part to -16 degrees in the Urals.

Rice. 2. East European Plain on the map.

The Russian plain is subject to the western transport of air masses. Due to the smoothed relief of the plain, the transfer of air masses occurs freely. The western transport of air masses is the transport of air from west to east. Atlantic air brings coolness and rainfall in summer and warm and rainfall in winter.

A frequent occurrence in the cold season is the arrival of cyclones. During this time, from 8 to 12 cyclones can come to the Russian Plain.

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Precipitation is unevenly distributed over the plain. The most humid are the Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow Uplands.

Rice. 3. Valdai Upland.

A characteristic feature of the East European Plain is a striking manifestation of latitudinal zoning(sequential change of zones from tundra to semi-desert). the average annual precipitation here is 700 mm.

Snow cover is typical for the entire territory of the Russian Plain. The duration of snow accumulation in the north can be 220 days a year, and in the south - 60 days.

What have we learned?

The East European Plain is characterized by a moderate continental climate. That is, in most of the territory, winters are cold, and summers are warm. The plain is characterized by cyclones and is also influenced by western transport.

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2. CLIMATIC FEATURES OF NATURAL ZONES

RUSSIAN PLAIN

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

Among all the plains of our country, only it comes out to two oceans. It belongs to the large natural-territorial complexes of Eurasia, located within Russia.

Researchers define the Russian Plain as a physical-geographical country (4; 120). The basis for its determination in this rank are:

1. 
   hilly, uplifted, bedded plain formed on the plate of the ancient East European platform;
2. 
   Atlantic-continental, predominantly moderate and insufficiently humid climate, formed largely under the influence of the Antlantic and Arctic oceans;
3. 
   the natural zones are clearly expressed, the structures of which were influenced by the flat relief and neighboring territories - Central Europe, North and Central Asia.

The climate is one of the most important physical and geographical characteristics of the territory. Climate is a long-term weather regime characteristic of a particular locality on Earth. (2; 305) In this case, a long-term regime is understood as the totality of all weather conditions in a given locality over a period of several tens of years; typical annual change of these conditions and possible deviations from it in individual years; combinations of weather characteristic of its various anomalies (droughts, rainy periods, cold snaps, etc.).

1.GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF CLIMATE

RUSSIAN PLAIN

The climate of the Russian Plain is influenced by its position in temperate and high latitudes, as well as the connection of the territory (Western Europe and Northern Asia) and the water area (Atlantic and Arctic oceans). (4; 128)

The East European Plain is located in temperate and high latitudes, where seasonal differences in the arrival of solar radiation are especially large. The distribution of radiation across the plain varies dramatically with the seasons. In winter, radiation is much less than in summer, and more than 60% of it is reflected by the snow cover. The radiation balance in winter, with the exception of the extreme southern regions, is negative. It falls in the direction from southwest to northeast and depends mainly on the amount of cloud cover. In summer, the radiation balance is positive everywhere. It reaches its greatest value in July in the south of Ukraine, in the Crimea and the Azov region. The total solar radiation increases from north to south from 66 to 130 kcal / cm2 per year. In January, the total solar radiation at the Kaliningrad-Moscow-Perm latitude is 50, and the Ciscaucasia and the southeast of the Caspian lowland are about 150 MJ / m2.

All year round, the western transport of air masses dominates over the East European Plain, and the Atlantic air of temperate latitudes brings coolness and precipitation in summer, and warm and precipitation in winter. When moving to the east, it transforms: it becomes warmer and drier in the surface layer in summer, and colder in winter, but it also loses moisture. During the cold season, from 8 to 12 cyclones come from different parts of the Atlantic to the East European Plain. When they move to the east or northeast, a sharp change in air masses occurs, contributing to either warming or cooling. With the arrival of southwestern cyclones (Atlantic-Mediterranean), and there are up to six of them in a season, warm air of subtropical latitudes invades the south of the plain. Then in January the air temperature can rise to +5 ° -7 ° С and, of course, thaws come.

