The snow cover characteristics of northern Eurasia and their relationship to climatic parameters

The research presented in this paper was based on snow depth data over the former Soviet Union territory for the period 1936–1995 and snow water equivalent data for the period 1966–1990. These data were averaged for the territories of different scales. The errors associated with such averaging were estimated. Positive trends in the snow amount were revealed. They coincide with positive trends in the winter precipitation and air temperature. A relationship between the distribution of observed snow depth anomalies and the spatial distribution of precipitation and air temperature was established. During the last 60 years, the role of low air temperatures in the formation of the snow cover formation has diminished, while that of high precipitation has increased. The relation of the snow cover in the former Soviet Union to the NAO and SOI indices and monsoon intensify was examined.