A city in this region has recorded temperatures as low as -60 degrees Celsius.
According to forecasts from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the North is currently experiencing the coldest spell of this winter. The cause of this record cold spell is attributed to a very strong cold air mass centered in Siberia, Russia, with a high pressure core reaching up to 1080 mb.
So why is Siberia so cold?
Professor of meteorology Alex DeCaria from Millersville University in Pennsylvania (USA) stated that Siberia, Russia is so cold due to a combination of high latitude and its vast landmass. Extreme temperatures, both high and low, are often found in continental regions because land heats up and cools down faster than oceans.
Yakutsk, a city in Siberia, is one of the coldest places in the world.
In the case of Siberia, the snow and ice cover also play a significant role as they keep the region at low temperatures by reflecting solar radiation. This combination of factors has led to the formation of a semi-permanent high-pressure zone over Siberia during winter, known as the “Siberian High.”
“High-pressure conditions over continental areas at high latitudes are typically characterized by stable air, low humidity, and clear skies, resulting in very cold surface temperatures. This is because low humidity and clear skies allow longwave radiation (infrared and microwave) emitted by the Earth to escape easily to the top of the atmosphere and into space, leading to cold surface temperatures“, DeCaria explains.
When talking about Siberia, one cannot overlook Yakutsk – one of the coldest areas there and the coldest in the world. Temperatures here can sometimes drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius.
Lecturer Jouni Räisänen from the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) at the University of Helsinki in Finland noted that the topographical features have also contributed to the extreme cold in this region.
Yakutsk is situated in a valley, where the low-lying area is surrounded by higher terrain. This combination of topography with high pressure has created a phenomenon known as “cold air lake.” In this case, cold air gets trapped near the valley floor, which is then intensified by the relatively high elevation of the surrounding mountain ranges – making it even colder.
This biting cold has significantly impacted the lives of the locals. However, “I think people seem to take pride in where they live and the adaptations they have made to cope with the harsh nature,” remarked expert Cara Ocobock.