With the arrival of cyclones from the North Atlantic and Southwestern Arctic on the Russian Plain, the invasion of cold air is associated. It enters at the rear of the cyclone, and then the arctic air penetrates far to the south of the plain. Arctic air flows freely to the entire surface and along the eastern periphery of anticyclones moving slowly from the northwest. Anticyclones are often repeated in the southeast of the plain, due to the influence of the Asian High. They contribute to the invasion of cold continental air masses of temperate latitudes, the development of radiation cooling in low-cloud weather, low air temperatures, and the formation of a thin, stable snow cover.

During the warm period of the year, from April, cyclonic activity proceeds along the lines of the Arctic and polar fronts, shifting to the north. Cyclonic weather is most typical for the northwest of the plain, so the cool sea air of temperate latitudes often comes to these areas from the Atlantic. It lowers the temperature, but at the same time heats up from the underlying surface and is additionally saturated with moisture due to evaporation from the moistened surface.

Cyclones facilitate the transfer of cold air, sometimes arctic, from the north to more southerly latitudes and cause cooling, and sometimes frost on the soil, with southwestern cyclones

mi (6-12 per season) is associated with the invasion of the plain of humid warm tropical air, which penetrates even into the forest zone. Very warm, but dry air forms in the cores of the spur of the Azores maximum. It can contribute to the formation of arid types of weather and droughts in the southeast plain.

The position of the January isotherms in the northern half of the Russian Plain is almost meridional, and in the southeastern part they deviate to the southeast. V winter time heat comes from the Atlantic Ocean and therefore the differences in the climate of the northern and southern parts of the plain are less than in the western and eastern parts. Within the northern half of the European part of Russia, the average January temperature varies from west to east from -10 to -20 ° C, and the deviation of isotherms to the north is mainly associated with cyclonic activity, during which Atlantic air is transported to the mainland. In the southern half, the isotherms are less deviated from parallels and the temperature gradient is directed to the northeast. The winter temperature is much higher here than in the north, but it also decreases from west to east: from 5 to -15 ° С. In summer, almost everywhere on the plain, the most important factor in the distribution of temperature is solar radiation; therefore, isotherms, in contrast to winter, are located mainly in accordance with the geographical latitude. In the Far North, the average July temperature rises to + 8 ° C, which is associated with the transformation of air coming from the Arctic. The average July isotherm + 20 ° С goes south of Kiev, through Voronezh to Cheboksary, roughly coinciding with the border between the forest and forest-steppe, and the Caspian Lowland is crossed by the + 24 ° С isotherm.

The distribution of precipitation over the territory of the Russian Plain is primarily dependent on circulation factors. Cyclonic activity is observed mainly in the west, in the Barents Sea region. On the mainland, atmospheric pressure is distributed in such a way that arctic and Atlantic air flows into the plain, which is associated with large clouds and significant precipitation. The prevailing western transfer of air masses here is intensified due to the frequent recurrence of cyclones of the Arctic and polar fronts. Especially often cyclones move from west to east between 55-60 ° N. NS. (Baltic, Valdai, upper reaches of the Dnieper). This strip is the most humid part of the Russian Plain: the annual precipitation here reaches 600-700 mm in the west and 500-600 mm in the east.

Winter cyclonic precipitation forms a snow cover with a height of 60-70 cm, which lays up to 220 days a year, to the southwest the duration of snow cover is reduced to 3-4 months a year, and its average long-term height is reduced to 10-20 cm. As we move inland, cyclonic activity and the associated western transport in the south of the East European Plain weaken. Instead, the frequency of anticyclones increases. Under the conditions of stable anticyclones, the processes of transformation of air masses intensify, as a result of which the humid western air is rapidly transformed into continental air. Due to this, atmospheric precipitation in the southern part of the plain falls out 500-300 mm per year and their amount rapidly decreases in the southeast direction to 200 mm and in some places less. The snow cover is thin and lies for a short time: 2-3 months in the southwest. The increase in annual precipitation is influenced by the relief. For example, 450 mm of precipitation falls in the Donetsk ridge, and 400 mm in the surrounding steppe. The difference in the annual amount of precipitation between the Volga Upland and the low-lying Trans-Volga region is about 100 mm. In the southern half of the plain, the maximum precipitation occurs in June, and in the middle lane, in July. The southern half has the lowest relative humidity and the northern half has the highest relative humidity. Moisture index in the north of the territory is more than 0.60, and in the south is 0.10.

