Temperature in greenland in winter. Greenland area, climate, population, cities, flag. Air traffic and other transport

Greenland is located in the arctic climate zone, average temperature v summer months does not exceed 10 ° C (50 ° F). In the southern part of the country, temperatures, however, can reach 20 ° C (68 ° F) in June, July or August.

Low humidity

The air is generally very dry compared to other countries, and due to the low humidity, the colder temperatures are not felt as much as one might expect. On the other hand, dry air means you need to drink more water than usual. Low humidity also means you can see farther than you are used to. Mountains that seem pretty close tend to be farther away than you think, and this should be borne in mind when planning your hike.

Wind in Greenland

In general, Greenland is not very windy. Most of the time, the sea is absolutely calm here and tourists can enjoy the mirror-like surface of fjords and lakes. However, the wind can certainly pick up. These are mainly southeasterly winds, with gusts of over 50 m / s (111 mph). And, as a rule, this wind brings precipitation. However, strong winds are rarely a problem for guests who visit Greenland during the summer.

Cold factor

V winter time the wind can increase the effect of the cold. At minus 5 ° C (23 ° F), it feels a lot colder outside due to the 10 m / s wind. This is what is known as the cold factor. The right clothes are actually the key to success, because there is no such thing as bad weather in tourism, just the wrong clothes!

Precipitation in Greenland

Greenland is not completely rainless, but heavy rains are rare. Rainfall is slightly higher in the south. For example, Nanortalik receives about 900 mm of precipitation per year, while Upernavik in the north averages only 200 mm of precipitation per year. In fact, in northeastern Greenland, precipitation falls less than in the Sahara, which is why the concept of "Arctic desert" arose.

Snow amounts vary greatly from area to area, but it is not uncommon to see a large number of snow in many cities from December to March. Inquire in advance for the level of snow cover with your local travel agency if you plan on skiing or dog sledding. Best months for dog riding from February to April.

Temperature in Greenland

The temperature in Greenland largely depends on where you are and what time of year you visit the country. Average temperatures remain below + 10 ° C (50 ° F) in June, July and August in almost every city in Greenland.

Due to the low humidity in Greenland, in summer it seems to be warmer outside than you might expect. If the sun is shining, then it is quite possible to walk in shorts and shirts with short sleeves.

In winter, the average temperature reaches -20 ° C (-4 ° F).

Greenland averages

The table shows the average temperatures for most cities in Greenland. Since this is a 24-hour average temperature, the average daytime temperature will be slightly higher, while the average nighttime temperature will be slightly lower.

Greenland's glaciers and ice sheets are larger than Germany, France, Spain and Italy combined. If all of its ice melted, the sea level would rise by about 7 meters.

A new analysis of Greenland's temperature will help figure out how quickly the vast island ice sheet is melting. It was previously found to be shrinking since 1900, and annual ice loss has doubled since 2003.

Greenland settlement. LouieLea | Shutterstock

To determine how quickly the island ice is melting in the present and will melt in the future, data on surface air temperatures in the past and present are needed, according to researchers Jack Reeves Air and Hubin Deng of the University of Arizona (USA).

“It is imperative to understand the future of Greenland in the context of global climate change, as its condition significantly affects sea level,” said lead author Reeves Air.

Calculating the average annual surface temperature across Greenland is difficult. For most of the 20th century, the only weather stations were located along the coast. There was no inland network of meteorological stations in Greenland until 1995.

Other research teams used combinations of weather station data, remote sensing satellites, statistical analyzes, and climate models to calculate the annual temperature of the Earth's surface prior to 1901. However, there are significant discrepancies in these analyzes.

LouieLea | Shutterstock

Knowing Greenland's past temperatures is important for improving climate models as scientists test regional and global climate models to see how well they show what the climate was like in the past.

Previous analyzes have yielded conflicting results, with some reporting that the 1930s were warmer than they are now, while others suggesting the opposite.

To obtain a more accurate estimate of the temperature in the 20th century, scientists compared 16 different analyzes from 1901 to 2014 and used Additional information from meteorological stations and field expeditions. “This is the first time we've brought all of these datasets together,” Deng said.

To avoid bias in the results due to temperature differences at different altitudes, the scientists divided the temperature data into three categories: coastal areas, areas below and above 1500 meters.

The coastal areas of Greenland are ice-free all year round. At intermediate altitudes, the glaciers and ice sheet melt in summer and freeze again in winter; but due to the rise in temperature, they decrease annually. At an altitude of more than 1500 meters, the ice usually does not melt and can even gain mass. However, this small increase does not compensate for the loss of ice by more low heights... The new study removes previous discrepancies and provides the best estimates of Greenland's past temperatures.

