CURRENT CHANGE OF CLOUD COVER OVER THE RUSSIAN TERRITORY

I. M. Baikova, N. A. Efimova, and L. A. Strokina

Ground-based cloud observations at meteorological and actinometric stations are used to analyze changes in total and low cloudiness and to calculate the frequency of major cloud forms in all seasons over the territory of Russia for the period from 1936 to 1995. Total and lower cloud amount climatic norms calculated for 1936–1965 and 1936–1980 are compared. Changes in the cloud amount and frequency of major cloud forms are determined for different regions of Russia for the consecutive periods of 1936–1965, 1966–1980, and 1987–1995. Linear trends of the cloud data series for 1967–1995 are estimated.