Dynamic of Changes in Air and Sediments Temperature in the Intermountain Hollows of the Southeast and Central Altai

Abstract

The study of the regional manifestations of climate change in mountain areas is of special significance, because it can refine the planetary picture of climate changes. Multiyear meteorological data (60 year period) on high-mountain and mid-mountain intermountain hollows – the Chuya hollow (Southeastern Altai physical and geographical province), Kanskaya, Uimonskaya and Ursulskaya troughs (Central Altai physical and geographical province) are analyzed. It is shown that the most significant changes in air temperature and precipitation occur in the Chuya hollow. Based on linear trends, it is found that the average annual air temperature increased 3°C over 1955–2016. In the Kanskaya, Uimonskaya and Ursulskaya troughs, this value is 1.8, 1.9 and 2.3°C, respectively. However, at the same time there is a tendency to a slight cold snap of the last decade. Substantial changes in precipitation patterns in all studied areas are not revealed, but some differences are found when considering seasonal patterns based on linear trends. So, everywhere increase in summer precipitation is recorded: on 33 mm at the meteorological station Ust-Koksa, 23 mm at the meteorological station Ust-Kan and 12 mm at the meteorological station Kosh-Agach. The amount of winter precipitation is reduced by values from 2 to 10 mm. These values are not statistically significant and are provided to illustrate emerging trends. Despite the increase in summer precipitation, these changes indicate a significant trend of increasing aridity of the territory, since the observed increase in air temperatures is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in precipitation.