Climate of the Caucasus Region of the Last 60 Years: Precipitation and Temperature Trends and Anomalies

Seasonal, annual trends of average, minimum and maximum temperatures, total precipitation and maximum daily precipitation from 1961 to 2017 in various climatic zones of the region have been studied in the paper. The study period was divided into two intervals from 1961 to 1975 and from 1976 to 2017. Since 1976, in all climatic zones of the Caucasus region, negative trends in average annual temperatures changed direction to positive ones. The strongest growth was observed in the summer season in all climatic zones. Changes in the seasonal and annual rainfall patterns are not so obvious: both an increase and a decrease in the amount of precipitation and daily maximums were observed. The paper presents a numerical assessment of the rate of degradation of glaciers in Terskol (high-mountainous zone) against the background of an increase in the rate of growth of summer temperatures in recent decades. Analysis of regional anomalies of mean monthly temperatures in 2017 showed that the record high value of mean monthly temperatures in the Caucasus region was in 2010.