Climate of Ukraine: determining factors

Features of the climate of Ukraine determines its geographical location. The state is on the East European Plain, washed by the Black and Azov Seas. The territory is affected by the air of the Atlantic and, to some extent, the Arctic Ocean. The climate of Ukraine is moderately continental. The weather in different regions of the country is determined by solar radiation, atmospheric circulation and relief. Let us dwell on this in more detail.

Solar radiation

The geographical position of Ukraine is medium latitudes with a moderate illumination belt . Most of all solar radiation hits the ground from May to September, therefore, the number of warm days increases in the spring, summer and autumn. The amount of light reaching to the earth is greater in the east, in the western regions there is a great cloudiness.

Air circulation

Different types of air masses affect the redistribution of heat and moisture, and hence, the climate of Ukraine. Through the territory of the state there are streams of air both "local origin" and visited from afar. From the west, north-west appear the air masses of the Atlantic Ocean, due to which in winter it becomes warmer, and the summer is cool. Also air masses of the Atlantic contribute to air humidification, to a greater extent in the west and north-west of the country.

Dry dry continental air masses, formed over the center of Eurasia, come to Ukraine. Their influence is more felt in the south and east of the state. It fixes cold weather in winter and hot in summer.

A considerable cold snap in the winter, later the onset of spring, causes the air masses of the Arctic. Sharp warming is due to air from the tropics.

As air masses are different, the climate of Ukraine depends on changing cold and warm atmospheric fronts, cyclones, anticyclones. Cyclones form unstable weather with a lot of precipitation and strong gusts of wind. Thanks to anticyclones, the weather is dry, mild in winter and cold in summer.

Voeikov's axis

The climate of Ukraine in winter is affected by the zone of high atmospheric pressure, the so-called O. Voeikov axis. In winter, the pressure in the area of Lugansk, Dnepropetrovsk, Balti rises due to the crests of the Azores and Siberian anticyclones. In the summer, the axis is weakened, since it forms only an Azores anticyclone.

North of the axis, western winds are blowing, bringing heat and moisture, to the south - dry winds of the east and south-east directions.

The zone of atmospheric pressure was named in honor of the scientist-climatologist who justified it.

Relief

The underlying surface absorbs and transforms the solar radiation, influencing the climate. Soils, plants, snow and water surfaces have different values of reflected and total radiation. Climatic conditions also depend on the remoteness of the terrain from the ocean.

The most part of Ukraine is covered by a plain, thanks to which air flows do not encounter obstacles on the way. As we move to the east, the sea air masses are transformed into continental ones, which is why the climate of eastern and western Ukraine Is different.

An obstacle to the circulating air is the Carpathians. Through the mountains do not penetrate the cold air masses of the Arctic, so the weather in Transcarpathia is somewhat warmer than in other regions of the country.

Precipitation

Most precipitation in the territory of Ukraine falls in the mountains. Air flows faster rush up, so over the peaks formed a large cloudiness than on the plain.

The average annual rainfall is 600-800 millimeters. From the rain and snow the Carpathians suffer most (1400-1600 mm per year). The climate of eastern Ukraine and the coast is more arid. For these regions fallout of 150-350 millimeters of precipitation is characteristic annually.

From April to September, it rains on the territory of the country, and in the cold season - snow.

The climate of western Ukraine is also characterized by the fact that in summer there are temperature changes, heavy rains, thunderstorms, and in the autumn - fogs. In Lviv and the surrounding area, a drizzle drizzles, which locals call a munchkin.

Seasons

In Ukraine, all four seasons are clearly marked: spring, summer, autumn, winter. The transition from winter to summer is one and a half to two months and begins with the melting of the snows. In the basins of large rivers, floods occur. Throughout the country strong gusty winds blow.

By the beginning of April, trees are starting to blossom, and in May they perform a reverse migration of the bird. The temperature of the air rises to + 15-20 ° С during the day, sometimes there are frosts at nights.

In the summer, warm weather prevails. The air warms up to + 30 ° C and above. Precipitation falls somewhat more than in the spring, but not enough for such a hot summer. The warm season lasts 3-3.5 months in the north and 4-4.5 in the south.

In the fall, rains begin to rain. The rainiest months are October and November. At the end of September, the Indian summer comes: the air temperature rises to + 20-25 ° C for several days, after which cold sets in again (October - + 13 ° C, November - + 6 ° C). Birds fly south. The transition from the summer to the winter season lasts up to two months.

After autumn comes a snowy and cold winter. The average air temperature drops to -8 ° C, but experts note a thirty-degree cold snap. More snow falls in the mountains, less - on the plain. The thicker the snow cover, the more floods will occur in the spring.

This is the climate in Ukraine. Continence varies from north-west to south-east, and thermal conditions - from north to south. The weather in the mountains is different from that on the plain.