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SWAP land surface model, developed by the authors of this article, was used to carry out many-year calculations of snow cover characteristics for forest and field areas in the main regions of Asian Russia: West Siberia, East Siberia, and Far East for a historic period (1967−2019). The comparison of simulation results with the appropriate data of route snow surveys at meteorological stations in the Asian part of RF showed that SWAP adequately reproduces the dynamics of snow water equivalent, snow depth and density in open areas and under forest canopy at the chosen sites. For all sites located in snow survey areas, climatic values of the characteristics of snow cover formation regime were obtained for two types of the land surface (forest and field) and two climatic periods (1967−1992 and 1993−2019) and used to identify trends in changes in these characteristics in the historic period. It was shown that the direction of changes in the climatic values of snow cover characteristics in forest and field areas in West Siberia, East Siberia, and Far East is the same and corresponds to projections for the XXI century derived from climate models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of the snow cover in the Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve in the winters during 2014–2021 is analyzed based on the data of the network of monitoring stations. It is similar to the one in European Russia, although there is an increase in the inflow of substances with precipitation associated with the west-to-east transport due to the condensation in the Ural foothills. It has been found that there is a difference in the chemical composition of snow in the lowland and foothill parts of the reserve. The peculiarities of atmospheric circulation and the regions from which the air mass are transported largely determine the saturation of precipitation with various chemical components. The computation of the air mass back trajectories has made it possible to identify the regions where the air masses coming to the research area, containing the substances, and potentially forming the chemical composition of precipitation can be formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, the specific features of snow cover chemistry were studied in the period of its accumulation on Bolshevik Island (the area near the research station Cape Baranov Ice Base). In winter 2018/2019, the specific electric conductance, density, titrated acidity, pH, , , , , and Si were measured in fresh and compacted snow and, additionally, Na+, К+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, and were measured in compacted snow. Patterns of variations of fresh and compacted snow characteristics were identified, and the effect of marine and anthropogenic factors was discussed. Snow chemistry on Bolshevik Island was compared with the chemistry of precipitation and snow cover in other background areas of the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of studies of carbon dioxide flow in the territory of section No. 5 of the Eurasian Carbon Polygon (Russia, Republic of Bashkortostan). The gas analyzer Sniffer4D V2.0 (manufactured in Shenzhen, China) with an installed CO2 sensor, quadrocopter DJI MATRICE 300 RTK (manufactured in Shenzhen, China) were used as control devices. The studies were carried out on a clear autumn day in conditions of green vegetation and on a frosty November day with snow cover. Statistical characteristics of experimental data arrays are calculated. Studies of the influence of temperature, humidity of atmospheric air on the current value of CO2 have been carried out. Graphs of the distribution of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmospheric air of section No. 5 on autumn and winter days were obtained. It has been established that when building a model of CO2 in the air, the parameters of the process of deposition by green vegetation should be considered. It was found that in winter, an increase in air humidity contributes to a decrease in gas concentration. At an ambient temperature of 21 °C, an increase in humidity leads to an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for calculating various characteristics of snow cover formation, based on the use of the land surface model SWAP was tested on forest areas of the European Russia for a historical period (1967−2019). The comparison of simulation results with appropriate observation data showed the good quality of reproduction of snow formation processes at these objects. Changes of the climatic values of snow cover formation characteristics in the historical period were analyzed to reveal tendencies in these changes in forest areas in the region. Thus, it was found that, despite the decrease in the duration of snow cover, there is increase in snowpack, in particular, in the maximal snow water equivalent. The difference between the characteristics of snow cover formation in the field and forest areas of European Russia was assessed. The mean values of the snow accumulation coefficient over the forest area relative to the field was found to be greater than 1.0. At the same time, the climatic changes in the historical period lead to a decrease of this characteristic in time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for calculating various characteristics of snow cover formation, based on the use of the land surface model SWAP, was tested on field areas of the European Russia for a historical period (1967−2019). The comparison of simulation results with observation data showed the good quality of snow water equivalent reproduction at these objects. Variations of the climatic values of snow cover formation characteristics in the historical period were analyzed, revealing trends in changes of these characteristic in field areas in the period under consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is one of the most intensively developing regions of the country. Amongst the major domains of economic and industrial growth and improvement is transport infrastructure and particularly the railway network. This area is being exposed to negative factors of rapid climate change that can significantly affect and compromise this activity. Thus, it is vital to take them into account during design, construction, and operation of the railway infrastructure facilities. This work details the production of a digital atlas comprising the 1950–2021 dynamics of the main hydrometeorological parameters: air and soil temperature, precipitation, wind speed, air and soil humidity, and snow cover thickness. The maps are based on climatic data derived from the MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2) reanalysis. In total there are 459, which are arranged into 7 chapters. The atlas geographically covers the western part of the Russian Arctic encompassing the regions of quite intensive transport development, which includes the construction of the Northern Latitudinal Railway. Original algorithms of geospatial data processing and their further representation as well as the maps compiled in GIS environment are discussed. Comprehensive analysis of climatic changes in the region of the Russian Arctic including detailed quantitative evaluation over 40 years is given. In the Discussion, we focus on those changes of the regional climate which, from our point of view, are the most significant for consideration by railway operators. The obtained results contribute to framing the theoretical basis of design, development, and sustainable operation of the railway infrastructure in the Arctic and facilitate the decision-making process. This is the first experience of building a specialized climatic cartographic product for the needs of the Russian railways, and to our knowledge the first atlas such as that in the world. In the future, the amassed experience may be transferred to other regions of the Russian Federation as well as similar regions in Canada, Sweden and Highland China that are also subject to significant climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript presents the results of the study of snow covers' influence on the interferometric measurements of the stability of industrial infrastructure in the vicinity of Norilsk city, Russia. Fuel tanks of the Norilsk thermal power plant (TPP) were selected as an object of study due to a well-known accident when about 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled from one of the tanks. Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar data acquired over the territory of Norilsk TPP were used in the DInSAR study of the possible displacements of the tanks that could be the cause of the tank's damage. For twelve days, radar interferograms that were generated in the study covered the cold and warm seasons of 2018–2020, including the catastrophic event—the rupture of the tank with diesel fuel—in order to shed light on the possible impact of the area subsidence because of permafrost thaw under the tanks. As the tank walls and adjacent concrete base constituted the virtual dihedral corner reflector, the accumulation of snow on the surface near the tanks created a distorting effect on the results of monitoring the stability of the tank's location. Three models of snow layer within the dihedral proposed could help explain the deviations in the signal amplitude and phase in the case of snowfalls occurring between radar observations. We propose three ways to minimize the influence of snow on interferometric measurements. One of them, the selection of the radar data acquired in proper observation conditions, made it possible to assess the stability of the mutual location of the tanks. Among the most important processing and analysis results in the paper is a conclusion about the high stability of the fuel tank's location on the yearly time interval, including the troubleshooting tank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring snow cover to infer climate change impacts is now feasible using Earth observation data together with reanalysis products derived from Earth system models and data assimilation. Temporal stability becomes essential when these products are used to monitor snow cover changes over time. While the temporal stability of satellite products can be altered when multiple sensors are combined and due to the degradation and orbital drifts in each sensor, the stability of reanalysis datasets can be compromised when new observations are assimilated into the model. This study evaluates the stability of some of the longest satellite-based and reanalysis products (ERA5, 1950–2020, ERA5-Land, 1950–2020, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Data Record (NOAA CDR), 1966–2020) by using 527 ground stations as reference data (1950–2020). Stability is assessed with the time series of the annual bias in snow depth and snow cover duration of the products at the different stations. Reanalysis datasets face a trade-off between accuracy and stability when assimilating new data to improve their estimations. The assimilation of new observations in ERA5 improved its accuracy significantly during the recent years (2005–2020) but introduced three negative step discontinuities in 1977–1980, 1991–1992, and 2003–2004. By contrast, ERA5-Land is more stable because it does not assimilate snow observations directly, but this leads to worse accuracy despite having a finer spatial resolution. The NOAA CDR showed a positive artificial trend from around 1992 to 2015 during fall and winter that could be related to changes to the availability of satellite data. The magnitude of most of these artificial trends and/or discontinuities is larger than actual snow cover trends and the stability requirements of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). The use of these products in seasons and regions where artificial trends and discontinuities appear should be avoided. The study also updates snow trends (1955–2015) over local sites in the Northern Hemisphere (NH), corroborating the retreat of snow cover, driven mainly by an earlier melt and recently by a later snow onset. In warmer regions such as Europe, snow cover decrease is coincident with a decreasing snow depth due to less snowfall, while in drier regions such as Russia, earlier snowmelt occurs despite increased maximum seasonal snow depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The 2020 spring processes in European Russia developed according to the type "false spring." The absence or weak development of snow cover as well as its early melting in the last third of February determined the rapid warming of the soil profile. A certain complex of meteorological factors led to an abnormally early start of spawning migrations of the common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768)) and Pallas's spadefoot toad (Pelobates vespertinus (Pallas, 1771)) over a vast territory which included the northwestern, western, central, and southeastern parts of the species habitat in the region. Analysis of the snow cover dynamics and the temperature course according to the data of the network of meteorological stations made it possible to assess the phenology of these species of anuran amphibians within this region using the method of reconstructing the reproductive period events of spadefoot toads. The duration of the period between the start dates of false and true spawning migrations was more than 40 days in the western, center, and southeastern parts of European Russia. The abnormally early formation of the 2020 false spring phenomenon in the spawning migrations of spadefoot toads is currently registered as a precedent which may have a significant impact on the reproductive success of the species of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of Russia's large industrial cities are sources of hazardous contamination in the environment. Tyumen is one of the most rapidly developing cities in Siberia due to oil and gas extraction in the northern Tyumen Region. Concentrations of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)s deposited with the particulate matter (PM) of snow in the city of Tyumen were determined by liquid chromatography. In the background area, the rate of atmospheric particulate deposition was shown to be low, and the mean total content of 14 PAHs had a value of 6.2 ng L−1, which is lower than many unpolluted areas on Earth. In the city of Tyumen, the mean content of PM was five times higher and the mean total content of 14 PAHs was twenty times higher as compared to the background. The contents of chrysene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene were increased by multiples of 78, 77, and 32, respectively. The rates of ∑14 PAH deposition with airborne PM over the winter ranged from 1.1 to 65.5 μg m−2. Calculations of BaP toxic equivalent showed maximal toxicity within the transport zone. Both analysis of spatial distribution and diagnostic ratios showed that the PAHs were mainly from coal combustion and vehicle emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes the results of systematization of monitoring heterogeneous weather records (1961–2014) and interpretation of long-term observations of fluoride ion concentration in the snow cover of an area susceptible to emissions from an aluminum smelter in 2000–2014. The monitoring was carried out by the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring of Russia. The trends and correlation coefficients established in this study show that F concentration in the snow cover is affected by the following concurrent factors: distance from the emission source, amount of atmospheric precipitation, air temperature and duration of thaws during the period starting from formation of a stable snow cover to the date of sampling. These results emphasize the need to consider the weather factor in the future in the annual comparison of fluoride ion concentrations in the snow cover in order to increase the reliability of data on the changes in fluorine emissions from an aluminum smelter over many years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in air temperature leads to a significant transformation of the relief and landscapes of the Arctic. The rate of permafrost degradation, posing a profound change in the Arctic landscape, depends on air temperature, vegetation cover, type of soils, surface and ground waters. The existing international circumpolar programs dedicated to monitoring the temperature state of permafrost TSP (Thermal State Permafrost) and active layer thickness CALM (Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring) are not sufficient for a comprehensive characterization of geocryological conditions. Yet, no standardized protocol exists for permafrost monitoring and related processes. Here, we propose a novel multi-parameter monitoring protocol and implement it for two sites in the European part of the Russian Arctic: the Yary site along the coast of the Baydaratskaya Bay in the Kara Sea (68.9° N) within the continuous permafrost area and the Hanovey site in the Komi Republic (67.3° N) within the discontinuous permafrost area. The protocol includes drilling boreholes, determining the composition and properties (vegetation cover and soils), snow cover measurement, geophysical imaging, active layer estimation and continuous ground temperature measurements. Ground temperature measured in 2014–2020 revealed that amplitudes of surface temperature fluctuations had no significant differences between the Yary and Hanovey sites, while that the mean annual temperatures between the areas had a considerable difference of greater than 3.0 °C. The period of the presence of the active layer changed with the year (e.g., ranging between 135 and 174 days in the Yary site), showing longer when the air temperatures in summer and the preceding winter were higher. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) allowed determining the permafrost distribution and active layer thicknesses. Thermometry results were consistent with our geophysical data. Analyzing the composition and properties of frozen soils helped better interpret the data of geophysical and temperature measurements. By integrating the study of the soil properties, ground temperatures, and ERT, our work allowed us to fully characterize these sites, suggesting that it helps better understand the thermal state at any other research sites in the European north of Russia. Our suggested monitoring protocol enables calibrating and verifying the numerical and analytical models of the heat transfer through the earth's surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses the environmental pollution level in urban areas of the Russian Federation regions. Environmental monitoring data were used as data sources. For each Russian region the environmental pollution level was considered as the sum of pollution indices for the basic environmental media: air, surface water and soil. It allowed ranking regions and grouped them into categories (from extremely high polluted to extremely low ones). The air pollution monitoring network in cities and industrial centres does not cover all regions of the country, leading to undetermined air pollution level in 12 of 85 regions and thus to underestimated environmental pollution level there. The paper proposes to use the monitoring network data of the snow cover chemistry for the air pollution assessment in problematic regions and more accurate calculation of the environmental pollution level in them. Based on the air monitoring data for 2018 we revealed regions with high and extremely high levels of air pollution, their list was added after analyzing the snow cover chemistry data. As a result, the total assessment of environmental pollution was recalculated upward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of studying the contents of total (TOC) and dissolved (DOC) organic carbon in atmospheric precipitation and their deposition fluxes on the territory of the city of Barnaul. Samples of atmospheric precipitation (rain and snow) were collected from May 2016 to December 2020 in the city center, additionally at the end of winter 2018–2019 samples of snow cover were taken in the territory of the city and its environs. The studies showed a significant content of organic carbon (OC) in atmospheric precipitation: the weighted average concentrations for the study period were 7.2 ± 0.6 and 4.2 ± 0.4 mg/L for TOC and DOC, respectively. The annual flux of OC deposition with atmospheric precipitation on the territory of Barnaul over the past three years has varied within 2.4–3.9 t/km2 for TOC and 1.4–2.1 t/km2 for DOC. To visualize the spatial distribution of organic matter over the territory of Barnaul, simple kriging was used, implemented in the Geostatistical Analyst module (ArcGIS® Desktop). The flow of organic carbon input into the snow cover during the winter period was used as data for the geostatistical model. According to the model, the deposition of OC from the atmosphere occurs unevenly throughout the urban area and depends on the location and intensity of pollution sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of a study conducted in 2019 in which 29 rainfall water samples were collected and analyzed. The concentration of insoluble particles in rainwater was determined, and analysis of the material composition was performed by scanning electron microscopy. The content of Al, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, As, Sr, Cd, Mo, Ba, Be, V, and Pb was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on a quadrupole spectrometer Agilent7500a at the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of RAS. The highest concentrations of insoluble particles (6.5–12.2 mg/L) with the domination of the anthropogenic components in the rainwater were revealed in the samples of the summer-autumn period, while the lowest ones (1.1–3.9 mg/L), with a predominance of biogenic and mineral components were detected in the spring period. A group of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Ni) of anthropogenic origin was identified by calculating the enrichment factor (EF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the generalized results obtained from the analysis of oil pollution of surface waters in the fields of the Far North. The research considered the administrative territorial division of the Russian Federation, the territory of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra (KhMAO). The results of the study performed on the basis of field data on sampling for the year were presented. The influence of the hydrocarbon content in surface waters and snow cover was assessed. The aim of the work was to consider the snow cover as a natural source of pollutants, affecting the accumulation in surface waters and snow cover. The results obtained can be used for subsequent observations of snow cover and surface waters. The data obtained can serve as a basis for planning further research and developing the solutions for environmental protection in the Far North. The analysis of the dependencies between the indicators of hydrocarbon