“By examining the wide range of data available and combining the two best analyzes ( MERRA2 and GISTEMP), we have developed a combination that most accurately reflects the temperature distribution throughout Greenland from 1880 to 2016, Reeves Eyre emphasized. - Using this dataset - The best way to evaluate climate models and their forecast of temperature changes in Greenland ”.

While some previous analyzes suggest that the 1930s were warmer than they are now, new analysis shows that the current temperature is higher than in the 1930s. And in the long term, according to the authors, Greenland will see temperatures rise to unprecedented levels.

An article titled Evaluation of Greenland near surface air temperature datasets was published on July 5 in the open access journal The cryosphere... The study was supported by NASA, the US Department of Energy and UA Agnese Nelms Haury Program.

In the usual view, Greenland is a land of polar cold, where ice and snow lie all year round. This does correspond to the climate of the interior of Greenland, but due to its great length from south to north - the country extends more than 20 degrees latitude (more than 2,000 km) - its coastline is characterized by a wide variety of climates. In the southern part of the island, in many places in July and August, there is no frost at all and the temperature at times rises above 20 °, while in the northern part of the island, frosts usually prevail throughout the year, and the summer temperature is so low that in Denmark they would hardly call it "summer". However, along with these basic conditions, the climate is also influenced by numerous fjords, in places very deeply cut into the land and in some places bordered by rather high mountains... They often create specific, purely local climatic conditions, so that different areas, very close to one another, can differ greatly in climatic elements such as wind, temperature, fog, etc.

The position of Greenland on the globe is in the form of an isolated land, the northernmost part of which is entirely included in the Arctic region, while the southern tip reaches 60 ° N. sh., the fact that most of its surface lies at a considerable height (1500 - 3000 m), giving it some peculiar climatic features. Let us recall that everywhere on the globe, between the equator and the poles, there is an exchange of cold air masses coming from the poles and warm air masses coming from the equator. The mixing of these so different air masses is the reason for the instability of the weather in our latitudes, associated with areas of low pressure, or "cyclones". Geographical position Greenland and the significant height above sea level are the reason that the exchange of various air masses cannot take place over Greenland without hindrance, as it happens, for example, in Denmark. Greenland seems to be a massif 2-3 km high, which “diverts” cold air masses to the south along its eastern side. When cold air masses from the north go far enough south, then there they meet with warmer air masses coming from the south. It is for this reason that the weather is unstable in the areas adjacent to Greenland, as well as on the coast of the southern part of the country. A well-known phenomenon seen on northern weather maps Atlantic Ocean, is that at the southern tip of Greenland, the cyclones seem to diverge; some head west of Greenland and others east. Only a small number of long-term observations have been made in the interior of the country, but the observations that we have at our disposal show with complete certainty that cyclonic activity can also occur over the interior of the country, although not with such intensity as along the coast. In those cases when the cyclones are of sufficient height, their upper layers can pass over the mainland glacier, while the lower part of the cyclones up to 3 km in height is delayed at its limits.

The southern tip of Greenland is at the same latitude as Oslo, and this might suggest that the climate in South Greenland and southern Norway is basically the same. This, however, is not true, because Greenland, especially its east coast, is strongly influenced by arctic air masses, while Norway throughout its entire length is mainly under the influence of mild south-westerly winds, which is why the temperature there is 6- 8 ° higher than even those parts of Greenland where the climate is mildest.

Difference in climatic conditions in different regions

We talked about the fact that the dissection of the Greenland coast, with its many deep fjords, partly bordered by high mountains, causes a large difference climatic conditions from place to place. This can be found in the numerous descriptions of travelers, expedition reports, etc. The following can be said about the main features of these differences.

Fjords cutting deep into the land naturally provide effective protection from the winds that dominate open sea or over mountains; inside the fjords there is often no wind at all or there is only a weak wind, while in the open sea it reaches a significant force or even a storm is raging. The exception, of course, is when the wind is directed directly into or out of the fjord. However, the opposite picture can be observed, when a strong wind blows towards the outer part of the fjord or from the fjord, while the wind is relatively weak at sea; such winds can be caused by various reasons; it happens that a relatively weak stream of air will be compressed over a long distance in a narrow fjord and, as a result, will acquire significant force. Wind can also occur due to large differences in temperatures outside the fjord and in the inner part of the fjord (during the day or summer, the outside of the fjord can have cold air, but inside the fjord it can be warm, and vice versa during the night and winter). In this case, the wind changes can be quite regular; it can also be associated with other factors, such as fogging. These winds are at times so strong that they can make sailing difficult.

In summer, the temperature over the open sea differs very little from the temperature of the water. However, in clear weather, when the snow has already melted inside the fjord, protected from the winds, the sun warms the slopes of the fjords, which, in turn, warm the air, so that one can observe how moving into the fjord, that is, approaching the mainland glacier, it is getting warmer. However, in winter, the opposite phenomenon is observed: near the open coast, as long as the sea is free of ice, the temperature is relatively high, while the still air in the depths of the fjord is very cold.

