Application of the COSMO-CLM mesoscale model to assess the effects of forest cover changes on regional weather conditions in the European part of Russia

Abstract

The influence of forest cover in the west of the European part of Russia (55°–59° N, 28°–37° E) on regional weather conditions is analyzed via the climatic version of the COSMO nonhydrostatic mesoscale model (COSMO-CLM). The simulations are performed with a model grid spacing of 13.2 km for the warm season of 2010. The analysis demonstrates that the changes in forest cover in the selected model domain may lead to substantial variations in spatial precipitation and surface temperature patterns. At the same time, precipitation changes are evident within the entire area of the East European Plain.