Intramonthly Variability of Daily Surface Air Temperature in Russia in 1970–2015

Abstract

The variability of average daily surface air temperature in Russia is investigated using weather station data for 1970–2015. Three variability ranges are analyzed: interdaily (<3 days) range, synoptic (3–7 days) range, and the range of stable weather patterns (8–20 days). Standard deviations are estimated for the reference (1970–1999) and modern (2000–2015) climate periods for summer and winter. The climate continentality is observed in the spatial distribution of variability: the maximum variability for all ranges is registered in Central Siberia. The interdaily and synoptic variability decreases (as a rule by 10–20%) in winter during the modern period in most regions of Russia. In the range of 8–20 days in winter, variability increases in the regions south of 60°N, with the maximum growth (up to 30%) in the Altai krai. In summer, with the overall general decrease variability, in the western part of Russia and in South Siberia a slight increase in the interdaily and synoptic variability of average daily surface air temperature is found.