Altai, without any doubt, can be called a real country of contrasts. It is on its territory that absolutely different unique climatic complexes are located. This explains the difference in weather conditions in the region. It depends not only on the season, but also on the territorial zone.
Climate features
The Republic of Altai is located near the very center of the Asian continent. The climate here is sharply continental. And this is due not only to the location of this area, but also to its significant remoteness from the oceans (more than one thousand kilometers to a huge water reservoir), as well as some other factors.
The sharply continental climate of the Republic of Altai is the main reason that in summer there is a strong warming of the land, and in winter - its sharp cooling. This causes significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year.
Climate factors
Three factors influence the formation of weather conditions in Altai. These are:
- mutual influence and interactioncirculation processes in the atmosphere;
- mountainous terrain;- properties of the underlying surface.
A sharply continental type of climate in Altai was formed due to the location of the area in temperate latitudes, the influence of the Asian anticyclone in winter, as well as the prevailing transfer of air masses from the west.
Effect of terrain
For those who do not know what the climate is like in the Altai Mountains, it is worth saying that it is not uniform. And this is due to the very difficult terrain. Altitude fluctuations on the territory of the republic range from 350 to 4500 meters. Thus, vertical climatic zonality is formed. At the same time, they allocate:
- areas of low-mountain climate (up to a mark of 500-600 meters);
- zones of mid-mountain climate, located from 500 to 1500 m and above;- areas of dominance of high-mountain climate (from 2000 m).
North-eastern and north-western, south-eastern and central Altai have different climates. And this feature exists due to differences in relief. It is the diverse landscape that contributes to varying degrees of night air cooling in valleys, hollows and mountain slopes.
The highest ranges are located in the southeast and south of the region. To the north, the terrain drops somewhat and opens the way for the passage of the arctic masses.
Moreover, mountains (Altai) influence the nature of moisture. Climate from the western slopesThe ridges are distinguished by the loss of a significant mass of precipitation. The fact is that the mountain slopes block the path of moist air coming from the western seas. On the eastern slopes of the ranges, the picture is completely different. Humid air does not penetrate here. That is why the area is dominated by an arid climate.
Air currents
Important factors influencing climate formation in Altai are:
- masses of continental Arctic air that can reach the interior of the republic throughout the year;
- humid and warm air currents coming from the Atlantic;
- south and southwest winds;
- local cyclones due to mountainous terrain;
- fan-like air currents.
As a rule, it is the western air currents that influence the formation of weather in the Altai Republic. The climate of this area largely depends on their influences.
In winter, Arctic masses of the continental type dominate over the territory of the republic. They bring cold air currents that have a low temperature. In addition, the western and northwestern atmospheric masses become sources of abundant snowfall, and dry and cloudy weather comes with western and southwestern winds.
Winter period
The average annual temperatures of air masses in the Altai Republic are also different. The climate in the western and northern outskirts of the region is such that here these values are within four degrees above zero. ATin the high mountain zone, the average annual temperature is seven degrees below zero.
Winter in Altai lasts from three to five months. This applies to river valleys, as well as low and medium mountains. The winter period is especially severe in the intermountain plains. This is due to the stagnation of cold air masses. For example, the average January air temperature in the Chuya steppe reaches almost thirty-two degrees below zero, but the southern tip of Lake Teletskoye boasts milder winters. Here the thermometer shows only eight degrees below zero.
Temperature inversions are observed in the intermountain basins of Altai under the influence of high atmospheric pressure. They are caused by "rolling" into the plains of heavy cold air. At the same time, as the altitude increases, the air temperature rises. Such "lakes of cold" have significant differences depending on the zone of their location. So, in the case of a humid closed valley at the top it can be 10-15 degrees warmer. But this phenomenon is observed only at night. In the morning, the sun's rays warm the air masses. They rise up and the inversion is destroyed.
Temperature differences are also observed in different regions of the republic. It ranges from eight degrees of frost in the southern part of Lake Teletskoye to minus forty-four in Kyzyl-Ozek.
Climatic oases
Very interesting weather phenomena can be observed in Altai in winter. In most mountain valleys, peculiar climatic oases arise. In thesewinds are constantly blowing in the zones, there are no severe frosts, there is no stable snow cover. These phenomena are especially pronounced in the valleys of such rivers as the Katun and Chulyshman.
The most favorable region of Altai in terms of climate is the shores of Lake Teletskoye. This fact is confirmed by the air temperature in neighboring valleys. It can be ten or fifteen degrees lower. Here, during this period, complete calm prevails. The reason for such an unusual phenomenon as climatic oases is “hair dryer”. So called warm and dry wind. It arises due to the pressure difference in the Altai Mountains in winter. On our planet, it is impossible to find another such area where the "hair dryers" would have such a significant impact on climate formation.
Warm season
What is the climate like in Altai in summer? Spring in the region does not last long. Already in April, positive values of the temperature of air masses are observed. However, during this period, cold arctic masses often replace the southwestern winds from Central Asia. Therefore, the spring weather is notable for its instability.
Summer in the mountainous regions of the Altai Republic is cool. Here the air temperature does not rise due to the significant height of the ridges, the presence of eternal snows and glaciers. Numerous cold lakes and rivers also influence it. Moreover, the thermometer falls when climbing the mountains by half a degree for every hundred meters of height. It is coldest at elevations exceeding 1000 meters. So, at an average temperature of sixteen to eighteen degrees above zero,low and middle mountains, at altitudes over two thousand meters, the thermometer stops at around 10 degrees. The hottest summer in the Altai Territory can be observed in the intermountain basins. Here the air warms up to thirty-thirty-five degrees.
Precipitation and wind
In summer, western and northwestern air masses dominate in the Altai Territory. They bring a large amount of moisture to this area, which they leave in the form of precipitation at altitudes exceeding 1000-2000 meters. Most often it rains on the western slopes of the ridges. The maximum amount of precipitation is received by such elevations as the South Chuiskaya, Katunskaya and North Chuiskaya. Here falls from 2000 to 2500 millimeters during the year. A greater amount of moisture remains in the area of Belukha Mountain. Here, up to 3000 millimeters of precipitation falls annually. In the middle mountains, there is less rain, only 500-600 millimeters. Most of the rain falls in the second half of summer. The maximum precipitation falls in the month of July.
A unique natural area
Altai Territory is an amazing place. Here, in the central part of the mainland, at the junction of various natural zones, away from the oceans, nature has created a unique land of high cliffs and blue lakes, dry steppes and impenetrable taiga, as well as rich and vast meadows. The emergence of such diverse microclimatic conditions was facilitated by the complex arrangement of mountain ranges, the dissection of the relief and significant fluctuations in altitude. The area of the Altai Territory is just over 167 thousand square kilometers. And this relatively small space contained insix natural zones at once, namely, tundra and forest, semi-desert and steppe, alpine and subalpine zones.
The eccentricity of the Altai relief gave rise to the originality of the plant world located there. Due to the special climatic conditions of the territory, here you can find all the representatives of the fauna characteristic of the European regions of Russia, as well as the zones of Central and North Asia.
The diversity of the landscape explains the existence of a rich animal world in Altai. Here you can meet squirrels and chipmunks, lynxes and ermines, moose and bears, golden eagles and sables, etc.
