Variability of frost depth in the Volga River basin and its impact onn runoff formation in winter and spring under climate change

摘要

The results of the analysis of spatiotemporal variability of frost depth in the Volga River basin are presented. It is demonstrated that in the geographic zones of the basin the mean frost depth decreased in wide limits: from 10-20 to 90-100 cm and more. It was revealed that the frost depth decrease in the Volga River basin leads to the average increase in winter runoff by 17% (the variation range is from 3 to 42%).