The Altai Republic: the climate and features of nature

Altai, without any doubt, can be called a real country of contrasts. It is on its territory that absolutely unique climate complexes are located. This explains the difference in weather conditions in the region. It depends not only on the time of the year, but also on the territorial zone.

Features of climate

Near the center of the Asian mainland is the Republic of Altai. The climate here is sharply continental. And this is due not only to the location of this area, but also to its considerable remoteness from the oceans (to a huge water reservoir - not one thousand kilometers), as well as some other factors.

The sharply continental climate of the Altai Republic is the main reason for the strong warming of land in summer, and in the winter - its sharp cooling. This causes a significant fluctuation in the temperature regime during the year.

Climate-forming factors

Three factors influence the formation of weather conditions in Altai. It:
- mutual influence and interaction of circulating processes in the atmosphere;
- mountainous relief;
- properties of the underlying surface.

The sharply continental type of climate in the Altai was formed due to the location of the terrain in temperate latitudes, the impact of the Asian anticyclone in winter, and also to the prevailing transport of air masses from the west.

Influence of the relief

For those who do not know what the climate is in the Altai Mountains, it is worth saying that it is not homogeneous. And this is due to the very complex terrain. The fluctuations in altitudes on the territory of the republic range from 350 to 4,500 meters. Thus, the formation of vertical climatic zoning occurs. Thus allocate:

- areas of low-mountain climate (up to a mark of 500-600 meters);
- zones of average climate, located from 500 to 1500 m and above;
- areas of domination of the high mountain climate (from 2000 m).

The north-eastern and north-western, southeastern and central Altai climates have different. And this feature exists because of the differences in the terrain. It is a diverse landscape contributes to the varying degrees of night air cooling in the valleys, hollows and lines of mountain slopes.

The highest ridges are located in the southeast and south of the region. In the north, the terrain is somewhat lowered and opens the way for the passage of the Arctic masses.

In addition, the nature of humidification is affected by the mountains (Altai). The climate from the western slopes of the ridges is distinguished by the precipitation of a considerable mass of precipitation. The fact is that the mountain slopes block the way to moist air coming from the western seas. On the eastern slopes of the ridges the picture is completely different. Humid air does not penetrate here. That is why the arid climate prevails in this area.

Air flow

Important factors that influence climate formation in the Altai are:

- the masses of the continental Arctic air, capable of reaching the internal territory of the republic throughout the year;

- Wet and warm air flows coming from the Atlantic;

- south and south-west winds;

- local cyclones, arising from mountain relief;

- Phenomenal flows of air.

As a rule, it is the western air currents that influence weather formation in the Republic of Altai. The climate of this area largely depends on their impact.

In the winter period, the Arctic masses of the continental type dominate the territory of the republic. They bring cold streams of air 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 southwesterly 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 edge is such that here these values are within four degrees above zero. In the highland zone, the average annual temperature is equal to seven degrees of frost.

Winter in the Altai lasts from three to five months. This applies to river valleys, as well as lowlands and middle mountains. Especially severe is the winter period in the intermontane plains. This is due to the stagnation of cold air masses. For example, the average temperature of the January air in the Chui steppe reaches almost thirty-two degrees below zero, but the southern extremity of Teletskoye Lake boasts a milder winter. Here the thermometer's column shows only eight degrees of frost.

In the intermontane basins of Altai, under the influence of increased atmospheric pressure, temperature inversions are observed. They are caused by "rolling" into the plains of heavy cold air. With increasing altitude, the air temperature rises. Such "lakes of cold" have significant differences depending on the zone of their location. So, in the case of a wet, closed valley, the top can be 10-15 degrees warmer. But this phenomenon is observed only at night. In the morning, the sun's rays warm up the air masses. They go up, and the inversion is destroyed.

Differences in temperatures are also observed in different regions of the republic. It ranges from eight degrees of frost in the southern part of the Teletskoye Lake to minus forty-four in Kyzyl-Ozek.

Climatic oases

In winter, in Altai, you can observe very interesting weather phenomena. In most of the mountain valleys, there are unique climatic oases. In these zones, winds are constantly blowing, there are no strong frosts, there is no steady snow cover. These phenomena are especially pronounced in the valleys of such rivers as Katun and Chulyshman.

The most favorable climate in the Altai region is the shore of the Teletskoye Lake. This fact confirms the air temperature in the neighboring valleys. It can be ten to fifteen degrees lower. Here in this period, complete calmness reigns. The reason for this unusual phenomenon, as climatic oases, is "hair dryer". This is the name for warm and dry wind. It arises because of the pressure difference in the territory of the Altai Mountains in the winter. On our planet, it is impossible to find another such area, where "hair dryers" would exert such a significant influence on climate formation.

Warm season

What is the climate in Altai in the summer? Spring in the province does not last long. In April positive temperature values of air masses are observed. However, during this period the cold Arctic masses often replace the southwestern winds from Central Asia. Therefore 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 because of the considerable height of the ridges, the presence of eternal snows and glaciers. Influenced by it and numerous cold lakes and rivers. And the column of the thermometer falls when you climb the mountains for half a degree for every hundred meters of height. Coolest at elevations above 1000 meters. So, at an average temperature of sixteen to eighteen degrees above zero in the lowlands and midlands, at altitudes above two thousand meters the thermometer's column stops at around 10 degrees. The hottest summer in the Altai Territory can be observed in intermountain hollows. Here the air warms to thirty-thirty-five degrees.

Precipitation and wind

In the summer period, the western and north-western streams of air masses dominate in the Altai Territory. They bring in this area a large amount of moisture, which is left in the form of precipitation at altitudes in excess of 1000-2000 meters. Most often, rains occur on the western slopes of ridges. The maximum amount of precipitation is obtained by such elevations as Yuzhno-Chuyskaya, Katunskaya and Severo-Chuyskaya. Here falls from 2000 to 2500 millimeters during the year. A greater volume of moisture remains in the Belukha mountain region . Here, within a year, up to 3000 millimeters of precipitation falls. In the middle reaches of the rains less, only 500-600 millimeters. More rain falls in the second half of the summer. Maximum precipitation falls in July.

Unique natural area

The Altai Territory is an amazing place. Here, in the central part of the mainland, at the junction of various natural zones, far from the oceans, a unique edge of high cliffs and blue lakes, dry steppes and impenetrable taiga, as well as rich and vast meadows has been created by nature. The appearance of such diverse microclimatic conditions was facilitated by the complex location of the mountain ridges, the dismemberment of the relief and significant fluctuations in altitude. The Altai Territory is just over 167,000 square kilometers. And this relatively small space contained at once six natural zones, namely - tundra and forest, semi-desert and steppe, alpine and subalpine zones.

The uniqueness of the relief of Altai gave birth to the uniqueness of the plant world that is located there. Due to the special climatic conditions of the territory, it is possible to find all the representatives of the fauna characteristic of the European regions of Russia, as well as the zones of Central and Northern Asia.

The diversity of the landscape explains the existence of a rich animal world in the Altai. Here you can find squirrels and chipmunks, lynx and ermine, elks and bears, golden eagles and sables, etc.