pollution in surface waters and snow cover was carried out using the methods of correlation and parametric multivariate regression analysis. The methods of geoinformation analysis and GIS technologies were also used in the work. It was revealed that the problem of the state of snow cover and its role as an indicator of atmospheric and soil pollution require further research. On the one hand, the snow cover detains metals, and polluted soil areas are formed locally, on the other hand, after the snow melts, the pollutants remaining on the surface with surface runoff enter rivers and are carried by the wind for quite long distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a 7-year capture-recapture analysis, we estimated effects of population density and weather conditions on the mortality rate in five neighbouring populations located in different habitats in Central Russia. Non-resident shrews had little chance of surviving to reproduction. The average lifespan of resident young shrews first seen in June, July and August was 4.7, 4.5 and 3.2 months, respectively, and the longest one was 15 months. In spring, the number of males that overwintered exceeded that of females; subsequently, the former diminished faster leading to a female-biased sex ratio in late summer. Young common shrews survived the winter usually close to their summer home ranges, although several > 100 m shifts were recorded. The number of newly discovered overwintering shrews positively correlated (r = 0.93, P < 0.008) with the expansion of home ranges after wintering. The pattern of the resident population had formed by the end of July; later, only a few new residents were detected, although the dispersal rate remained high. The major contribution of the shrews that overwintered locally to the genetic pattern explains the previously observed deficit of heterozygotes at three of the studied sites. Although the interannual dynamics of mortality varied among the habitats, overall mortality was high in the 2 years with the thinnest late-autumn snow cover. An association of the mortality rate with population abundance was found only in the most favourable habitat. The occasional high mortality and asynchronous survival give immigrants an opportunity from time to time enhance the genetic diversity of local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study considered the distribution of trace elements in snow cover taking into account the functional zoning of the territory of Berezniki-Solikamsk industrial hub, Perm Region, Russia. The concentrations of 22 trace elements were determined in the dissolved phase of snowmelt using ICP-MS method. On the basis of on the background approach, it was found that Ni, Se, Cu, and Sn are actively accumulated in the snow cover. Snowmelt surface runoff during snow melting period significantly contributes to the total watershed discharge of rivers; therefore, the compliance with the Russian fishery quality standards was assessed. It was found that meltwater is the source of Cu, Mn, Se, Zn, V in surface waters. Significant concentrations of Pb, Cd, W, As, Se in snow are characteristic of conditionally background sites in comparison with average values of global concentrations of dissolved trace elements in river waters, and Se, W, Pb, Ni, As, Cd are characteristic of all functional zones. This study presented the possible sources of priority pollutants. The greatest technogenic impact was observed in the area of transport infrastructure development. Upon that, recreational and residential functional zones also experience significant anthropogenic impact. In order to create a comfortable and healthy urban environment it is necessary to implement the measures to restore these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is warming rapidly, especially in winter, which is causing large-scale reductions in snow cover. Snow is one of the main controls on soil thermodynamics, and changes in its thickness and extent affect both permafrost thaw and soil biogeochemistry. Since soil respiration during the cold season potentially offsets carbon uptake during the growing season, it is essential to achieve a realistic simulation of the effect of snow cover on soil conditions to more accurately project the direction of arctic carbon–climate feedbacks under continued winter warming. The Lund–Potsdam–Jena General Ecosystem Simulator (LPJ-GUESS) dynamic vegetation model has used – up until now – a single layer snow scheme, which underestimated the insulation effect of snow, leading to a cold bias in soil temperature. To address this shortcoming, we developed and integrated a dynamic, multi-layer snow scheme in LPJ-GUESS. The new snow scheme performs well in simulating the insulation of snow at hundreds of locations across Russia compared to observations. We show that improving this single physical factor enhanced simulations of permafrost extent compared to an advanced permafrost product, where the overestimation of permafrost cover decreased from 10 % to 5 % using the new snow scheme. Besides soil thermodynamics, the new snow scheme resulted in a doubled winter respiration and an overall higher vegetation carbon content. This study highlights the importance of a correct representation of snow in ecosystem models to project biogeochemical processes that govern climate feedbacks. The new dynamic snow scheme is an essential improvement in the simulation of cold season processes, which reduces the uncertainty of model projections. These developments contribute to a more realistic simulation of arctic carbon–climate feedbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, an outbreak of anthrax killing thousands of reindeer and affecting dozens of humans occurred on the Yamal peninsula, Northwest Siberia, after 70 years of epidemiological situation without outbreaks. The trigger of the outbreak has been ascribed to the activation of spores due to permafrost thaw that was accelerated during the summer heat wave. The focus of our study is on the dynamics of local environmental factors in connection with the observed anthrax revival. We show that permafrost was thawing rapidly for already 6 years before the outbreak. During 2011–2016, relatively warm years were followed by cold years with a thick snow cover, preventing freezing of the soil. Furthermore, the spread of anthrax was likely intensified by an extremely dry summer of 2016. Concurrent with the long-term decreasing trend in the regional annual precipitation, the rainfall in July 2016 was less than 10% of its 30-year mean value. We conclude that epidemiological situation of anthrax in the previously contaminated Arctic regions requires monitoring of climatic factors such as warming and precipitation extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the issues of working out the suitable approaches for identifying zones with the presence of underground near-surface waters with increased concentrations of tritium discharged into a surface reservoir. The following methods were used as possible methods: determination of tritium content in snow cover, determination of tritium content in vegetation in the form of tritium of free water and organically bound tritium, determination of tritium content in river water and coastal vegetation. The studies were carried out at a previously identified site where groundwater with a tritium concentration of up to 6000 Bq/l is present, located in the vicinity of the city of Obninsk (Kaluga region, Russia). As a result of the conducted research, it was concluded that the analysis of the distribution of tritium in vegetation is an excellent methodological technique for identifying areas of location of near-surface underground