Genetyczna klasyfikacja klimatu według B.P. Alisowa

Abstract

The article is concerned with the main premises of climatic classification as presented in a series of works by Boris P. Alisov, whose contention is that the regional differences in climate should be traced back to the local astronomic and geographic conditions as well as to the atmospheric processes. Such a cause-and-effect, complex interpretation of the problem permits to grasp the true origins of the climate observed within a given area on the Earth. This makes the climatic classification introduced by Alisov highly valuable under the cognitive respect for purposes of geographic research. The basic criterion upon which Alisov has founded his climatic regionalization of the Earth, is planetary air circulation. The latter gives rise to three fundamental atmospheric processes, to-wit: [1] the formation of air masses in source areas;[2] horizontal shifting of (hot and cold) air masses and their transformation brought about by the influence of subsoil, [3] frontal activity. This criterion has permitted to isolate several basic and intermediate zones on the Earth, to delimitate them and to distinguish climatic districts and regions. The basic climatic zones are these areas where under the influence of the physical properties of the subsoil, the atmosphere, and of the balance of radiation, the main types of air mass are formed throughout the year (the equatorial zone, the tropical zone, the temperate-latitude zone, the arctic, and the antarctic zone). On the other hand, intermediate climatic zones are those areas where air masses coming from two adjoining basic zones are exchanged from one season to another (the subequatorial zone, the subtropical zone, the subarctic, and the subantarctic zones).The basis and the intermediate climatic zones are delimitated by atmospheric fronts which move and change their position according to season. Within the zones thus isolated Alisov distinguishes the fundamental types of climate according to the geographic position of the given area, the character of climatic processes dependent on latitude, and to planetary circulation of the air. This had enabled him to isolate in every zone (with the sole exception of the equatorial one) the continental and the oceanic climate (in most cases originating under the effect of subsoil surface), as well as the climate of the western and eastern coasts of the continents (originating in the first place as a result of atmospheric circulation). Moreover Alisov isolated a type of mountain climate where the climate-formating processes are influenced chiefly by altitude above sea level and slope exposition to rain-carrying winds and insolation conditions. The article goes on to present the main processes of climate formation and the characteristics of the different types of climate in the basic and intermediate zones.