Almost all precipitation falls out of all air masses, but most of it is associated with the Atlantic air of temperate latitudes. Tropical air brings a lot of moisture to the southwest. Precipitation is mainly due to the circulation of air masses on the Arctic and polar fronts, and only 10% of them are produced by intramass processes in the summer.

The degree of moistening of the territory is determined by the ratio of heat and moisture. It is expressed in different quantities: a) the moisture coefficient. On the East European Plain, it reaches a value from 0.55 (plains of Crimea) to 1.33 and more (in Pechors-

some lowland); b) dryness index - from 3 (in the deserts of the Caspian lowland) to 0.45 (in the tundra of the Pechora lowland); c) the average annual difference in precipitation and evaporation (mm). In the northern part of the plain, moisture is excessive, since precipitation exceeds evaporation by 200 mm or more. In the zone of transitional moisture from the headwaters of the Dniester, Don and the mouth of the Kama, the amount of precipitation is approximately equal to the evaporation rate, and the further south from this zone, the more and more evaporation exceeds precipitation (from 100 to 700 mm), i.e., insufficient moisture occurs.

B.P. Alisov, taking into account the radiation balance and atmospheric circulation (transfer of air masses, their transformation, cyclonic activity), distinguishes three climatic regions in the European part:

1. 
   northern Atlantic-arctic. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic is most pronounced in the region. The southern border runs from Lake Ladoga to the upper reaches of the Pechora. In winter, this area is characterized by the transfer of air masses and cyclonic activity on the Arctic front. In summer, the arctic air gradually warms up and transforms. In winter, the north of the East European Plain fills mainly with continental air. The weather in continental air is frosty (-15 ° C and below), cloudy, no precipitation. However, in the first half of winter, Atlantic air prevails, and in the second, arctic air, therefore, February and March are often colder than January. Summer - July and August; during these months, the marine arctic air, warming up and moistening, transforms into continental air;
2. 
   middle Atlantic-continental region. This area is characterized by cyclonic activity and the associated entry of Atlantic air masses transforming into continental air. The southern border of the region runs from the middle reaches of the Dniester to the middle Volga. In winter, the transport of Atlantic air prevails. Therefore, winter isotherms are located perpendicular to warm currents, i.e., from northwest to southeast. Invasions of the Arctic air are observed two times less often than in the northern region. In winter, the weather is usually frosty, somewhat windy, cloudy or cloudy. The Atlantic air carries a sharp warming, sometimes before a thaw, continuous low clouds and precipitation. Summer lasting three months (June, July, August) is moderately warm; as a rule, continental air dominates;
3. 
   southern continental region. This is the area of ​​transformation of air masses. In winter, continental air is formed here from the Atlantic and Arctic air masses, in summer - warm continental air. The region has the most continental climate in winter: with the spread of the spur of the Asian anticyclone, Eastern European continental air is formed here. The January isotherms in the southern continental region deviate less from the latitudinal position in comparison with the first two regions. In summer, the continental region is often located in the zone of increased pressure of the spur of the Azores anticyclone. The region is characterized by droughts and dry winds. Drought is a prolonged hot period characterized by the absence or lack of precipitation necessary for the flow of water from the soil into the plants. Droughts are the result of the warming and drying out of the air as the arctic air masses are transformed over the continent. In many cases, droughts begin in May and cover the entire growing season.

The fight against drought and dry winds provides for a system of agrotechnical measures to improve the structure of the soil and increase the moisture reserves in soils by means of snow retention. Planting forest belts leads to a decrease in drought and dry winds. Forest belts slow down surface runoff, promote snow retention, reduce wind speed and thereby reduce moisture evaporation from the surface of plants and soil. In addition, forest belts provide a significant increase in timber. When planting forest belts, it is necessary to take into account that their incorrect location leads to a large accumulation of snow within the forest belt and to dehydration of fields between the belts.