waters contaminated with tritium. As a control parameter, both the concentration of tritium in the free water of plants and the content of organically bound tritium can be used. To detect underground tritium contamination the most promising use is the following indicator - the content of OBT in the shoots of woody plants. This parameter is very informative, and the sampling procedure for its determination has no seasonal restrictions, unlike such parameters as the content of tritium in grass and leaves, the content of tritium in snow cover, surface waters, which are preferably collected only in summer or winter. It should be noted that the control of surface waters of the groundwater discharge zone may not be a sufficiently informative indicator for identifying areas of polluted water inflow, since it depends on the ratio of the volumes of leaking polluted groundwater and the annual flow of the watercourse. • The following methods were used as possible methods: determination of tritium content in snow cover, determination of tritium content in vegetation in the form of tritium of free water and organically bound tritium, determination of tritium content in river water and coastal vegetation. • Analysis of the distribution of tritium in vegetation is an excellent methodological technique for identifying areas of location of near-surface underground waters contaminated with tritium. • As a control parameter, both the concentration of tritium in the free water of plants and the content of organically bound tritium can be used. The most promising use of the following indicator - the content of OBT in the shoots of woody plants. This parameter is very informative, and the sampling procedure for its determination has no seasonal restrictions. • It should be noted that the control of surface waters of the groundwater discharge zone may not be a sufficiently informative indicator for identifying areas of polluted water inflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of protective forests is especially difficult in arid regions of Russia, and global warming can further affect their ability to persist. In this study climatogenic changes in forest growing conditions are examined in the Northern Caspian region, taking into account that the functioning of forest stands is limited on historically treeless lands: authomorphic meliorated solonetz soils and calcisoles (by the extra moisture of winter snowfalls and the humidity levels during the vegetational period), as well as intrazonal hydromorphic gleyic kastanozems of the local relief depressions (by the inexhaustibility of freshwater lenses in salty subterranean waters based on its periodic resupply by the spring surface flow every 2–4 years). For forest stands established on automorphic soils, a prolonged period of annual draughts and mild winters with little snow deposit in forest lands has proven to be the most dangerous. During such periods, the large-scale death of trees is observed and many forest stands are ruined. For forest stands on hydromorphic soils, such periods prove to be just as dangerous because of the 15-year-long absence of spring surface flow. Such a climatogenic scenario of long-termed deterioration of forest growing conditions in the Northern Caspian region is similar to the southernmost regions of Russia that are currently totally unable to sustain forests, with unstable snow cover and frequent draughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The results in the article have both practical and scientific significance. The practical significance is due to the need to determine the parameters of the initial condition of natural landscapes in the impact zones (IZ) of the separated parts of launch vehicles, which will be used to identify changes in the process of their operation. Scientific significance is associated with the low knowledge of the studied landscapes, because of their inaccessibility. The main components of the landscape, which may be adversely affected by space rocket activity (surface water, snow cover, plants, and soils), were used as the objects of the study. Samples were taken in three stages: autumn, winter, and summer-autumn. During the autumn stage, water samples were taken; during the winter, snow samples; and during the summer-autumn, water, soil, and plant samples. Acidity (pH), chemical oxygen demand (COD), hydrocarbons, and ionic composition were determined in water and snow samples; pH, hydrocarbons and total organic carbon, elemental composition, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined in soil samples; elemental composition was determined in plant samples. During the autumn low-water season, the chemical properties of water in all rivers did not differ significantly, except for Junguele river, which had a lower acidity and more intense chemical oxygen demand, as well as a higher concentration of Mg2+ and K+ ions. In the winter stage, it was revealed that the snow cover of all planned IZ will turn into slightly acidic or neutral waters with a slight concentration of hydrocarbons, NO3−, Mg2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and Al3+, the distribution of which is uniform within the boundaries of each IZ. During the summer-autumn stage, despite the flood, no significant changes in the chemical composition of water in the studied rivers were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—Different populations of the Common shrew (Sorex araneus) were analyzed with regard to multiyear cycles of population fluctuations typical for the species. We presented data on long-term observations in Akademgorodok (Novosibirsk) and Rovenskoe village (Central Baraba). We also used published data on long-term observations from the European and East Siberian range of the shrew populations. This work attempts to develop a general idea on the cyclicity in multiyear population number dynamics of the Common shrew, invariant and variable in different geographical locations. The data series were analyzed using spectral analysis. The main cycles in this species are 10–15, five to seven, three to four, and two to three3 years, however the amplitude of the cycles varied by region. To maintain population cyclicity, synchronization with local rhythms similar in parameters is important: geomagnetic activity, depth of soil freezing, thickness of snow cover, and watering of the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Record-breaking extreme precipitation occurred in July and August 2022 in Pakistan, causing flooding and landslides. In this study, the characteristics and mechanisms of these extreme precipitation events are investigated. The consecutive extreme precipitation events emerged in July and mid to late August. Precipitation above 500 mm occurred in the northern and southern regions of Pakistan, and the maximum precipitation was concentrated in the same regions. The diagnosis indicated that the precipitation extremes were closely tied to anomalous late spring snow cover in the western Tibetan Plateau. In July, owing to the reduction of late spring snow cover, the strengthened diabatic heating promoted the South Asian High (SAH) and its pumping effect, which contributed to abundant water vapor and strong southeasterly jet along the southwest Tibetan Plateau. Cooperating with the cyclone over Arabian Sea, extreme precipitation with a return period of 50 years occurred in Pakistan. In August, the SAH was an anomalously strong and eastward extension at 200 hPa. In the middle troposphere, the blocking high-pressure over western Russia was extremely active, and the West Pacific Subtropical High shifted anomalously westward, extending to the Tibetan Plateau. Cyclone anomalies occurred over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. With the atmospheric circulation anomaly, the southeasterly jet shifted southward, and water vapor was transported from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal to south Pakistan, causing extreme precipitation with a return period of 30 years in August. • Late spring snow anomalies decreased over the western Tibetan Plateau contributes to Pakistan extreme precipitation in 2022. • The reduced snow intensifies the South Asian High and southeasterly jet which strengthen July Pakistan extreme precipitation. • The reduced snow promotes August Pakistan extreme precipitation by western Russia blocking and West Pacific Subtropical High. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed total organic carbon (TOC), petroleum products (PP), suspended materials (SM), volatile aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, o-xylene, etc.) and n-alkanes in the snow cover of Bol'shekhekhtsirsky, Zeysky state natural reserves and Khabarovsk, on 4, 5 and 9 stations in the south of the Russian Far East in March 2020. In Bol'shekhekhtsirsky reserve, the concentrations of TOC, PP, and SM in snow samples were in the range of 1.5-2.4, 0.06-0.11, and 11.4-1.9 mg/L, 1.4-1.9, 0.02-0.05, and 11-23 mg/L in Zeysky reserve, while in Khabarovsk were 1.7-23.7, 0.12-1.26, and 25-294 mg/L, respectively. In addition, the benzene, toluene, and o-xylene concentrations of snow samples ranges from not detected (ND) to 2.4, ND-3.1, and 1.1-2.7 µg/L in Khabarovsk, ND-1.3, ND-2.1, and ND-2.7 µg/L, respectively in Bol'shekhekhtsirsky reserve. Carbon preference index values of n-alkanes were consistent with anthropogenic sources for stations 7, 8 and 2 in Khabarovsk (Heat Power Plants 1, 2 and city roads). The snow of the Zeysky Reserve is not contaminated with organic pollutants, and can be used as a conditional background for the south of the Russian Far East., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Proportions of the overland, delayed, and groundwater runoff are given for different phases of the hydrological regimes of rivers under different landscape-climate conditions in Russia. The concept of runoff hydrological regime is in agreement with the formation features of the annual and seasonal runoff on small watersheds under current climate conditions. The increase in winter runoff is due to the impulse discharge regime of soil water and groundwater, which receive additional recharge during frequent thaws and at weak freezing of the aeration zone. Variations in the values of runoff, total precipitation, and mean temperature were shown to be both synchronous and periodic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is found that pollution of the territory from local sources of the zone of atmospheric influence spreads over several tens of kilometers along the prevailing wind direction, and in the central zone it is replaced by regional pollution. Snow pollution in the water area of Lake Baikal was recorded near coastal settlements and in the mouth of the Selenga river. It is established that the southern hollow of Baikal holds the lead in the input of NO, NO, NH, PO, F, Al, Na, Ba, Mo, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Sr, Hg and oil products to the lake's water area in spite of the fact that it is twice as small as the northern hollow. The northern hollow receives much larger amounts of SO, HCO, Cl, Ca, Mg and K than the northern hollow, and much larger amounts of Be, V, Cr and Co than the middle hollow, which is associated with the operation of coastal enterprises, boilers, thermoelectric plants, stove heating, automobile exhaust emissions, and with the natural transport of dust in snow-deficient areas of the middle hollow. It is determined that that last five years saw a slight increase in regional pollution for separate components. It is shown that in the late 1990s and in the early 2000s, pollution decreased twice, which was due to the setback in industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution by industry and motor vehicles, the use of coal ash for the construction of residential and nonresidential buildings, and the presence of dead zones in the residential sector are the main factors of carcinogenic risk to human health. Natural factors (such as topography and prevailing wind directions) can weaken or strengthen technogenic factors. Based on the estimate of pollutant concentrations in the snow cover of Barnaul, we reveal residential areas that are located at the crossroads of atmospheric transport of carcinogenic substances and characterized by concentrations considerably exceeding the maximum allowable concentration. These areas are characterized by the integral accumulation of carcinogenic substances concurrently from multiple sources; for almost any wind rose, the impact of one of the pollution sources is observed throughout the year. The assessment of the carcinogenic risk for a territory depends much on the correlation between local topography and the height of apartments above ground level. Using cancer register data for Barnaul, we reveal an increased level of the incidence of malignant neoplasms in people living in high-rise buildings located in areas with a sharp change in topography (such as ledges, hills, and lowlands). This may occur due to stagnant zones and wind shadows; under certain correlation between topography and the height and shape of buildings, carcinogenic substances accumulate maximally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerosol deposition rate is computed for some chemical elements from the resuits of studies on the elemental composition of atmospheric aerosol and snow cover in the background and anthropogenic areas in the Primorskii krai as well as for the radionuclide Cs and suspended matter from the data of atmospheric radioactive pollution monitoring. Taking into account the differences in sampling methods, the rather close values of deposition rate were obtained for chemical elements and radionuclide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability of a procedure, developed previously for evaluating runoff hydrographs of northern rivers, to the largest Russian river-the Lena-which flows under severe conditions of the Northeastern Siberia, is examined. The procedure is based on the land surface model SWAP in combination with input data derived from global databases of land surface parameters and meteorological forcing data derived from observations at meteorological stations located in the basins of the rivers or near them. Also studied was the ability of the model SWAP to reproduce the many-year dynamics of the values of snow water equivalent averaged over the Lena basin and their distribution over the basin area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presented are the results of observations included in the program on monitoring the chemical composition of snow cover on the territory of Russia. The observational network consists of about 570 observation stations (OSs), at each station snow samples are taken at the end of winter. The average (for the whole territory of the country) density of the network is about 30000 km per one station, and the spread of this parameter in the regions is from 5000 to 100000 km/OS. The snow samples were analyzed, computations were carried out, and the schematic maps were plotted of the average (for the area) values of pH and rate of fallout of nitrogen and sulfur in the regions in winter 2012/13. The analysis of the trends of these parameters in industrial and background regions is carried out using the observational data for 2000-2013. The type of the distribution of pH in the snow cover in Russia different