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CLIMATE OF THE ALTAI REPUBLIC
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The geographical position and complicated relief with altitude fluctuations from 350 to 4500 m, greatly affect climate formation of the Altai Republic.
Due to its considerable remoteness from the oceans, the climate of the Altai Republic is temperate continental with cold winters and hot summers. Continental arctic air easily reaching the inner territories all the year round, as well as humid air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean, warm western and south-western winds, local cyclones formed by relief of the mountain system, foehn-like air flows are the factors forming the climate of the region. As a rule, the determining factor of formation of weather conditions is the movement of western air masses.
Relief greatly affects the climate of Gorny Altai and forms vertical climatic zones - the zone of lowland climate (up to 500-600 m); the zone of midland climate (from 500 up to 1500 m and over); the zone of highland climate (over 2000-2500 m).
In winter continental arctic masses, bringing cold air and low temperatures are predominant on the territory of the Republic; western and north-western air masses of low pressure are the source of abundant snow-falls; western and south-western winds bring cloudless and dry weather.
Average temperatures in Gorny Altai vary from +4°C in the south and west to -7°C in highlands zone.
In lowlands and highlands as well as in the river valleys, winters last for 3-5 months. Winters are especially severe in intermountain hollows, where cold air stagnates. Thus, average January temperatures in Tchuya Steppe are -31,7°C, while in the south extremity of the Teletskoye Lake - only -8,1°C. Temperature inversions may be observed in intermountain hollows under condition of high atmospheric pressure. The average February temperatures at the height of 450 m, where cold air stagnates, are -22,3°C, and at the height of approximately 1000 m - -12,5°C.
The reason is that the heavier cold air slides down the slopes and fills the lower part of the valley, thus forming "a lake of cold". Depending on the local conditions, night cold snaps in different valleys vary greatly. In the humid closed valleys on the slopes the temperature may be 10-15°C warmer than below. With the morning sunrise the air gets warmer and rises higher, thus breaking the temperature inversions.
In winter, an interesting climatic peculiarity may be observed in the mountain valleys. These are real warm climatic "oases". It's never really cold there; there's no blanket of snow and the winds constantly blow. Such phenomena are most clearly expressed in the valleys of the Tchulyshman and the Katun rivers, on the coast of the Teletskoye Lake. At the same time the temperature in the neighboring valleys may be 10-15°C lower with calm and windless weather prevailing. The reason is the so-called "foehn" - dry and warm wind. Great pressure difference, predominating on the territory of Gorny Altai during the whole winter is the reason of foehn origin. Southern regions of the Republic are under the influence of Asian Maximum, while cyclones (low pressure centers) are often in northern regions. In this case, foehns occur in the valleys, which directions coincide with the direction of air-flow - from the south to the north. Weather stations situated in the valley of the Katun River and in the valley of the Teletskoye Lake, record more than 100 "foehn-days" during the cold period of year. There's no other mountain system on the Earth with foehns playing such an essential role in climate formation.The great difference of absolute temperatures in various regions is also a characteristic feature of climate of the Altai Republic. For instance, the average January temperatures in Tchemal are -12,6°C, in the south of the Teletskoye Lake - -8,1°C, while absolute minimum temperatures in Kyzyl-Ozek are -44°C, in Kosh-Agach -55C°.
There's little snow in south-eastern parts (Kosh-Agach Region), which furthers the development of permafrost. The transition from winter to summer takes place very quickly.
In April average temperatures turn positive. In spring, warm south-eastern air masses from Middle Asia give way to cold arctic masses, that's why warm weather often takes turns with cold one. Great fluctuations of daily temperatures and pressure are characteristic for the spring period in the midlands.
Summers in the Altai Republic are colder than in the neighboring valley, due to glaciers, numerous rivers and lakes and considerable height of mountains. With every 100 m increase of height, air temperature gets 0,5°C lower.
Altitudes over 1000 m are the coldest. While average July temperatures in lowlands and midlands are +16°C…+18°C, at the altitude of approximately. 2000 m - they are +8°C…+10°C. Summers are the hottest in the intermountain hollows, where the temperature rises up to +30°C…+35C°.
Northern and north-western air masses of low atmospheric pressure prevail in the Altai Republic in summers. These masses bring much moisture and return it at the altitudes over 1000 - 2000 m, mainly over the Western slopes. Mountain ridges with the highest altitudes (Katunsky, South-Tchujsky, North-Tchujsky) get maximum quantity of precipitation (2000 - 2500 mm per year); in the region of Belukha Mountain these numbers reach 3000 mm per year.
Midlands usually get 500 - 600 mm of precipitation per year. North-eastern part of Gorny Altai gets the largest quantity of precipitation per year - 700 - 1000 mm, and 1500 mm in the south-west. The largest quantity of precipitation fall in the second half of summer. Maximum quantity - in July, and minimum - in January.
Snow blanket sets at the end of October - November. Distribution of snow blanket is determined by the relief, power and direction of wind. The highest snow blanket may be observed in the south-east (up to 1m), while the lowest - in the Tchuya Steppe (8 cm) - Kosh-Agach Region.
Annual fluctuations of air relative humidity is opposite to fluctuations of temperature. The lowest humidity (35-40%) is observed in April and May and the highest (up to 70-80%) in December and January.
One of the main factors affecting climate of Gorny Altai is abundance of solar energy. The amount of solar radiance in Gorny Altai in summers is more than in Yalta, Sochi, Swiss health-resorts or Bairam Ali in the south of Turkmenistan. Inflow of total solar radiation per year reaches enormous quantities comparable to total solar radiation at health resorts of the Caucasus, the Crimea and Switzerland.
For example, Katandinskaya Steppe, situated at the altitude of 900 m above sea-level, gets 112 kcal/square cm of total solar radiation per year; Tchuiskaya Steppe 142 kcal/square cm, while Caucasian health resort Abastumani (Southern Georgia) - 93 kcal/square cm; Sochi - 111 kcal/square cm, Yalta - 117 kcal/square cm, Davousse - 130 kcal/square cm. All these create exceptionally favorable conditions for organization and development of tourist and health-improving institutions, tourist hostels.
In general, one may say, that the severest natural climatic conditions are observed in the south-eastern regions of Altai (Ulagansky and Kosh-Agachsky Regions), whereas climate of the northern and north-eastern part of Altai (Tchoisky, Maiminsky and Turochaksky Regions) is milder.
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