Climatic peculiarities of the lake

The climatic peculiarities of Baikal are conditioned firstly by the geographical breadth and the location of the lake on the Asian continent, where the climate is sharply continental. Rather high height of the lake above the level of ocean reduces the general air temperature and makes it more humid. The microclimate of the coast of Baikal is conditioned by the influence of the weight of the Lake Water, and also mountains, which are a barrier from penetration of air weights. Baikal softens the sharply continental climate and appreciably approaches it to sea climate. The weight of Baikal water is the huge accumulator (store) of heat. During summer the lake absorbs the heat, accumulates it in the depths, and then in the late autumn and winter gives it back, softening severe Siberian frosts. In winter, especially up to freezing, Baikal is warmer, than in regions located far from it, and is cooler in summer.

Duration of solar light

on Baikal is more, than in adjacent territories and even on resorts of the European part of Russia. On Baikal it is 1900-2200 hours a year, while on Caucasus 1994 hours a year. Average annual temperature of air in the southern part of the lake is 0,7С, in the middle-1,6С, in the northern-3,6С. In the Sandy bay on the western coast of Baikal average annual temperature of air is 0,4С. This is the warmest place in all Eastern Siberia. Warmer weather usually remains in gulfs and bays. Quite often, when there are rains on the territories adjourning to mountains which frame Baikal, at the coast of the lake warm sunny weather remains.

Temperature of Baikal

Baikal smoothes over daily fluctuations of temperature. In cold period warm influence of Baikal reaches 40-50 km from its water area. The monthly average temperature of December on the coasts of Baikal before freezing on 13 –15degrees higher than in the points which are far from it on hundreds of kilometers. Quite often on November there are days when in 60-100 km from the lake the temperature is rather low (-20°C and more), and at the same time on the coast of Baikal the temperature is no more than 8-10°C. In summer the temperature on the coast is lower on 7-10°C than on a distance from the lake. More often the difference in temperatures is about 5°C. Temperatures are different on the coast and on water surface: influence of water weight manifests in spring and summer when the air temperature above the water surface is on 3 – 5°C lower, and in autumn and winter is on 2 – 5°C higher than on the coast. Sun activity is high since the first days of June, but air weights are not warm enough. The highest day-time temperatures on the sun are fixed from the second half of July, and the warmest month on Baikal is August, when the temperatures are more stable than in July. For the same reason September is also much warmer and it is considered to be "the mellow season" because it is rather warm both in the afternoon and at night. At this time the water on the coast of the lake is still warm enough. Warmth remains up to the middle of October, thus days are often sunny and quiet.

Precipitation

The maximum quantity of atmospheric precipitation (1000-1500 mm per a year) falls to the eastern coast of the lake, first of all on the Khamar-Daban range. Precipitation of 1000-2000 mm per a year and more falls here. In summer storm rains are usual on the Khamar-Daban range, and in winter abundant snows give a cover up to 1,5, - 2 meters. It causes a plentiful growth of vegetation that is why the range is called sometimes the Siberian cold tropics. The minimum quantity (200-400 mm per a year) of precipitation falls on the western coast and the delta of Selenga.

Air

The air near Baikal is concentrated with oxygen. The climatic peculiarities of Baikal are favorable for rest in the warm half of a year since June till the end of September. In the first half of June people get sunbaths, but the water is too cold to swim. Time from the second half of June up to the middle of September is the best time to have a rest on the coast of the lake. October is rather favorable. At this time warm day- time and night temperatures are stable. In winter a favorable time is since January till February, except for 10-day period of winds in February. The high snow cover and a lot of warm, sunny days remain at this time. In spring a favorable time is since April till May. It is the time of traditional ice fishing on Baikal when sun activity is high and the days are warm.