regions indicates that in winter on the territory of the country large-scale processes of atmospheric precipitation acidification are absent. The analysis of the temporal variations of these parameters in the regions also indicates their relative stability in 2000-2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health risks due to exposure of heavy metals in the atmospheric air of Tomsk, Russia, were studied. The concentrations of 22 metals in the ambient air were calculated on the basis of the ICP–MS experimental determination of their contents in the insoluble fraction of snow cover. Non-carcinogenic hazards were estimated for the areas of power plant (“Zone PP”), brickworks location (“Zone BF”), zone influenced by concrete product plants (“Zone CP”), and petrochemical plant suburbs (“Zone PCP”). Manganese, Al, Cu, and Ba make the largest contribution to the integral non-cancer hazard caused by chronic inhalation intake in all areas. Zinc is added to the above listed elements in the “Zone PP” and V, Co, Cr, and Ni in the “Zone BF” are also added. Densely populated residential areas “Zone BF” and “Zone PP” were characterized by the higher levels of diseases risks associated with human inhalation intake of metals in comparison with other areas. The dust load should be primarily decreased in the zones subjected to harmful effects of brick factories and other construction materials. As to the power station, the portion of natural gas in consumption should increase from year to year for decreasing heavy metal emissions from burning of coal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Boreal wetlands cover approximately 30 % of the West Siberian Plain (WSP). The Great Vasyugan Mire, Northern Hemisphere's largest contiguous wetlands, occupies low-lying plains in the Ob and Irtysh's interfluve. Most research has investigated the peat generating processes and reserves in the WSP wetlands. Little information exists about temporal changes in the chemical composition of the wetland waters within the Ob-Irtysh interfluve. Although the region's climate is continental with extended cold winters and short hot summers, Western Siberia is experiencing rapid climatic changes. The consequences of these changes include permafrost loss, snow cover reduction, and river flow changes. In this study whether and how increasing surface air temperatures contributed to changes in the chemical composition of the atmospheric precipitation and water in the mire were investigated. Time-series analysis and multivariate statistics on the hydrochemical data collected between 1994 and 2013 at several sampling sites were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the possible correlations between the increasing surface air temperatures and various chemical constituents in the precipitation and the wetland water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The current (2005–2011) status of the chemical composition of snow cover and rain collected at a height of 1.5 m above ground was studied within 11 km around the Severonikel industrial complex, one of the largest SO2 and metal contamination sources in N Europe. In spite of a significant decrease in emissions during the past 20 years, Ni and Cu concentrations in snow remain extremely high near the source (2500 and 1500 times background values, respectively). Although showing a five- to six-fold decrease in Ni and Cu concentrations since 1994, rain water currently still has concentrations 150 and 80 times background, respectively. Differences in the chemical composition of snow pack and rain collected at a height of 1.5 m above ground in this case are not caused by seasonal effects, but rather by the height of precipitation sampling relative to the ground. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We examine some issues related to a classification of climates. A climatic regionalization has been carried out, and a brief characteristic given to the identified types of climate. It has been found that the relationship of the sums of mean daily ground air temperatures above 10 °C and the dryness index show a clearly pronounced zonal distribution. The combination of sums of mean daily air temperatures below −10 °C and the depth of snow in the northern part of the plain is characterized by a horizontal distribution, and only in the middle and southern parts of the plain do these indices acquire zonal regularities. An analysis is made of the long-term dynamics of air temperature to reveal that some climate warming during 1981-2010 was mainly caused by a rise in winter air temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming impacts on alpine treeline dynamics. However, we still lack robust assessments of the long-term impacts of climate on tree recruitment at the treeline, particularly in remote areas such as the subarctic regions of Russia subjected to different climate influences. We expected that the treelines in two regions may have different features and dynamics patterns. We analyzed climate variables and assessed treeline dynamics by quantifying recruitment using the tree rings of ca. 7000 trees of four species (Betula pubescens Ehrh. ssp. tortuosa, Pinus sylvestris L., Picea abies Ledeb. ssp. obovata, Larix gmelinii Rupr.) along 14 altitudinal transects (series of study plots). We compared the Khibiny Massif (Kola Peninsula) and the western Putorana Plateau, subjected to oceanic and continental influences, respectively. In both regions, summers became warmer, and winters became snowier during the past century. At the low part of the treeline ecotone, tree recruitment has slowly increased since the mid-18th century at the Putorana Plateau and the mid-19th century at the Khibiny but accelerated in the early 20th century at both regions and reached a maximum peak in the second half of the past century. Treeline encroachment intensified in the 1930s at the Khibiny and the 1950s at the Putorana Plateau. Trees encroached in the tundra leading to upward treeline shifts in the late 20th century. The slope exposure affected the rates of treeline shift with higher upward advances on southern-oriented slopes. Tree recruitment and early-winter precipitation were positively correlated. The differences in species composition, treeline altitude and influences of slope orientation on treeline dynamics can be explained primarily by differences in the degree of continentality. The abundance of saplings in both regions allows the future encroachment of trees into tundra and further treeline upward shifts to be forecast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent of snow cover over Eurasia during autumn has been shown to be influential in shaping atmospheric circulation over the Northern Hemisphere the following winter via the Arctic Oscillation (AO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Pacific/North American (PNA) teleconnections. Regions of Eurasian snow cover were derived from Principal Component Analysis and compared to winter temperatures across North America for 1967/1968-2007/2008, excluding 1969/1970 and 1971/1972. The score time series of each principal component was then compared to winter averages of the AO, NAO, and PNA indices in order to identify possible links in the snow-temperature relationship. Results showed that autumn snow cover from northern Scandinavia to the West Siberian Plain is most significantly associated with winter temperatures over the interior of North America. More (less) frequent snow cover over this region is related to lower (higher) winter temperatures over the interior of North America in January, extending to the eastern and southern United States in February. The greatest temperature response to anomalous snow cover occurred near the geographic centre of North America where winter temperature differences exceeded 5 °C. More (less) frequent autumn snow cover across the eastern Tibetan Plateau was associated with higher (lower) temperatures in the Great Basin and eastern Canada. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The summer climate in northern Eurasia is examined as a function of anomalous snow cover and processes associated with land-atmosphere coupling, based on a composite analysis using observational and reanalysis data. The analysis confirms that the snow-hydrological effect, which is enhanced soil moisture persisting later into the summer and contributing to cooling and precipitation recycling, is active in eastern Siberia and contributes to the formation of the subpolar jet through the thermal wind relationship in early snowmelt years. Strong anticyclonic differences (early − late snowmelt years) with a baroclinic structure form over eastern Siberia as a result of surface heating through the snow-hydrological effect in early snowmelt years. Surface heating contributes to the development of thermally generated stationary Rossby waves that propagate eastward to eastern Siberia. Rossby wave activity is maintained into early autumn, together with cyclonic differences over far eastern Siberia, in conjunction with the early appearance of snow cover in this region. The anticyclonic differences over eastern Siberia act like a blocking anticyclone, thereby strengthening upstream storm track activity. Furthermore, it is possible that surface anticyclonic differences over the Arctic contribute to year-to-year variability of summer Arctic sea ice concentration along the Siberian coast. The results suggest that variations in northern Eurasian snow cover and associated land-atmosphere coupling processes have important implications for the predictability of Eurasian subarctic summer climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction results of large-scale forest fire development are given for Siberia. To evaluate the fire risks, the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System (CFFWIS) and the Russian moisture indices (MI1 and MI2) were compared on the basis of the data of a network of meteorological stations as input weather parameters. Parameters of active fires were detected daily from the NOAA satellite data for the period of 1996-2008. To determine the length of the fire danger season, the snow cover fractions from Terra/MODIS data (2001-2008) were used. The features of fire development on territories with different types of flammable fuel are considered. The statistical analysis of the areas and number of fires typical of each vegetation class is made with the use of the GLC2000 vegetation map. A positive correlation (∼0.45, p < 0.05) between the cumulative area of local fires and the MI1 and Canadian BUI and DMC indices is revealed. The Canadian ISI and FWI indices describe best the diurnal dynamics of fire areas. The above correlations are higher (∼0.62, p < 0.05) when we select the fires larger than 2000-10000 ha in size for the forested areas. Other cases point to the lack of a linear relation between the fire area and the values of all indices, because the fire spread depends on many natural and anthropogenic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The results of ecological-geochemical studies of the snow cover of the Saint-Petersburg region and the Southern Urals are studied: the content and surface distribution in the snow cover of heavy metals which are among the most hazardous toxicants for people. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper aims to quantitatively estimate the role of snowmelt in the spring flood flow and the redistribution of river runoff for the northern (Arctic) part of the western Siberian Plain (the rivers Poluy, Nadym, Pur, and Taz). In this region, the presence of wetlands and thermokarst lakes significantly influences the seasonal redistribution of river discharge. First the study region is described, and the snow regime from in situ observations at the Tarko-Sale meteorological station is analyzed. As Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) estimates of snow depth for this region are lower than in situ observations, a correction of the SSM/I snow depth estimates is done using snow parameters measured on the snow transect near the meteorological station Tarko-Sale for 1991-96. This reestimated snow depth is then used to assess the volume of water stored every winter on the watersheds for 1989-2006. This snow product is compared with the spring flood streamflow estimated from in situ observations, and the regional relationship between the snow water storage and flood flow is constructed. The proportion of meltwater that does not reach the main rivers and is thus evaporated or stored by the wetlands is estimated to be on average 30%% (varying from 0%% to 74%%). We observe an increasing trend of this value from 20%%-30%% in the early 1990s to 50%%-60%% in the mid-2000s. This increase could be attributed to several factors such as increased air temperature (leading to increased evaporation, changes in vegetation cover, and active layer depth) and also to human activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative chemical analysis of snow cover were carried out in background territories of the southern, middle, and northern taiga of Komi Republic. The snow cover in the taiga zone of the northeastern European Russia (Komi Republic) shows low mineralization and acid pH. The acidity of melt water is caused by the predominance of strong mineral acids and deficiency of neutralizing compounds. A statistically reliable latitudinal differentiation was revealed in the distribution of macro- and microelements in the snow from the south to the north. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the surface energy balance of a polygonal tundra landscape in Siberia, Russia. It discusses the surface energy balance which is obtained from independent measurements of net radiation, heat fluxes and ground heat flux and added that its controlling factors for partitioning are snow cover, cloud cover and temperature gradient in the soil. It concludes that energy balance is the key to a more complete understanding of the couple permafrost-snow-atmosphere system.

The composition and structure of tree stands near the timberline have been studied on different slopes and at different elevations in the Tylaisko-Konzhakovsko-Serebryanskii Massif, the North Urals. It has been found that the upper limits of tree stands with different degrees of canopy closure have risen considerably (by about 100 m of elevation) since the mid-19th century, although the formation of these stands started as early as the late 18th century. Woodless areas in the eastern part of the massif started to be colonized by Larix sibirica in the late 18th to early 19th centuries; those in the western part, by Picea obovata in the mid-19th century; and in the southern part, by Betula tortuosa in the late 19th century. Analysis of meteorological data provides evidence for warming and increasing humidity of the climate since the late 19th century. Favorable climatic changes that facilitated the expansion of the forest have taken place both in the summer (prolongation of the growing period) and in winter seasons (increase of air temperature and precipitation). The observed differences in the composition and dynamics of tree stands between the studied areas of the mountain range are most probably explained by different requirements of tree species for the depth of snow cover and the degree of soil freezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]