Dynamics of Near-Surface Air Temperatures in the Lower Don Basin for the Period 1966–2020

Significant changes in dynamics of meteorological parameters are observed throughout Russian Federation and there is no exception for the he basin of the Lower Don—an important economic and transport hub of the South of Russia. One of the most crucial consequences of these changes is the modern low-flows period. This paper presents the results of the analysis of the dynamics of air temperature for the period 1966–2020. The research is based on long-term data obtained from of Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (RosHydroMet). A statistically significant increase in air temperature after 1998 was revealed. Using the model of stepwise changes, periods characterizing the observed changes were identified.