Author(s): Batima Punsalmaa; Batnasan Nyamsuren
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: One distinguishing characteristic of Mongolian rivers is that all of them are covered by thick ice layers of about 1.0–1.8 meter for five or six months a year during and small rivers are even frozen to the bottom. During the last 60 years the annual mean air temperature is increased by 1.56oC. Winter temperature is increased by 3.61oC and spring/autumn temperature by 1.4–1.5oC. However, the summer temperature has decreased by 0.3oC. Particularly, the temperature is increased rapidly in the months of March, May, September and November and summer cooling comes mostly in months of June and July. As a consequence of climate change there is clear changes in ice regime of the rivers in Mongolia. There are about 3–15 days shift in starting and finishing dates of ice phenomena. Accordingly the duration of ice cover on the river is shortened by 5–15 days. About 5–20 days shortening in ice breaking dates. It is also observed that the depth of ice cover on the river is reducing.
Year: 2002