The forest climate in Russia is quite diverse - from moderately cold in the north and east of the country to moderate warm in the south and west. The number of sunny days, humidity and the duration of the vegetative period of plants also vary significantly.
Northern taiga
It is from it that the forest zone in the north of Russia begins (except for the tundra with its mosses and stunted trees). In addition to its impressive area (it stretches from the western border of the country to the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the east), this area is famous for its dense, very gloomy coniferous thickets. The climate here is classified as moderately cold, but living conditions can be called extreme.
Most of the taiga forest is formed by a dense tier of the same type of coniferous trees. Their crowns hardly let in sunlight and heat. For this reason, shrubs and young pines are forced to fight in order to survive, and are localized mainly in glades and forest edges.
The most severe climate in the forest zone of the taiga is observed in Central Siberia. Then it passes from the plain to the mountainous, where the conditions are less extreme. The total width of impenetrable coniferous thickets sometimes reaches 2000 km. In winter, the air temperature often drops to -40 or even lower. Severe cold is accompanied by heavy snowfall, which provides a sufficient (and sometimes even excessive) level of humidity. In summer, the air barely warms up to +13, in some places - up to +19 degrees. Flora of the northern taiga is mainly represented by evergreen conifers (cedar, fir, pine). Closer to the south there is spruce, as well as broad-leaved trees (birch, aspen, alder).
These places are rich not only in wood, but also in valuable breeds of animals. Northern forests are inhabited by lynx, wolverine, squirrel, bear, sable and some other fur-bearing animals.
Southern taiga
As a rule, when answering the question about what climate is in the forest zone of Russia, many imply this part of it. Temperature and humidity change when moving not only from north to south, but also from east to west. The relatively warm air masses forming over the Atlantic Ocean penetrate deep into the European part of the country. In the east they are stopped by the Ural Mountains, beyond which the climate in the forest zone takes on pronounced temperate continental features.
In winter it is warmer here than in the north of the taiga, but still the average annual temperature is significantly lower than at similar latitudes, but to the west. The vegetation is mostly mixed, coniferous forests give way to broad-leaved, and sometimes meadows and even swamps.
Despite the high fertility of the soil of the southern taiga, agriculture here is not too developed. The main reasons for this are wetlands and a short vegetative period. The climate in the forest zone of Russia allows you to grow only frost-resistant crops. This circumstance, on the one hand, had a positive effect on the ecosystem (the absence of mass felling of trees). On the other hand, rash reclamation often becomes the cause of global changes, including climatic ones.
The fauna of the southern taiga is diverse. Here there are brown bear, elk, squirrel, hare and other "native Russian" animals. The real misfortune of these places is the abundance of insects (especially mosquitoes), which is associated with high humidity and a large number of swamps.
Mixed deciduous forests
To the south of the tundra, on the territory of the East European Plain, frost-resistant rocks give way to more heat-loving ones. Considering the question of what climate is in the forest zone, south of 50 degrees north latitude, we can definitely say that it is humid and warm. Due to a rather long and comfortable summer (the average July temperature is above 20 degrees), as well as a large amount of rainfall, deciduous forests are represented by oak and ash, maple and linden. In places, hazel and other types of shrubs are found. Of conifers, pine and spruce are common.
Due to the strong moistening, wetlands are often found, however, due to high summer temperatures and fairly intense evaporation, there are not so many of them as in the southern taiga. The animals inhabiting the area are not very different from the fauna of the neighboring zone. Basically it is an elk, bison, wild boar, marten, wolf. Of the rare representatives, an otter is worth noting. Broad-leaved forests are rich in birds: the Oriole, oak-growing tree, and woodpecker live here.
Far East
Here the taiga is also replaced by broad-leaved forests, but the weather, vegetation, and wildlife of this area are peculiar and amazing. Considering what climate prevails in the forest zone of the Far East, it is necessary to remember the influence of Arctic air masses on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Due to its proximity, the summer here is quite warm. The average temperature in July exceeds 25 degrees. However, winters are quite severe and long. Very sharp temperature changes are often observed. This has become one of the reasons for the formation of unique flora and fauna.
Many plant species are found exclusively within this region. We are talking about whole-leaf fir, Korean cedar, Ayan spruce, Mongolian oak, Amur linden and some other trees, shrubs and even herbs. The fauna is represented by both typical inhabitants of the northern latitudes (Amur tiger, sika deer) and more heat-loving. It is important to note that many species are on the verge of extinction, and therefore are listed in the Red Book.
Human influence on climate
Unfortunately, the massive felling of trees, the reclamation of wetlands and the extermination of animals cannot but leave traces in the ecosystem. If we consider what climate in the forest was several hundred years ago, and what it has become now, one can note an increase in average annual temperature in the eastern part of the taiga and a decrease in the western one. And although these changes are not yet catastrophic in nature, judging by the disappearance of some species of flora and fauna, in the future they can play a fatal role in the ecosystem of the region.
