Climatic and anthropogenic deflation change factors in the territory of Belarus and their regional features

Abstract

The present study deals with the analysis of the frequency and recurrence of extreme deflation phenomena in the territory of Belarus. The deflation intensity was estimated using meteorological data. 810 cases of dust storms and drifting snow were recorded in the country in the period of 1961–2022, of which 238 had low intensity, 213 – medium intensity and 359 – high intensity. The deflation phenomenon dynamics was analyzed: in the period of 1961–2000 the number of cases decreased gradually, but after 2000 there was an increase in dust storms. The growth of deflation repeatability corresponds to ongoing current climate changes. The spatial zoning of the country by deflation intensity was conducted based on the relief, the composition and structure of cover deposits, and the conditions of economic development of the area. The zones are presented as follows: with low deflation intensity (central Belarusian hills and ridges, northern and eastern regions of the country), medium (central regions of the country) and high (Belarusian Polesie, Grodno, Volkovysk and Slonim uplands with adjacent plains and lowlands).