Climate of the Russian Far East

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

The climate of the Far East cannot but surprise with its uniqueness not only the guests of our country, but also many of its inhabitants, who, it would seem, could already get used to its inconstancy, temperature extremes, whims and unpredictability.

In fact, you can talk about this phenomenon indefinitely, analyzing the regions separately and dwelling on each of them in detail, in the smallest detail.

However, the purpose of this article is precisely to describe the climate of the Far East as a whole, while compiling a general picture of the natural phenomena occurring there. It's not a secret for anyone that it is the weather conditions in most cases that become a prerequisite for the formation of one or another flora and fauna, and therefore, in general, predetermine this or that economic activity of the entire region.

What causes the weather in the Far East?

Geographically, the Far East is the most distant part of Russia from the capital. It includes Yakutia, Sakhalin, Chukotka, Kamchatka,Amur and Primorsky Territories.

It is impossible to talk about the climate in the Far East without mentioning a number of its geological features. So, approximately 75% of the above-mentioned territory is occupied by plateaus and low uplands (up to 2000 m). In addition, there are many geysers in Kamchatka, more than 150 volcanoes, of which about 30, by the way, are quite active.

Having this kind of information, hardly anyone will be surprised to learn that the Kuriles and Kamchatka belong to the dangerous seismic belt of the Russian Federation.

The Far East, whose climate has been the subject of close attention of many scientists for several decades, stretches for 4500 thousand km along the Pacific coast. Here passes the line of collision of the Eurasian and Pacific plates, which contributes to the formation of mountain systems, which, by the way, continues to this day, sometimes creating significant problems and troubles.

Very often, weather conditions in this region are created under the influence of processes occurring at the junction of lithospheric plates, as well as the interaction of warm and cold air currents.

General characteristics of observed phenomena

As you know from school geography lessons, the Far East is located beyond the Arctic Circle, so the snow cover here does not completely disappear even in summer.

The northern part of this territory is particularly harsh, namely permafrost and tundra. In myturn, the southern part is represented by a riot of spruce groves and subtropical plants.

It should be noted that the climatic conditions throughout the territory are very different from each other, although there is still one common feature: high humidity is observed everywhere. By the way, not everyone knows that the Pacific Ocean has a huge impact on the Far Eastern climate.

In general, three climatic zones dominate here: temperate, arctic and subarctic. In summer, there is a lot of precipitation, and in winter the snow cover can reach 3 meters in thickness.

Climatic zoning

In general, the climate of the Far East belongs to one of five types:

• Chukotka weather is determined by two types of climate at once: arctic and subarctic;
• The Kamchatka Territory and the coast of the Magadan Region are located in the temperate climate zone;
• Khabarovsk Territory - in a temperate zone with sharply continental and monsoon climate types;
• The Jewish Autonomous Region and the Amur Territory are included in the monsoon climate zone.

Far Eastern precipitation and air masses

In the cold season, westerly winds bring Siberian dry and at the same time very frosty air (the so-called anticyclones) to the territory of the Far East, and in warm weather the wind blows from the ocean, bringing cyclones, i.e. very torrential downpours and cloudy weather.

It should be noted that precipitation is uneven throughout the territory, even in the same region.

Features of temperaturemode

The Far East, whose climate is very diverse, has a number of characteristic features in terms of temperature.

Why? The thing is that as we move away from the shores of the Pacific Ocean deep into the continent in the cold season, there is a significant increase in frost. But in the warm season, the average monthly temperature of the entire territory does not differ much, as a result of which the climate of the mixed forests of the Far East is very similar to the weather conditions that form on the coastal territory.

The exception, perhaps, is the north of Chukotka, where in July the average air temperature can sometimes reach -2°С.

Almost throughout the rest of the Far East, the average July temperature varies in the range of +10… +15°C. In the southern part of the region - at the level of +17… +21°C.

Climate of the Russian Far East and its impact on local flora and fauna

The variety of vegetation in this region is a direct consequence of the presence of a complex relief system and closed basins, as well as the impact of air masses of different temperatures.

In general, the flora here is represented by various plant species, characteristic of both frozen Siberia and sultry and stuffy Asia. How does it manifest itself? Judge for yourself, isn't it amazing when creepers, lemongrass and grapes grow right next to the fir trees, pines and nuts?

It is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that the climate of the Far East has led to the presence of manyspecies of animals, the most common of which are reindeer, squirrels and elk, which, by the way, coexist perfectly with Amur tigers, black deer and raccoon dogs that are rare today.

Economic activity of the region

The favorable climate of the Russian Far East has served as a reason for the intensive development of agriculture and industry.

For example, potatoes, rice, soybeans, wheat, beans and various vegetables are grown in the center and south. Horticulture is also developed here. The north is mainly engaged in the preparation of furs, and fishing dominates on the coast.

A variety of valuable minerals are also found in the Far East: iron and non-ferrous ore, graphite, copper, gold, natural gas, oil, etc.