The construction of ponds and reservoirs, as well as large hydraulic structures provides irrigation and watering of areas subject to drought.

BP Alisov subdivides the listed areas in the meridional direction into western and eastern regions. In the western regions, processes associated with the Atlantic prevail; in the eastern regions, the influence of the continent is felt. The border runs along the meridian of the Northern Dvina - the upper reaches of the Volga - the mouth of the Dnieper.

RUSSIAN PLAIN

Natural zones are clearly expressed on the Russian Plain: tundra and forest-tundra, forest, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and desert.

The tundra and forest-tundra zones - humid, moderately cold - occupy the coast of the Barents Sea, on the moraine-marine plain in the subarctic climate belt. The tundra covers the entire Kanin Peninsula to the south up to 67 ° N. NS. Further, the border goes to Naryan-Mar and to the Polar Urals. To the south, the forest-tundra stretches in a narrow strip (30-40 km).

European tundra and forest-tundra are the warmest and wettest in Russia, because they are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the non-freezing part of the Barents Sea, the Icelandic minimum spur in winter and frequent cyclones. This is reflected in the distribution of winter temperatures (the average January temperature at the Kanin Peninsula is -10 ° C, and at the Yugorsky Peninsula -20 ° C), the annual precipitation (in the west of the tundra, 600 mm, and in the east, 600-500 mm), the duration of freeze-up ( 6-7 months), the highest temperatures of permafrost (from 0 ° to -3 °), which formed later in the already accumulated marine, glacial, water-glacial, deltaic, river and lacustrine sediments.

The forest zone is excessively and moderately humid, moderately warm. To the south of the forest-tundra, a forest zone extends in a strip of 1000-1200 km. Its southern border runs approximately north of Lvov on Zhitomir - Kiev - Kaluga - Ryazan - Kazan - Saratov. The forest zone of the East European Plain is divided into two subzones: taiga and mixed forests. The border between them is drawn along the line Petersburg - Novgorod - Yaroslavl - Gorky-Kazan. In the southwest, the taiga merges with the mixed forest subzone, and in the southeast, with the forest-steppe zone.

The taiga of the Russian Plain is different from the Siberian geographic location and the history of the development of the territory. The close position to the Atlantic Ocean and the warmest sector of the Arctic predetermined the development of the Pleistocene powerful multiple cover glaciers, a moderate continental climate, which facilitated the settlement of both more thermophilic European plants and animals and more cold-loving Siberian plants across the plain. The European taiga receives more rainfall than the West Siberian taiga. Their annual number on the plains is more than 600 mm, and on the heights - up to 800 mm. The entire subzone of excessive moisture, as precipitation exceeds the evaporation rate by 200 mm.

The European taiga is divided into northern taiga, middle taiga and southern taiga forests.

1. 
   Northern taiga is characterized by excessive moisture. In its western part, winters are snowy, moderately cold, and in the eastern part, winters are cold, quite snowy. The agroclimatic characteristics are as follows: the depth of soil freezing is 120 cm, the duration of the growing season above + 10 ° is 65 days, the sum of active temperatures is 800-1200 ° C, that is, this is an agroclimatic territory of early vegetable crops with reduced heat requirements.
2. 
   The middle taiga is characterized by excessive moisture, moderately cold and cold winters with many snows. The agroclimatic characteristics of the territory are as follows: the duration of the growing season is 100 days, the depth of soil freezing is 70 cm, the sum of active temperatures is 1200-1500 ° C, which corresponds to early crops of the temperate zone (gray bread, legumes, potatoes, flax and other crops).
3. 
   The southern taiga is also quite humid, but it has significant differences in winter temperatures (the average January temperature in the west is -6 ° C, and in the east -13 ° C), soil freezing in the west is 30 cm, and in the east is 60 cm or more. The sum of active temperatures is 1900-2400 ° C.

