Voeykov axis (or Voeikov axis) is the axial portion (ridge) of a high atmospheric pressure band stretching across Eurasia roughly along the 50th parallel. It was named in honor of
Alexander Voeikov
Alexander Ivanovich Voeikov (Александр Иванович Воейков, 20 May 1842 – 9 February 1916) was a Russian meteorologist and climatologist who was involved in establishing meteorological stations across Russia. He took an inter ...
, a
climatologist
Climatology (from Greek , ''klima'', "place, zone"; and , ''-logia'') or climate science is the scientific study of Earth's climate, typically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of at least 30 years. This modern field of study ...
, who studied this phenomenon.Салахова Р.Х. Климатологические труды А.И. Воейкова: их значение и акутальность // Природа Симбирского Поволжья: Сборник научных трудов XIV межрегиональной научно-практической конференции «Естественнонаучные
исследования в Симбирском–Ульяновском крае». Вып. 13. – Ульяновск: Издательство «Корпорация технологий продвижения», 2012. - С. 10-15.
The formation if the Voeykov axis is due to the continental climate in the hinterland of Eurasia. In winter, the territory of
Mongolia
Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...
and
Siberia
Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a part of ...
experience strong cooling. This leads to the formation of stable high atmospheric pressure, known as the
Siberian anticyclone
The Siberian High (also Siberian Anticyclone; russian: Азиатский антициклон (''Aziatsky antitsiklon'')) is a massive collection of cold dry air that accumulates in the northeastern part of Eurasia from September until April. It ...
. The huge size of the continent, and also the relief of the earth's surface contributes to the ride formation. In Tuva, Mongolia and to the north are vast basins and valleys, surrounded by high mountain ranges. In winter, they cool air and stagnation occurs, that favors the growth of atmospheric pressure.
On the territory of Mongolia and southern Siberia the high-pressure region diverges in two spurs in two directions - to the north and west. To the north, extends the East Siberian anticyclone. It involves a clear, quiet and extreme freezing weather, which is set in the winter in the vast eastern Siberia. West departs Voeykov axis, which can be traced on the territory of
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
and in the south of the
East European Plain
The East European Plain (also called the Russian Plain, "Extending from eastern Poland through the entire European Russia to the Ural Mountaina, the ''East European Plain'' encompasses all of the Baltic states and Belarus, nearly all of Ukraine, a ...
. It extends approximately along the line
Kyzyl
Kyzyl (; Tuvan and russian: Кызыл; , ) is the capital city of the republic of Tuva, Russia. The name of the city means "red" or "crimson" in Tuvan (and in many other Turkic languages). Its population was
History
The city was founded in 1 ...
-
Uralsk
Uralsk (russian: Уральск) is the name of several rural localities in Russia:
*Uralsk, Republic of Bashkortostan, a '' selo'' in Uralsky Selsoviet of Uchalinsky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan
* Uralsk, Orenburg Oblast, a ''selo'' ...
-
Saratov
Saratov (, ; rus, Сара́тов, a=Ru-Saratov.ogg, p=sɐˈratəf) is the largest city and administrative center of Saratov Oblast, Russia, and a major port on the Volga River upstream (north) of Volgograd. Saratov had a population of 901,36 ...
-
Kharkiv
Kharkiv ( uk, wikt:Харків, Ха́рків, ), also known as Kharkov (russian: Харькoв, ), is the second-largest List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine.Chisinau. To the west of
Moldova
Moldova ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Republica Moldova), is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The List of states ...
, it continues, gradually weakening, down to the South of France, where there is already an action of another center of high pressure - Azores anticyclone.
During winter in Eurasia the Voeykov axis plays an important climate role as a major winds separator. In winter, the north of the axis is dominated by western and south-westerly winds. In the north of the East European Plain effect Voeykov axis emphasizes the
Icelandic Low
The Icelandic Low is a semi-permanent centre of low atmospheric pressure found between Iceland and southern Greenland and extending in the Northern Hemisphere winter into the Barents Sea. In the summer, it weakens and splits into two centres, one ...
. Their proximity enhances here westerly transport carrying wet and relatively warm air masses. To the south of the axis Voeykov blow northeasterly and easterly winds. They are cold and dry continental air of temperate latitudes of the Siberian High.
In summer, high pressure over the maximum Mongolia disappears. This Voeykov axis is stored in a weakened state, but loses its wind separating value. During this period it is no longer supported by the Siberian anticyclone, and the Azores anticyclone, from which the east moving anticyclones.