Moderately and sharply continental climates. Continental climate What is a temperate continental climate

A type of climate characteristic of the interior of large continents, characterized by a combination of very hot summers with convection-type rainfall and very cold, dry winters with little snowfall. Summer temperatures keep an average of about 20 ° C, and winter from -10 ° C to -20 ° C in the coldest month. The annual rainfall is about 500 mm. The most characteristic landscape of the regions of this climate are meadows and steppes. Distinguish between temperate continental and sharply continental climate. There are areas of temperate continental climate in the interior regions of Poland and Hungary, in the steppe regions of Russia and North America.
A sharply continental climate is characteristic of the temperate zone Central Siberia. Continental air from temperate latitudes dominates here throughout the year; therefore, extremely low winter temperatures (-25-44°C) and significant warming in summer (14-20°C) are characteristic. Winter is sunny, frosty, with little snow. Severely frosty types of weather prevail. The annual amount of precipitation is less than 500 mm. Summer is sunny and warm. The moisture coefficient is close to unity. The taiga climate is formed here.

Continental climate of temperate latitudes
IN temperate latitudes the continental climate is characterized by a large annual amplitude of air temperature (hot summer and Cold winter), and significant changes temperature during the day. The continental climate differs from the maritime climate by a lower average annual temperature and humidity, in some cases increased dust content of the air. The continental climate is characterized by fairly low cloudiness and low annual precipitation, the maximum of which occurs in summer. average speed the wind is usually also low. The weather in regions with a continental climate is more variable than in regions with a maritime climate.

Continental climate of the tropics
In the continental climate of the tropics, annual fluctuations in air temperature are not as great as in temperate latitudes, and precipitation is much less than in a maritime climate.

Continental climate of polar latitudes
In the polar latitudes, the continental climate is characterized by large annual fluctuations in air temperature and very cold summers.

Relationship with other types of climate
The continental climate can spread in a weakened form to the parts of the oceans closest to the continents, when air masses from the mainland to the territory above the ocean throughout the year. The continental climate differs from the monsoon climate, which is formed due to the predominant influence of continental air masses in winter and maritime air masses in summer. There are gradual transitions between maritime and continental climates, such as climate Western Europe predominantly marine, the European part of Russia - temperate continental, Eastern Siberia- sharply continental Far East- monsoon.

Most of Russia is in the temperate zone climate zone. At the same time, the seasons have clear boundaries, and solar activity varies greatly from month to month. The temperature regimes of winter and summer are strikingly opposite. For meteorological convenience, the most extensive climatic zone of the country is divided into four sections: continental, temperate continental, sharply continental and monsoon.

Climate of the temperate zone of Russia

In our country, the temperate zone is located between the 40th and 65th parallels. When moving from west to east, the average annual precipitation and temperature regimes of temperate latitudes are differentiated.

(Map-scheme of climatic zones of Russia)

The main feature that unites this territory is the pronounced division of the year into four alternating seasons. The entire area of ​​the climatic zone is subject to the action of moderate air masses, the humidity of which is increased, and Atmosphere pressure reduced. Medium winter temperature-7 - -12 o C, in summer the air warms up to an average of +15 - +20 o C.

IN comparative table presents the average data for the last 10 years of observations for temperature regime in different climatic zones of the temperate zone.

Continental

The continental climate of temperate latitudes dominates in Western Siberia. The formation of weather in this zone is controlled by continental air masses. Cold Arctic currents move from north to south, and tropical air masses move into the northernmost parts of the forest belt. Under such action of winds, about 600 mm of precipitation falls in the north, and less than 400 mm in the southern regions.

temperate continental

The most stable type of temperate climate is temperate continental. In our country, it is represented in the European part. hallmarks such climate zone are a considerable distance from the seas and oceans, small clouds, high speed wind. On formation weather conditions strongly influenced by Atlantic air masses high humidity. They are relatively warm in winter and cool in summer.

The heterogeneity of natural zones (from the taiga to the steppe) determines the different moisture content of the territories. In the north and north-west of the site, excessive moisture indicators are noted, and the eastern and south-eastern borders are characterized by insufficient moisture.

sharp continental

A sharply continental temperate climate is found in areas far removed from the oceans. On the territory of Russia, it is inherent in Eastern Siberia. IN summer months the air does not warm up enough, falls out a large number of precipitation. winter period protracted, with frequent frosts. In severe frosts, a small amount of snow falls, so the soils freeze deeply, and in some northern parts, permafrost zones remain.

Monsoon continental

The monsoon climate is common in the southern regions of the Far East. A feature of this type of climate is the strong dependence of weather conditions on the circulation of monsoons (seasonal winds). In winter, when the mainland cools and atmospheric pressure rises, dry cool air moves towards the ocean. In summer, on the contrary, due to the warming of the mainland, air masses move from the ocean to land, bringing with them a cold snap and an abundance of precipitation.

A temperate continental climate is formed only in the Northern Hemisphere. this climate is typical both for the east and for the eastern mountain ranges of Yakutia and Magadan region. It is most pronounced and The mountain ranges separate the narrow western coast with a maritime climate from the inland regions with a continental climate. Unlike North America, Europe is open to free entry sea ​​air With . This is facilitated not only by the transfer of air masses from the west, which prevails in temperate latitudes, but also by the relief, the strong indentation of the coasts and the bays that go deep into the land. As the Atlantic air moves deeper into the mainland, it turns into continental, and the climate becomes more severe. Temperatures in January: 0°C, -3°C in Warsaw, -1°C in Moscow, -19°C.

