Features of the climate of Ukraine determines its geographical location. The state is located on the East European Plain, washed by the Black and Azov Seas. The territory is affected by the air of the Atlantic and, to some extent, the Arctic Ocean. The climate of Ukraine is temperate continental. Weather in different regions of the country is determined by solar radiation, atmospheric circulation and topography. Let us dwell on this in more detail.
Solar radiation
The geographical position of Ukraine is middle latitudes with a moderate belt of illumination. Most solar radiation falls on the ground from May to September, therefore, the number of warm days increases in spring, summer and autumn. The amount of light reaching the earth is greater in the east, in the western regions there is a large cloud cover.
Air circulation
Different types of air masses affect the redistribution of heat and moisture, and therefore the climate of Ukraine. Air flows of both “local origin” and those from far away pass through the territory of the state. From the west, northwest air masses of the Atlantic Ocean appear, due to which it gets warmer in winter and cool in summer. Also, the air masses of the Atlantic contribute to humidification, to a greater extent in the west and north-west of the country.
Dry moderate continental air masses formed over the center of Eurasia come to Ukraine. Their influence is more felt in the south and east of the state. Cold weather in winter and hot in summer are recorded here.
Significant cooling in the winter, the late onset of spring determines the air masses of the Arctic. Abrupt warming is due to the air from the tropics.
Since air masses are different, the climate of Ukraine depends on changing cold and warm atmospheric fronts, cyclones, anticyclones. Cyclones form unstable weather with a lot of rainfall and strong gusts of wind. Thanks to anticyclones, the weather is dry, mild in winter and cold in summer.
Voyeykov axis
The climate of Ukraine in winter is affected by the zone of high atmospheric pressure, the so-called axis of O. Voeikov. In winter, the pressure in the region of Lugansk, Dnepropetrovsk, and the Baltic rises due to the ridges of the Azores and Siberian anticyclones. In summer, the axis is weakened, since only the Azores anticyclone forms it.
To the north of the axis are westerly winds that carry heat and moisture, to the south - dry winds of the east and south-east.
The atmospheric pressure zone was named after the climatologist who founded it.
Relief
The underlying surface absorbs and converts solar radiation, affecting the climate. Soils, plants, snow and water surfaces have different values of reflected and total radiation. Climatic conditions also depend on the remoteness of the area from the ocean.
Most of Ukraine is occupied by the plain, due to which the air flows do not meet obstacles on the way. As you move east, marine air masses transform into continental ones, which is why the climate of eastern and western Ukraine is different.
An obstacle to the circulating air are the Carpathians. The cold air masses of the Arctic do not penetrate the mountains, so the weather in Transcarpathia is slightly warmer than in other regions of the country.
Precipitation
Most precipitation in Ukraine falls in the mountains. Air flows rush faster, so more cloudiness forms above the peaks than on the plain.
The average annual rainfall is 600-800 millimeters. The Carpathians (1400-1600 mm per year) suffer most from rain and snow. The climate of eastern Ukraine and the coast is more arid. These regions are characterized by 150-350 millimeters of precipitation annually.
From April to September, it rains in the country, and in the cold season it snows.
The climate of western Ukraine is also distinguished by the fact that here in the summer there are temperature extremes, heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms, and in the fall - fogs. In Lviv and its environs, light rain often drizzles, which locals call mzhichka.