Fohn wind and its influence on the climate

The foehn wind is very typical for Greenland. If the flow of air overcomes such a huge obstacle as Greenland, then this flow can either follow the contours of this obstacle, go up the slope on one side and go down, down the slope on the other side, or it can pass over the upper part of the plateau, forming at This is the so-called "dead corners" above the very surface of the slopes, where the air masses are stationary, and then down near the coast it is relatively calm. In the first case, the air therefore rises and then descends over both coasts, and this causes, respectively, a cooling or heating of 10 ° for each kilometer of ascent or descent. Cooling, however, turns out to be not so significant, for it causes the formation of precipitation, which reduces it to 5 ° per 1 km of altitude; heating, on the other hand, during the lowering of the air flow is not restrained by anything, and if the same mass first rises with the formation of precipitation and then falls, then it ultimately heats up by 5 ° for each kilometer of rise. A stream of air that is heated due to precipitation during lifting and subsequent lowering is called a hair dryer. It is clear that the shape of the surface of Greenland creates favorable conditions for its occurrence. It can occur when the wind either passes over a continental glacier or rises along the slopes of coastal mountains in one place, in order to then descend in another place.

A characteristic of the hair dryer is that it usually blows intermittently. Special meteorological conditions are required to force the air flow to rise over the land surface and descend, instead of passing at a considerable height. Hair dryers do not occur when air flows at a considerable height, they begin when air descends and passes over the surface.

The foehn wind is always very dry, and if it is cold in the place where the foehn blows, then it often causes a strong and sudden rise in temperature, which can reach 20 ° per day. The maximum temperature is often noted for a very short time and easily escapes direct measurement in the absence of recording devices, in particular the maximum thermometer. This circumstance is associated with the intermittent nature of the hair dryer mentioned above.

However, in winter, a very noticeable increase in temperature may not be caused by the foehn wind, but by the invasion of warm air from more southerly latitudes. Although this can also take place a transition from frost to thaw, not only in the south, but even in more northern parts countries, nevertheless, such cases differ from the hair dryer in that they are not accompanied by sudden short-term rises in temperature. In addition, such incursions of warm air are usually accompanied by rainfall or at least wet weather as opposed to dry weather caused by a hair dryer.

Since the warm air invading the country, naturally, must go beyond its borders, passing either over the entire island or along the coast, it can manifest itself in the form of a hair dryer in the place where it leaves the coast. In such cases, in winter, the temperature rises and rain falls where the wind blows towards land, and an even more noticeable increase in temperature with dry weather and a hair dryer, where the same air flow, having passed over the glacier, leaves the country again. Both of these phenomena are noted on weather maps, and in those cases when expeditions were simultaneously observing in the interior of Greenland, it seemed possible to directly "identify" the warm air stream washing the country on its way over the mainland glacier.

Two opposing climatic factors have been mentioned several times above: cold Arctic air, which moves south along the coast from the Arctic regions proper, and soft oceanic air, which flows from the south to the southern tip of Greenland and at times can travel quite far north. There is, however, also a third climatic factor of equally great importance, namely, radiation. This primarily means, of course, solar radiation, which at first glance, due to the low altitude of the sun above the horizon, may seem insignificant. Of great importance for the climate of Greenland is the radiation of heat from the earth to the world space.

In the northernmost parts of the island, especially in winter, when the sun does not appear above the horizon for a more or less long time, the radiation of the earth's heat prevails, which acts as a cooling. Therefore, the lowest temperatures are observed when there is no wind or when the wind is weak; an increase in wind causes an increase in temperature even in cases where there is no direct inflow of warmer air from the south. Since the winds usually weaken as you move northward, the cooling due to radiation is manifested more in the north, which, along with the long polar night, undoubtedly contributes to a strong decrease in temperature, starting from Upernavik and further north.

In the southern part of the country, the warming effect of solar radiation is increasing, which manifests itself here mainly in an increase in summer temperatures, especially in the inner parts of the fjords, in places protected from the wind; in summer, temperatures are sometimes noted here almost the same as in Denmark (20 ° or slightly higher). In this respect, undoubtedly, the fact that on many slopes on days with a low altitude of the sun above the horizon, its rays fall more vertically than on a horizontal surface can acquire an important significance. This is due to the relatively strong heating of individual places.

Climate in Greenland

The climate prevails here ...

Greenland: the land of eternal ice.

Greenland is a country of contrasts. In summer, the sun shines here 24 hours a day, and in winter, the northern lights flash across the horizon in an unexpected way. So when is it worth visiting the country eternal ice?

