Long-term dynamics of snow cover in the Baikal region

Abstract

An analysis of long-term changes in the depth (maximum, average), the dates of onset and destruction, and the duration of stable snow cover in the Baikal region is carried out according to data of observations at weather stations in 1959–2019, which makes it possible to reveal the differences of these characteristics on the eastern and western coasts of Lake Baikal. A maximum long-term snow cover depth of 39 -175 cm is recorded at weather stations in the eastern Baikal region with an average long-term depth of 9.1 -80.8 cm. At weather stations in the western Baikal region, the maximum long-term snow cover depth is 21-67 cm with average long-term values of 4.5-30.3 cm. A close dependence of the duration of snow cover on the dates of its onset and destruction has been found. At the end of the study period, a shift in the dates of onset and destruction of snow cover to earlier dates is observed in the absence of statistically significant trends. As a result of these changes, snow cover melts earlier and the duration of its occurrence is significantly reduced. The average long-term duration of stable snow cover on the territory of the Baikal region is 182 days: 186 days in the east, and 173 days in the west.