IN winter months cooling occurs earth's surface and air, which is the reason for the formation of the Asian (Siberian) anticyclone, when the air is cooled to an average of -30, -40°C. Asian covers the entire Eastern and Western Siberia, and , and at times extends to southeastern Europe, therefore, even in January it is -3 ° С, i.e., as in Warsaw, which is located 1000 km to the north.

Due to the smaller size of North America and the frequent passage of the winter Canadian anticyclone is less stable compared to the Asian one. Winters are less severe here, and the severity of winters does not increase towards the center of the mainland, as in Asia, but even decreases somewhat due to frequent intrusions of tropical air from the bay. Frequent winter cyclones lead to sharp fluctuations in temperature, especially in northern Europe, and. For example, in Moscow in January it can change over several days by more than 10°. Thaws can change severe frosts(up to -30° and below). In winter, precipitation falls in the form of snow and sets in, which protects against deep freezing and creates a supply of moisture in the spring. A stable one is formed to the east of, and its maximum height reaches 90 cm in the eastern regions of Europe and in Western Siberia.

In summer, as in winter, temperate sea air penetrates, but at this time of the year it is colder than the air that was previously on the mainland. In addition, Arctic air often comes from the north in summer. However, a large number solar heat in summer, it quickly warms up the cold ones entering the mainland of Eurasia, which turn into warm continental ones. Summers are usually warm, average monthly temperature in July in Berlin +18.3°; in Warsaw +19°; in Moscow + 18.1°; in Novosibirsk +18.7°; over all Eurasia - from + 16 to + 22 ° С. Annual changes from 300 to 800 mm, on windward slopes - more than 2000 mm. Most of them fall in the summer. In Eurasia, rainfall decreases from west to east, North America- vice versa. In the southeast of Europe and in the southern regions of the Asian belt, where precipitation is less than 400 mm, possible evaporation exceeds precipitation and natural moisture is insufficient. Droughts often occur here.

Accent placement: CLIMATE CONTINENTALITY

CLIMATE CONTINENTALITY (from lat. continens - mainland) - a set of climate properties due to the influence of the land surface (as opposed to the water surface) on climate-forming processes. The nature of this influence of land follows from two main physical. differences between the active layer of land and water. 1) Land has a lower heat capacity and thermal conductivity than water, as a result of which: a) the same daily and seasonal fluctuations in the influx of solar energy create sharper fluctuations in the temperature of the land surface than the sea surface and, therefore, more significant. daily and annual amplitudes of air temperature; b) during advection of warm or cold air, land has a weaker cooling or warming effect on this air, as a result of which the daily variability of air temperature over land is sharper than over water. 2) Moisture reserves in the active layer of the land, in contrast to the sea, are limited, which limits evaporation. Air masses moving deep into the mainland gradually expend their moisture on precipitation without sufficient replenishment due to evaporation from the earth's surface. As a result, precipitation is generally less on land than at sea. In addition, during the rainy period, the land replenishes moisture reserves, increases evaporation and contributes to the further continuation of rains, and in the dry period, on the contrary, prevents their renewal. Therefore, the variability of precipitation from year to year on land is greater than at sea.

Differences in physical properties of land and water are fully manifested directly along coastline. However, due to continuous air transfers, the influence of the sea extends far into the interior of the continent and vice versa. The prevailing western transfer of air masses in the atmosphere enhances the influence of the ocean on the leeward parts of the continent lying to the east of it, while the effect on the continent located to the west is weakened. Accordingly, the influence of the continent on neighboring oceans also changes. As a result, the regions of maximum and minimum K. to. turn out to be displaced from the geometric. centers of continents and oceans on B (see diagram). Changes in the degree of K. to. from place to place are most pronounced in temperate zone, where seasonal fluctuations in the influx of solar energy and sharp changes in warm and cold air currents are especially strong. To the polar and especially to the tropical. and equiv. latitudes of change K. to. weaken. Numerous quantity attempts. estimates of K. to. were based on the use of the magnitude of the annual temperature amplitude, usually related to a certain geographical. latitude. According to Gorchinsky, the indicator where A is the amplitude annual course temperature, φ - geographical. latitude. Numeric coefficients. selected in such a way that for the most continent, places on the globe. Verkhoyansk, the indicator of K. to. was equal to 100. A. P. Galtsov.

Sources:

1. Brief geographical encyclopedia. Volume 2 / Main ed. Grigoriev A.A. M.: Soviet Encyclopedia - 1961, 592 p. from ill. and cards., 27 sheets. kart. and ill., 1 l. otd. cards

Continental climate

a set of climate properties determined by the influence large areas land on the atmosphere and climate-forming processes. The main differences in the climate of the continents and oceans are due to the peculiarities of their accumulation of heat. The surfaces of the continents quickly and strongly heat up during the day and in summer and cool down at night and in winter. Over the oceans, this process is slowed down because water masses in the warm time of the day and year, they accumulate a large amount of heat in the deep layers, which is gradually returned to the atmosphere in the cold season. Therefore, air temperature and other climate characteristics change (from day to night and from summer to winter) over the continents more than over the oceans (see Continental climate, Maritime climate). The movement of air masses leads to the spread of the influence of the oceans on the climate of the adjacent parts of the continents and to the reverse effect of the continents on the climate of the oceans. Thus, the climate may be more or less continental (or oceanic) that can be quantified; most often, K. k. is considered as a function of the annual amplitude of air temperature.

Lit.: Khromov S.G., On the issue of climate continentality, “Izv. Vses. geographical society”, 1957, v. 89, c. 3; Rubinstein E.S., On the influence of the distribution of oceans and land on the globe, ibid., 1953, vol. 85, c. 4.

S. P. Khromov.

Big soviet encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

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