Climate in Greenland

The climate here is dominated by subarctic maritime and arctic. And for the region of the ice sheet, the continental arctic is characteristic. Quite often, the island is crossed by cyclones, which very dramatically change the climate in Greenland. This is how constant temperature changes occur, strong winds blow and precipitation falls. The ice here covers a colossal area that is more than 10 times the size of Great Britain. The weight of this ice forces the earth's crust to sink, forming a concave basin that reaches a depth of 360 m below sea level. Icebergs are constantly floating near the coast, which are constantly in motion.

Winter weather in Greenland

Greenland is considered the Kingdom of seals, walruses, whales. Tourists are attracted here by the Greenlandic settlements and villages, the unique Inuit culture, their history and way of life. The weather in Greenland in winter is famous for its arctic climate. The island is surrounded for the most part by cold ocean currents, due to the close location of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The island is often crossed by cyclones, which are accompanied by strong winds, precipitation and a sharp change in weather. So, in December, the average air temperature is -8 ° C. The average January temperature on the coast is from -7 ° C in the south to -36 ° C. The average temperature in February is -47 ° C (the absolute minimum is -70 ° C).

Weather in Greenland in spring

Many tourists believe that the most appropriate time to visit the country is the "white nights" period, which lasts from May to June. If you are a lover of winter fun, but wary of severe frosts, travel to Greenland in April. Despite the fact that the country is associated with the polar night and piercing cold, in spring the weather in Greenland will not only warm in spring, but also give a pleasant northern tan. Average air temperature -10 ° C.

Summer weather in Greenland

The maximum amount of precipitation occurs in the autumn-winter period. However, it can snow even in summer. The weather in Greenland in summer is unpredictable; summer fogs on the coast of the country are quite frequent. And even the wind, the speed of which reaches 60-70 m / s, is quite a frequent phenomenon in summer. If you think that cold weather and polar nights with no sun is not for you, then go to Greenland in mid-July to early September. During these months begins Golden time: the days are getting long, flowers and berries appear in the tundra.

Weather in Greenland in autumn.

The climate in Greenland is rather dry, and therefore the weather in Greenland in autumn is perceived completely differently than in our country. For example, if at -10 ° C you feel a slight coolness, then + 10-15 ° C is comparable to the Russian + 20-25 ° C. July - from + 10 ° C in the south to +3 ° C in the north-west. By the way, it is quite interesting here in the fall. If you want to stay in Greenland until October, you can see the Northern Lights.

Covered with an ice sheet, continental is forming. Greenland's climate is harsh. Here, negative throughout the year: in summer - from - 10 to -15 ° С; in winter - from -45 to -50 ° С. The temperature dropped to -65 ° C. Greenland has the lowest annual average for the Northern Hemisphere -32.2 ° С. On the southern and eastern coasts of the island, where they often pass, the annual rate is 800 - 1000 mm, but in the north it decreases to 100 mm. The islands blow frequently throughout the coastal strip. Frequent, especially in winter.

It snows quite often in the eastern regions (up to 103 days a year in the Angmagssalik region); in the west - almost half as often (55 days at Sisimiut). The further north you go, the more frequent, light snowfalls become. Summer is frequent in the western coastal regions (113–128 per year in Qeqertarsuaq and Ilulissat).

Washed by the warm West Greenland current, southwestern Greenland has the warmest and mildest climate. The average January temperature is from minus 1 to minus 4 °, the average July temperature in Ivigtut is about 11 °. But in general, here the summer is cold and damp, and the winters are windy and snowy. Only in the extreme south in the summer months, in places protected from the wind, or on the southern slopes, the temperature can rise to + 20 °. More severe climate east coast, near which ice moves all year round, brought from the Central Arctic by the cold East Greenland current. The most inhospitable and dismal nature of the northern coast, constantly blocked by ice. On a long polar night there are frosts down to –52 °. Only 2–3 months a year, thanks to continuous sunshine, low positive temperatures are kept.

There is little rainfall (less than 200 mm), so the ice sheet in the north recedes far from the coast

According to the climatic differences in different parts of the island and the vegetation cover of Greenland is not the same. In general, it is believed to be relatively scarce, but more than 1000 plant species have been discovered, including about 450 higher ones. The flora of Greenland is richer than any other region in the Arctic. Vegetation is concentrated only in the zone free from eternal ice - in the fjords, on sea ​​coast and on the heights. Most varied vegetable world southern and southwestern Greenland, which has a milder, subarctic climate (average July temperature + 10 °).

There, in the most sunny and sheltered from the wind valleys, several birch copses have been preserved. The trunks of trees reach a height of 4–7 m; often they are curved, and sometimes they stretch parallel to the ground. Here you can also find American mountain ash, willow, juniper - all of them more resemble shrubs than trees. The valley with the best birch "forest" (Kingwa, near Tassermiut) has been declared a nature reserve.