Snow cover decreases in Azerbaijani regions this year
By Nigar Orujova
A decrease in snow cover has been recorded in a number of Azerbaijani regions this year.
The snow cover in Dashkesan (397 km west of the capital Baku), Gadabay (444 km west of Baku) and Goygol (364 km west of Baku) regions of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains decreased compared to last year, according to preliminary information reported by chief hydrologist of the environment ministry's National Hydrometeorology Department Asif Verdiyev.
The mountain snow melting process starts in the end of March or early April in Azerbaijan.
Though it was snowing on certain days of the year, the snow cover in the Lesser Caucasus mountain range shortened in general, Verdiyev said.
According to Verdiyev, the snow bank mainly accumulated high in the mountains of the Dashkesan, Gadabay and Goygol regions and in the mountains of the Greater Caucasus and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
To study the snow bank, measuring works were carried out in 28 directions of the mountain zones, he said. Calculations are underway to study the height, density and the water equivalence of the snow cover, as well as other indicators.
According to Verdiyev, Georgian experts conduct the snow cover's observation in the basins of the Kura and Ganikh rivers.
The weather forecast for April, May and June will be added to the work on forecasting the water content in Azerbaijani rivers.
Last year was marked with enormously hot summer, and quite a mild fall. This winter was mild in the Azerbaijani territory, with no snow in Baku and in many regions.
On the contrary, the winter of 2012 saw more snow in Azerbaijan than the winter of 2011, producing a rich snow bank in the country.
However, most of the snow accumulated on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus, in Balaken (394 km west of Baku), Sheki (305 km west of Baku) and Gakh (345 km west of Baku) regions, while the Lesser Caucuses Mountains lacked snow in 2012.
The water equivalence of the snow cover was lower than in 2011 due to biting frosts, which evaporates the snow cover, and no major water floods linked to snow melting were reported last year.