The climate in the south becomes warmer, the amount of precipitation is almost equal to the evaporation rate, and therefore the moisture coefficient approaches unity, conifers become rare and give way to broad-leaved trees.

The agroclimatic characteristics of the western part of humid broad-leaved forests are as follows: the sum of active temperatures is 2200 - 2800 ° C, that is, this is the territory where crops of the temperate zone are cultivated (corn for grain, sunflower for seeds, soybeans, rice, sugar beet).

On Central Russian Upland and in Meschera, the climate is more continental: winters are colder and longer, the occurrence and height of the snow cover increase, and summers are warmer and drier.

Forest-steppe zone - moderately humid and moderately warm located in the south of the Atlantic-continental climatic region

temperate zone of the East European Plain. Its southern border runs approximately from Chisinau to Dnepropetrovsk, south of Kharkov - Saratov to the Samara valley. To the south of this line, among the steppes, there are “islands” of woodlands. They arose on elevated humid areas - the Donetsk ridge among the steppes of Ukraine, the forest Codri among the steppes of Moldova. So, for example, Codri has a height of more than 400 m, and precipitation is 500 mm (100-150 mm more than the Beletskaya meadow steppe, located to the north).

The forest-steppe stretches from southwest to northeast and, therefore, occupies the southernmost position in the west of the plain among all zones. This determined its bioclimatic features: in the western part, up to the meridian of Voronezh, it belongs to a semi-humid climate, and to the east - to a semi-arid climate with a depleted vegetation cover. Winter here is moderately cold, snowy, the average temperature is 10-12 ° lower than in Ukraine.

Summer can be very warm and even hot, the maximum temperature reaches + 40 °, little precipitation falls, droughts and dry winds develop. This type of weather has a detrimental effect on the development of natural and cultivated vegetation. Summers can be moderately warm with sufficient moisture, when annual precipitation can reach up to 800 mm. An important bioclimatic zero strip of the ratio of precipitation and evaporation passes through the forest steppe: to the north of it, precipitation is 100-200 mm more than evaporation, and to the south - 100-200 mm less than evaporation.

The steppe zone - not humid enough and very warm - stretches from the forest-steppe to the Black Sea-Azov coast and then goes to the foothills of the Crimea and the Caucasus. It reaches its greatest width in the middle part of the East European Plain, at the 40th meridian. Its northern border in the west descends far south, and in the east rises sharply to the north.

There is a lot of warmth in the steppe in summer: the average July temperature is 21-23 ° C everywhere, the sum of air temperatures above + 10 ° reaches 2600-3200 °. In winter, there are big differences in the types of weather and temperature in the west and east: the average January temperature in the warm Ukrainian and Moldavian steppes is only 2-4 ° C. Mediterranean cyclones are frequent there, and they bring tropical air with a temperature of -2 ° -6 ° C. The eastern, trans-Volga, steppes are cold in winter, as anticyclonic weather prevails here and the average January temperature reaches -14 -16 ° С. Therefore, the sum of negative temperatures during the snow cover in the west is only 200-400 ° C, and in the east it increases to 1000-1500 °. There is not enough moisture in the steppes: the annual precipitation of the western steppes is 600 mm, and in the Middle Volga region - 500 mm. But at a high air temperature in the steppes, evaporation exceeds the amount of precipitation by 200-400 mm, which leads to insufficient moisture. In addition, dry winds are frequent (in the west their number reaches 10-15, and in the east -20-30).

The northern steppes are less warm, but more humid than the southern ones.

