15.05.2018
The world celebrates International Climate Day on May, 15
The climate is the basis for the vitality of the planet, an important natural resource that has a huge impact on the well-being of mankind. From the actions and efforts of each of us, the salvation of the whole Earth and the future of generations depend precisely now.
The climate has had and has a significant impact on human activities throughout the history of civilization. The science of climatology, which is one of the oldest sciences, originated on the basis of the practical demands of human society and has always contributed to its development.
The word "climate" comes from the Greek "klimatos", which literally translates as "slope". This term was first introduced 2200 years ago by the ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus. The scientist had in mind the inclination of the earth's surface to the sun's rays, whose difference from the equator to the pole was already considered the cause of the differences in the weather conditions of different latitudes. Currently, the climate is called the long-term regime of atmospheric (weather) conditions, typical for this place of the Earth due to its geographical location. But, if weather conditions undergo changes from year to year, then the climate is stable. It varies only slightly from one long period of time to another, and such changes have the character of oscillations.
One of the main characteristics used in describing the climate is a quantity called the climatic norm. The climatic norm is the calculated long-term average value of any meteorological element; for example, the average monthly (annual) amount of precipitation, calculated from materials for a long-term observation period or the average daily (monthly, annual) temperature, also for long-term observations. Also, this may be extreme (extreme) values of meteorological elements observed over a long period; average or deadlines for the onset of certain phenomena; the recurrence of certain atmospheric phenomena or the values of meteorological elements over a long period.
Generalized materials are placed in climate guides, the materials of which are extremely important for a correct assessment of climatic resources in various sectors of the economy.
From the history of the holiday:
The establishment of this ecological holiday was a response to the call of meteorologists to protect the climate as an important resource that affects the well-being of present and future generations.
Preservation of the climate is one of the global problems that face humanity today. Global warming, increased ozone in the atmospheric layer, natural disasters, changing weather conditions on the planet - all this leads to a deterioration of the Earth's climate and, as a result, has a negative impact on the food, life and property security of people, deplorable in the state of natural resources and balanced development of states.
Modern science can not answer the question of how quickly a catastrophic climate change will occur in the event of a further rise in temperature on Earth. However, according to ecologists and meteorologists, it is quite possible to delay these changes to mankind.
Among the main problems that lead to irreversible climate change on the planet is the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
For the first time this phenomenon was discussed at the world level in 1992 - at the so-called Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Representatives of more than 180 countries signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This agreement defined the general principles of state action aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that does not threaten the Earth's climate system with a global anthropogenic impact.
At the end of 1997, at the third UNFCCC conference in Kyoto, Japan, in addition to the Convention, the famous Kyoto Protocol was adopted, an international instrument requiring developed countries and countries with economies in transition to reduce or stabilize greenhouse gas emissions in 2008-2012 by compared with 1990.
Ten years later, in December 2007, another UN conference on climate change was held in Bali, Indonesia. Its participants - representatives of more than 190 states - signed an international agreement calling on world leaders to take the necessary measures so that the commercial and industrial sector could reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. Along with other developed countries, Belarus also makes a significant contribution to the implementation of such decisions.
Celebrating this day is necessary in order to spread among more people the seriousness of the problems of irreversible atmospheric processes. The main goal is to focus on finding solutions and taking the necessary measures to mitigate climate change from human interventions.
Climatic characteristics of the Republic of Belarus:
The territory of Belarus is located in the temperate zone. The climate in Belarus is formed under the influence of Atlantic air, gradually transforming into a continental one and is transitional from marine to continental or moderately continental.
The main climate-forming factor is the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. The air masses coming from the west bring cloudy and rainy weather in the summer, and in winter significant warmings and thaws. With the progress to the east, the influence of the ocean is gradually weakening and the continentality of the climate is intensifying.
The thermal regime in Belarus is characterized by a positive average annual air temperature, which gradually increases in the south and south-west direction. In the north-east of the Vitebsk region, it is +5.7°C, in the extreme south-west of the Brest region – exceeds +8°C.
On average, the temperature of the warmest summer month (July) in the republic is +18.4°С, the coldest winter (January) -4.5°С.
For the long-term observation period, the highest air temperature in Belarus was +34 +38°С. Annually in the country it is observed 2-4 days (in the south, up to 6 days), when the temperature rises to +30°C and above, and about 1 to 3 times in 10 years (in the southern half of the republic), the temperature is +35°C and higher.
The lowest temperature in the country is -34 -42°С. In the northeast, about 1 time in 25 years, it decreases to -40°C and lower, temperatures below -30°C in the northern half of the republic are observed almost every year.
Belarus refers to areas of sufficient moisture. The annual amount of precipitation depends on the terrain and is mainly 600-650 mm on the lowlands of the republic and 650-700 mm - on plains and hills. On average, the total amount of precipitation is close to normal, but in certain years on the territory of the country there are both arid phenomena and excessive moisture. The largest annual amounts of precipitation, recorded for the entire period of meteorological observations, are in the range 850-1000 mm. The minimum annual precipitation is 350-450 mm.
In the warm period of the year - from April to October - precipitation falls mainly in the form of rain and is 400-500 mm or 70% of the annual amount of precipitation. The total number of days with precipitation (0.1 mm and more) varies from 145 days in the southeast to 195 days on the western hills. The total duration of precipitation is 1000-1500 hours per year.
Winter precipitation, precipitating in a solid form, leads to the formation of a snow cover. The number of days with snow cover in Belarus varies from 75 in the extreme south-west to 125 in the north-east.
Relative air humidity in Belarus is high. At night it increases, in the daytime it decreases. In winter and late autumn, the humidity of the air, both at night and during the day, as a rule, exceeds 80%. In the spring-summer period, in the bright part of the day, it decreases, and at 15 hours is, in the main, 50-70%. When the relative humidity of the air drops to 30% and lower, it is said about the air drought. The average number of days with such humidity is small: from 5-10 in the north of the country and on the elevations to 15-20 days in the southeast. High humidity, especially in the cold season, causes frequent fog formation. The average number of days with fogs varies over the country from 35 to 100 per year, increasing with the altitude of the terrain above sea level. The total duration of fogs varies within very wide limits: an average of 200-800 hours with fogs per year.
The wind regime of Belarus is conditioned by the general circulation of the atmosphere. In winter, winds predominate south-west, in summer - north-west. The average annual wind speed in the country is about 4 m/s.
In a separate point, the wind is increasing every year to 10-15 m s, every 5 years - up to 15-20 m/s.
Cloudy weather prevails in Belarus. The number of cloudy days ranges from 175 in the northwest to 125 in the southeast; the number of clear days, in general, is 20-30 per year. The maximum of clear days in most areas of the country falls on March-April, in the southeast of Belarus - in July-September.
The duration of sunshine is 1750-1900 hours per year, increasing in the southeast direction. The minimum duration of sunshine is observed in the autumn-winter period, when up to 20 days in a month there are no sun, and on other days the duration of sunshine is an average of about 3 hours. In May and July without sun there are only 1-3 days, on individual days the duration of its radiance increases to 16 hours.
The preservation of the Earth's climate depends on every inhabitant of the planet. To make a contribution is not so difficult. For this you can, for example, use a car less often, use energy-saving lighting sources in your apartment, participate in planting trees and protect green spaces. It would seem, little things ... But these "trivia" multiplied by the population of the planet, acquire great importance.
