The effect of Arctic warming on Moscow climate continentality

Abstract

Abstract The annual cycle of incoming solar radiation is the major factor that determines the amplitude of the annual cycle of the surface air temperature over the continents in the Northern Hemisphere. There are, however, other important factors that contribute to the seasonal temperature difference. The combined effect of these factors is characterized by the Gorczinski’s continentality index (GCI). The gradual decrease of Moscow GCI during the second half of the 20th century could be attributed to the combined effect of the warming due to increasing atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and intensification of the zonal atmospheric circulation. However, these factors cannot explain the increase of Moscow GCI during the 1920-1950 period. Taking into account the Arctic temperature variations with pronounced multi-decadal variability helped us to fill this gap in the explanation of the historical changes in Moscow climate continentality.