The causes of climate change are complex and diverse. Both natural factors—such as variations in solar activity, atmospheric circulation, heat and moisture exchange between oceans and land surfaces, and volcanic eruptions—and anthropogenic influences, including the increase in greenhouse gases, industrial activity, deforestation, and urbanization, play significant roles in their formation.

This information was provided to AZERTAC by Hasan Nabiyev, a leading researcher at the Climate Department of the Institute of Geography under the Ministry of Science and Education, and a PhD in Geography.

He also gave information about the positioning of baric systems in the middle layer of the troposphere (at an altitude of 5–5.5 kilometers, corresponding to the 500 hPa level) during the summer season and their impact on weather conditions.

According to the researcher, in areas north of 60° latitude, cyclonic circulation is mainly observed during the summer period. At this time, a trough of a cyclone passing over Western Europe extends toward southern latitudes. At the same time, another cyclone forms over Western Siberia, covering a vast area.

Over Central and Eastern Europe, a ridge of high pressure associated with a subtropical anticyclone extends northward. This distribution of baric systems observed in the middle layer of the troposphere also affects atmospheric processes in the lower layers.

As a result, the influence of the Azores anticyclone strengthens in southern Europe and the North Caucasus, and sometimes its zone of influence expands as far as the territory of Azerbaijan. This process leads to the weakening of zonal circulation and the strengthening of meridional flows in the Caucasus region.

Hasan Nabiyev noted that such atmospheric conditions lead to the transformation of air masses, a decrease in relative and absolute humidity, and create favorable conditions for drought and high temperatures. In addition, the presence of weak-gradient baric fields causes air masses to heat up over the Earth’s surface for extended periods, further increasing temperatures.