The semi-desert and desert zones of the Russian Plain - moderately dry and very warm - are located in the lower reaches of the Volga, and beyond the Volga they stretch to Aktyubinsk. The continental Eastern European climatic region is the westernmost desert region. It is characterized by an annual radiation balance of 1800-2000 MJ / m2, precipitation per year - 300-400 mm, evaporation exceeds precipitation by 400-700 mm, the sum of active temperatures - 2800-3400 C. All these climatic values ​​confirm the dryness and warmth of the territory. Winters are cool - negative temperatures prevail: the average January temperature in the southwest is - 7 С, and in the northeast - 15 С, the duration of the snow cover is 60 and 120 days, respectively, and during this time the sum of negative temperatures is about 300 С in the southwest and 1400 C - in the northeast of the European semi-desert. With such a reserve of winter cold, the soil freezes in semi-desert and desert to a depth of 80 cm (about the same amount as in the middle taiga).

CONCLUSION
Thus, as a result of our research, the following conclusions can be drawn.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the radiation regime and the circulation of the atmosphere (transfer of air masses, their transformation, cyclonic activity), two climatic zones should be distinguished on the territory of the Russian Plain - subarctic and temperate, and within them - five climatic regions. In all areas, there is an increase in the continentality of the climate to the east. This is due to the fact that the processes associated with the Atlantic and more active cyclogenesis prevail in the western regions, and the influence of the continent is felt in the eastern regions. Such a regularity in climate change is a manifestation of the sector.

Differences in the climate of the East European Plain affect the nature of vegetation and the presence of a fairly clearly pronounced soil-vegetation zoning.

LIBRARY:

1. Alisov B.P. Climate of the USSR. M., 1969.

2. Large Soviet encyclopedia... T. 12.M., 1973. Article "Climate".

3. Gvozdetsky N.A., Mikhailov N.I. Physical georaphy of the USSR. Moscow: 1982.

4 . Davydova M.I., Rakovskaya E.M., Tushinsky G.K. Physical geography of the USSR. M., 1989.

5. Makunina A.A. Physical geography of the USSR. M., 1985.

6. Myachikova N.A. Climate of the USSR. Moscow: 1983.

7. Tushinsky G.K., Davydova M.I. Physical geography of the USSR. M., 1976.

Physical geography of Russia and the USSR
European part: Arctic, Russian Plain, Caucasus, Ural

REGIONAL NATURE REVIEWS IN RUSSIA

Chapters of the section "REGIONAL OVERVIEWS OF THE NATURE OF RUSSIA"

• Natural zones of Russia
• East European (Russian) Plain
  • Climate

EASTERN EUROPEAN (RUSSIAN) PLAIN

See photos of the nature of the East European Plain: Curonian Spit, Moscow Region, Kerzhensky Reserve and the Middle Volga in the Nature of the World section of our website.

Climate

The climate of the East European Plain is influenced by its position in temperate and high latitudes, as well as in neighboring territories (Western Europe and North Asia) and the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The total solar radiation per year in the north of the plain, in the Pechora basin, reaches 2,700 mJ / m2 (65 kcal / cm 2), and in the south, in the Caspian lowland, 4800-5050 mJ / m2 (115-120 kcal / cm 2 ). The distribution of radiation across the plain varies dramatically with the seasons. In winter, radiation is much less than in summer, and more than 60% of it is reflected by the snow cover. In January, the total solar radiation at the Kaliningrad - Moscow - Perm latitude is 50 mJ / m2 (about 1 kcal / cm 2), and in the southeast of the Caspian lowland, about 120 mJ / m2 (3 kcal / cm 2). The greatest value of radiation reaches in summer and July its total values ​​in the north of the plain about 550 mJ / m2 (13 kcal / cm 2), and in the south - 700 mJ / m2 (17 kcal / cm 2).

All year round the East European Plain is dominated by western air transport... Atlantic air brings coolness and rainfall in summer and warmth and rain in winter. When moving to the east, it transforms: it becomes warmer and drier in the surface layer in summer, and colder in winter, but it also loses moisture. During the cold season, from 8 to 12 cyclones come from different parts of the Atlantic to the East European Plain. When they move to the east or northeast, a sharp change in air masses occurs, contributing to either warming or cooling. With the arrival of the southwest cyclones - Atlantic-Mediterranean - (and there are up to six of them in the season), the warm air of subtropical latitudes invades the south of the plain. Then in January the air temperature can rise to 5 ° -7 ° C and, of course, thaws come.

