SNOW COVER AND ITS CURRENT CHANGES IN MOSCOW

摘要

Characteristics of snow cover in Moscow over the last 50 years are analyzed. Based on special analysis, dates of major events of snow cover formation and melting are determined and their statistical estimates are obtained. It is shown that during the last several decades Moscow experienced persistent cooling in the late fall, particularly in November. This, as well as precipitation increase, resulted in a general tendency toward earlier snowfall and snow cover formation. The snow cover melts away in spring earlier, too. Thus, nearly all dates connected with snow cover dynamics in the annual cycle shifted to earlier times, with a more distinct displacement of spring dates. Because of a unidirectional shift of the dates of first snow cover and last snow cover, the number of snow days, and the snow depth are not yet subject to significant time variations.