CHANGES IN THE STAVROPOL TERRITORY ARIDITY OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS (1969-2018)

Abstract

This article discusses the dynamics of the Stavropol Territory aridity over the 50-year-old period, from 1969 to 2018. The regional features of climate change in the Stavropol Territory are presented by the main indices: air temperature and precipitation. Since the Stavropol Territory is one of the leading agricultural regions in Russia, special attention is paid in the article to a change in the climatic conditions of the growing season. The main limiting factor in the development of agricultural production in the region is moisture supply. The agro-climatic division into districts of the territory in the region was based on the method of G.Т. Selyaninov, which assumes zoning of the territory on the basis of the hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) developed by it, and also takes into account the sums of active temperatures and the conditions of the winter and summer periods. In 1968, the agro-climatic zoning of the Stavropol Territory was replaced by economic, and agro-climatic zones were replaced by agricultural (extremely dry, arid, unstable and sufficient moisture). The analysis of aridity was carried out on the basis of the HTC calculation for each agricultural zone and in the context of decades. As a result of the study for all zones, a significant increase in aridity of August and April was revealed, and in some zones, it was an increase in aridity of June. A high probability of atmospheric droughts occurrence with a duration of 1 month has been established; it varies from 84 to 100% depending on the zone. The probability of most harmful droughts lasting 4-5 months ranges from 2 to 16%, and such droughts occur in three agricultural zones. The article notes the need to conduct regular monitoring of climate changes on the territory actively used for the crops cultivation, in order to adapt the farming systems to them.