With the arrival of cyclones from the North Atlantic and Southwest Arctic on the Russian Plain, the invasion of cold air is associated. It enters the rear of the cyclone, and then the arctic air penetrates far to the south of the plain. Arctic air flows freely to the entire surface and along the eastern periphery of anticyclones moving slowly from the northwest. Anticyclones are often repeated in the southeast of the plain, due to the influence of the Asian High. They contribute to the invasion of cold continental air masses of temperate latitudes, the development of radiation cooling in low-cloud weather, low air temperatures, and the formation of a thin, stable snow cover.

During the warm period of the year, from April, cyclonic activity proceeds along the lines of the Arctic and polar fronts, shifting to the north. Cyclonic weather is most typical for the northwest of the plain, so the cool sea air of temperate latitudes often comes to these areas from the Atlantic. It lowers the temperature, but at the same time heats up from the underlying surface and is additionally saturated with moisture due to evaporation from the moistened surface.

Cyclones facilitate the transfer of cold air, sometimes arctic, from the north to more southerly latitudes and cause a cold snap and sometimes frost in the soil. The southwestern cyclones (6-12 per season) are associated with the invasion of humid warm tropical air on the plain, which penetrates even into the forest zone. Very warm, but dry air forms in the cores of the Azores maximum spur. It can contribute to the formation of arid types of weather and droughts in the southeast plain.

The position of the January isotherms in the northern half of the East European Plain is submeridional, which is associated with a greater frequency of occurrence in the western regions of the Atlantic air and its lesser transformation. The average January temperature in the Kaliningrad region is -4 ° C, in the western part of the compact territory of Russia, about -10 ° C, and in the northeast, -20 ° C. In the southern part of the country, isotherms deviate to the southeast, amounting to -5 ...- 6 ° С in the lower reaches of the Don and Volga.

In summer, almost everywhere on the plain, the most important factor in the temperature distribution is solar radiation; therefore, the isotherms, unlike in winter, are located mainly in accordance with the geographical latitude. In the extreme north of the plain, the average July temperature rises to 8 ° C, which is associated with the transformation of air coming from the Arctic. The average July isotherm of 20 ° С goes through Voronezh to Cheboksary, roughly coinciding with the border between the forest and forest-steppe, and the Caspian lowland is crossed by the 24 ° С isotherm.

The distribution of precipitation over the territory of the East European Plain is primarily dependent on circulation factors (western transport of air masses, the position of the Arctic and polar fronts, and cyclonic activity). Especially many cyclones move from west to east between 55-60 ° N. (Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow Uplands). This strip is the most humid part of the Russian Plain: the annual precipitation here reaches 700-800 mm in the west and 600-700 mm in the east.

The relief has an important effect on the increase in the annual precipitation amount: on the western slopes of the uplands there is 150-200 mm more precipitation than on the lowlands lying behind them. In the southern part of the plain, the maximum precipitation occurs in June, and in the middle lane - in July.

In winter, snow forms. In the north-east of the plain, its height reaches 60-70 cm, and the duration of occurrence is up to 220 days a year. In the south, the height of the snow cover decreases to 10-20 cm, and the duration of occurrence - up to 60 days.

The degree of moistening of the territory is determined by the ratio of heat and moisture. It is expressed in different quantities: a) the coefficient of moisture, which in the East European Plain varies from 0.35 in the Caspian lowland to 1.33 and more in the Pechora lowland; b) dryness index, which varies from 3 in the deserts of the Caspian lowland to 0.45 in the tundra of the Pechora lowland; c) the average annual difference in precipitation and evaporation (mm). In the northern part of the plain, moisture is excessive, since precipitation exceeds evaporation by 200 mm or more. In the zone of transitional moisture from the upper reaches of the Dniester and Don rivers and the mouth of the Kama, the amount of precipitation is approximately equal to the evaporation rate, and the further south from this zone, the more evaporation exceeds precipitation (from 100 to 700 mm), i.e. moisture becomes insufficient.