Spatial–Temporal Analysis of the Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Aridity Index on the Territory of the Lake Baikal Basin

A spatial-temporal analysis of the Lake Baikal Basin reveals significant and contrasting climate trends between its Russian and Mongolian regions from 1975 to 2019. Annual air temperatures have risen most notably in the Mongolian part, particularly in mountainous areas like Khangai and Khentii, with the warm period contributing the bulk of this increase. Precipitation patterns show marked variability, with a 40% rise in cold-period precipitation in Mongolia compared to just 4% in Russia. Two distinct arid zones have emerged: one in southern Bulgan and eastern Arkhangai aimags (Mongolia), and another in central Buryatia (Russia). The study utilized data from 84 weather stations, processed via GIS tools like ArcMap and QGIS, alongside Python for statistical analysis, to construct detailed climate rasters. These findings underscore the basin's complex climatic dynamics, with implications for ecosystem stability and conservation efforts.

Bogdanov, E. A., Hadbaatar, S., & Bazha, S. N. (2024). Spatial–Temporal Analysis of the Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Aridity Index on the Territory of the Lake Baikal Basin. Arid Ecosystems, 14(4), 397–412. https://doi.org/10.1134/s2079096124700367