THERMAL REGIME OF THE UPPER LANDSCAPE BELTS IN THE NORTH OF THE PRIMORSKY RIDGE (PRIBAIKALYE) IN 2021-2022

Abstract

Monitoring of the thermal regime of the atmospheric surface layer in the conditions of the mountainous relief ofthe Baikal region has been a relevant issue for many years. In 2015, catastrophic fires occurred in the Western Pribaikalye. As a result, the native vegetation was strongly disturbed, its environment-forming and environment-protective functions changed or weakened significantly. In 2021, monitoring of the thermal regime of the upper landscape belts of the Primorsky Ridge was organized in order to study the restoration dynamics of the geosystems against the background of climatic changes. The observation period covered 2021-2022. Monitoring sites were organized in the podgoltsovyi (1280 m ASL) and mountain taiga (1040 m ASL) belts of the southeastern macroslope of the Primorsky Ridge. The thermal regime of the surface air layer was monitored using autonomous temperature recorders Thermochron iButton DS1925L-F5 installed at a height of 2 m. The temperature was recorded eight times a day synchronously with the measurements of meteorological network stations. There were obtained comparative data on the temperature dynamics of the podgoltsovyi and mountain taiga belts in the north of the Primorsky Ridge, including areas subjected to pyrogenic effects. The sums of positive and active temperatures, the duration of the vegetation and cold periods were determined; the annual variability and the seasonal daily dynamics of the atmospheric surface layer temperature were analyzed; the influence of the terrain height and the type of vegetation cover on the thermal regime of high-altitude belts was established. The study revealed the features of the thermal regime of pyrogenic impact areas in the mountain taiga belt, which are caused by a change in the reflectivity of the underlying surface due to destruction of the vegetation cover. Further studies will make it possible to identify the duration of the post-pyrogenic recovery of microclimatic parameters to background values for different topogeosystems in the northern part of the Primorsky Ridge. The obtained data, together with the materials of field physical-geographical studies, can be used as a scientific basis for planning economic activities (including environmental protection) in areas with special conditions of natural resource management.