TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY IN AIR TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN THE BASIN OF AZOV SEA OVER THE PERIOD 1966– 2015.

This paper analyzes the changes of trends in temperature and precipitation in the Azov sea basin. The nature of this territory has undergone major changes. It is an important agricultural and industrial area. The paper considers changes in temperature and precipitation at stations located mainly in the steppe zone. Maximum, minimum, mean air temperature and precipitation trends on a seasonal and annual time scale are evaluated from data recorded at twelve weather stations in the basin of Azov sea during the period 1966–2015. Since the 70s of the twentieth century, there has been a monotonous increase in air temperature. The warmest years not only for Russia, but also for the Northern hemisphere and the globe as a whole were 2007, 2002, 2005 and 2004. Analysis of maximum air temperature values showed that the warmest years in the basin were 2010, 2007, and 2015. The minimum temperatures were recorded in 1987, 1976, 1992-1993 years. Over the past 15-20 years there have been significant changes in climate features. Annual and season changes are analyzed. It is established a steady warming trend. An increase in annual temperatures by 0.4-2.8 °C, January - by 2.6-3.1 °C and July - by 0.7- 2.1 °C. The study of air temperature by season showed that winter become warmer by 1.1 - 5.8 °C. The precipitation trend is less noticeable. In the winter and autumn periods there is an increase in the amount of precipitation. In the spring the amount of precipitation increases for all the stations under. In summer precipitation changes complicatedly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]