Bioclimatic conditions of the winter months in Western Kazakhstan and their dynamics in relation to climate change

Int J Biometeorol. 2019 May;63(5):659-669. doi: 10.1007/s00484-018-1513-7. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

Abstract

The territory of West Kazakhstan is an intensively developing region. The main oil and gas fields are concentrated there. In addition, this region is well-known as a region of nomad cattle breeding. Both of industry and agriculture demand a lot of employees, working in the open air in wintertime. Severe winter conditions, primary very low temperatures, and strong winds characterize the region. In this work, we calculated and analyzed the spatial and temporal distributions of effective temperatures in the region and their dynamics due to the global warming in the last decades. To calculate the equivalent temperature (WCET) was used the method of OFCM 2003. Nowadays, it is known as a common method for similar studies. It was shown that in the observed region, WCET is significantly lower than the ambient temperature. Repeatability of WCET, corresponding to «increasing risk», «high risk» is high in the main part of the region. Global warming in the region results in returning extremely high temperatures of the air, decreasing repeatability of the average gradation of WCET approximately on 4%, but there is no any visible changing repeatability of extreme WCET. Obtained results can be used for planning any construction work in the open air and agriculture branches.

Keywords: Human thermal comfort; West Kazakhstan; Wind chill; Winter weather.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Climate Change / history*
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Kazakhstan
  • Seasons*
  • Temperature