Seasonal patterns of steppe landscapes functioning of the Karadag nature reserve

Abstract

Abstract The article is devoted to the study of steppe landscapes functioning of the Karadag nature reserve for the period of 6 years (2014-2019). The article uses a methodical approach to the assessment of intraday states of weather conditions to diagnose the nature of the steppe landscapes functioning. As results of the steppe landscapes functioning during the whole year the categories “development”, “destruction” both prerequisites and results of landscapes’ functioning, “accumulation” of prerequisites of landscapes development, and also mixed categories are distinguished. In general, the considered territory in the period from 2014 to 2019 is characterized by 85 variations of weather types. Considering of the steppe landscapes functioning in separate seasons, it is noted that, relatively alternating among them, in the winter period dominate the process of functioning prerequisites accumulation of steppe landscapes, and the process of prerequisites and results destruction of steppe landscapes functioning. The accumulation process is noted as the main result of steppe landscapes functioning in the spring season. It is dominant and fluctuates within 62.8 % and 96/8 % of the total number of functioning processes in steppe landscapes. The main result of functioning revealed in the summer season is development. It accounts for 63.2% (in 2014) to 99.9% (in 2015) of the diagnostic signs exhibited in steppe landscapes. In the autumn season the destruction process prevails, in a complex with parallel processes of various results of the steppe landscapes functioning.