Seasonal, Longitudinal, and Latitudinal Differences in the Amount of Precipitation in Russia during the Years of Maximum and Minimum of Solar Activity

Abstract

An analysis of a large array of observation data (over ~50–80 years) for 456 meteorological stations in Russia revealed a distinct difference in the monthly amount of precipitation (DP) during years of maximum and minimum solar activity depending on months and seasons of the year and on latitudes and longitudes. Particularly large DP values are observed in the latitude belt of U = 40°–55° N in the longitude range D = 20°–40° E in October, DP being 13.6 ± 2.2 mm, as well as in the longitude range D = 110°–130° E in June, DP being −8.5 ± 1.0 mm. In the zone of maximum influence of solar activity on the amount of precipitation, a study was conducted on the presence of a correlation between Wolf numbers and the amount of precipitation. As a result, a strong increase in the correlation was discovered in the case of a backward shift in the Wolf numbers, which argued in favor of the influence of solar activity on weather. The author is convinced of the physical significance of the correlation, because it is obtained from data from several geographical points. It is concluded that solar and geomagnetic activity can govern the development of internal instabilities of the atmosphere and thereby influence climate.