East-European plain: climate, natural areas, geographical location

The East European Plain is one of the largest on the planet. Its area exceeds 4 million km ² . It is located on the continent of Eurasia (in the eastern part of Europe). From the north-western side of its border pass through the Scandinavian mountain formations, in the southeast - along the Caucasus, in the southwest - along the Central European massifs (Sudety, etc.). There are more than 10 states on its territory, most of it is occupied by the Russian Federation . It is for this reason that this plain is also called the Russian plain.

East-European plain: climate formation

On any geographical area the climate is formed due to some factors. First of all, this is the geographical position, the relief and the neighboring regions, with which a certain territory borders.

So, what exactly influences the climate of this plain? For starters it is necessary to distinguish oceanic areas: the Arctic and the Atlantic. Due to their air masses, certain temperatures are set and the amount of precipitation is formed. The latter are distributed unevenly, but this is easily explained by the large territory of such an object as the East European Plain.

The mountains have no less influence than the oceans. Solar radiation throughout the entire length is not the same: in the southern zone is much larger than in the northern. During the whole year it changes, depending on the season change (in summer more than in winter because of mountain snow peaks). In July, the highest level of radiation is reached.

Given that the plain is located in high and temperate latitudes, its territory is mostly dominated by a temperate continental climate. It predominates mainly in the eastern part.

Atlantic masses

The air masses of the Atlantic dominate the East European Plain throughout the year. In the winter season, they bring precipitation and warm weather, and in the summer-the air is full of coolness. Atlantic winds, moving from west to east, change somewhat. Being above the earth's surface, they become warmer in the summer with a little moisture, and in winter they become colder with a small amount of precipitation. It was during the cold period that the East European Plain, whose climate directly depends on the oceans, is influenced by Atlantic cyclones. Over this season, their number can reach 12. Moving eastward, they are able to change dramatically, and this, in turn, brings warming or cold snap.

And when the Atlantic cyclones come from the south-west, the southern part of the Russian plain is influenced by the subtropical air masses, which result in a thaw and in winter the temperature can rise to +5 ... 7 ° С.

Arctic air masses

When the East European Plain is located under the influence of the North Atlantic and South-Western Arctic cyclones, the climate here is significantly changing, even in the southern part. On its territory there is a sharp cooling. Arctic air, most often, move in the direction from north to west. Thanks to anticyclones, which lead to a cooling, the snow lies for a long time, the weather is set low-clouds with low temperatures. As a rule, they are distributed in the southeastern part of the plain.

Temperature regime of the winter season

Given the location of the East European Plain, the climate in the winter season differs in different areas. In this connection, the following temperature statistics are observed:

• Northern regions - winter is not very cold, in January thermometers show an average of -4 ° C.
• In the western zones of the Russian Federation weather conditions are somewhat more severe. The average temperature in January is -10 ° C.
• In the northeastern parts it is colder. Here on thermometers you can see -20 ° C or more.
• In the southern zones of Russia there is a deviation of temperatures in the southeast direction. The average is a retaliation of -5 ° C.

Temperature regime of the summer season

In the summer season, under the influence of solar radiation is the East European Plain. The climate at this time depends, directly, on this factor. Here, oceanic air masses no longer have this significance, and the temperature is distributed according to geographical latitude.

So, let's look at the changes by region:

• The air in the extreme northern parts of the plain warms up to +8 ° C during the day.
• In the areas between Voronezh and Cheboksary, a temperature of +20 ° C is set.
• Regions of the Caspian lowland are the warmest. Here the average temperature is fixed at +24 ° C.

Precipitation

As was mentioned above, the temperate continental climate operates in most of the East European Plain. And for him, a certain amount of precipitation is typical, which is 600-800 mm / g. Their loss depends on several factors. For example, the movement of air masses from the western parts, the presence of cyclones, the location of the polar and Arctic front. The highest humidity is observed between the Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow heights. For the year in the west precipitation is about 800 mm, and in the east a little less - no more than 700 mm.

In addition, the relief of this territory exerts a great influence. On the elevations located in the western parts, the precipitation falls by 200 millimeters more than in the lowlands. The rainy season in the southern zones falls on the first month of summer (June), and in the middle band, as a rule, this is July.

In winter, snow falls in this region and a stable cover is formed. The altitude can vary, taking into account the natural areas of the East European Plain. For example, in the tundra the thickness of snow reaches 600-700 mm. Here it lies about seven months. And in the forest zone and forest-steppe, the snow cover reaches a height of up to 500 mm and, as a rule, covers the land for no more than two months.

Most of the humidification falls on the northern zone of the plain, and evaporation is less. In the middle band, these indicators are compared. As for the southern part, here the humidification is much less than evaporation, for this reason drought is often observed in this area.

Natural areas: species and a brief description

The natural areas of the East European Plain are quite different. This is explained extremely simply - the large size of this area. In its territory there are 7 zones. Let's look at them.

• Tundra and forest-tundra - the climate is moderately cold, humidity high, precipitation in the amount up to 600 mm / g. In the tundra there are zones of permafrost. To the south of its borders is the forest-tundra. The width of the zone is up to 40 km.
• Forest - humidity and air temperatures are moderate. The width of the strip is up to 1200 km. It is divided into two sub-zones - mixed forests and taiga.
• The forest steppe is located in a temperate climatic zone. Located in the west of the plain, it extends from the southwest to the northeast.
• The steppe - humidity is low, the temperatures are high (average in summer is +23 ° C). Dry winds predominate in this region.
• The desert and the semi-desert capture the lower reaches of the Volga. Further the strip passes to Aktyubinsk. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 400 mm / g, and the volatility is more than 1000 mm.

East-European Plain and West Siberian Plain: comparison

The Russian and West Siberian plains have a number of common features. For example, their geographical location. They are both on the continent of Eurasia. Influence on them renders the Arctic Ocean. The territory of both plains has such natural zones as forest-tundra, tundra, forest, steppe and forest-steppe. Deserts and semi-deserts in the West Siberian Plain are absent. The dominant Arctic air masses exert almost the same influence on both geographic regions. They also border on mountains that directly affect climate formation.

The East European Plain and the West Siberian Plain also have differences. They can be attributed to the fact that even though they are on the same continent, they are located in different parts: the first in Europe, the second in Asia. Also they differ in relief - the West Siberian is considered one of the lowest, so some of its plots are swampy. If we take the territory of these plains as a whole, then in the latter flora it is somewhat poorer than in the East European.