2.7 Central Europe to Western Russia

This monitoring period covers the vegetative growth of winter wheat and summer crops in Central Europe and western Russia. In general, the agroclimatic indicators in this MPZ were below average, including 8.2% lower precipitation, 0.6°C lower average temperature, and 0.95% lower RADPAR, as compared to the 15YA.

According to the spatial distribution map of rainfall departure, the precipitation in most areas of the MPZ fluctuated around the mean during the monitoring period. The spatial and temporal distribution characteristics were as follows: (1) In early and mid-April, above-average precipitation occurred in northern Russia, northeastern Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Poland (62.2% of the MPZ). (2) In early and mid-May, early and mid-June, 78.4% of the MPZ received below-average precipitation, whereas eastern Russia received above-average rainfall.  (3) In early July, precipitation within the MPZ was below average; in mid-July, 79.2% of the MPZ received above-average precipitation (+120 mm). 

According to the average temperature departure map, temperatures in the MPZ varied significantly during this monitoring period, and the specific spatial and temporal characteristics were shown as follows: (1) In April, temperatures were above average in eastern Ukraine and southern Urals (42.7% of the MPZ). (2) In May, 79.3% of the MPZ had below-average temperatures, mainly in the eastern and central parts of the MPZ, and in early June, the temperatures were above average in the MPZ. (3) From early June to early July, 39.4% of the MPZ had above-average temperatures, mainly in the western part of the MPZ.

The results of CropWatch agronomic indicators show that most of the arable land in the MPZ was planted. The potential biomass in the MPZ was 4.4% lower than the average of the last 5 years. The potential cumulative biomass in northern Russia, northern Belarus, and a small part of Ukraine were more than 10% higher; the areas in which potential cumulative biomass was reduced by more than 10% were mainly located in southern Russia, eastern and southern Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and parts of Poland.

The average maximum VCI for the MPZ reached a value of 0.9 during the monitoring period, the regions below 0.8 were mainly in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Hungary. The VCIx in southeastern Ukraine was below 0.5, which was affected by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and crop condition was poor. The VHI minimum map shows that southern Russia, northern Ukraine, eastern Romania and Hungary were affected by drought.

Overall, due to precipitation deficits, crop conditions in Central Europe and south-eastern Russia were below average in this monitoring period.

Figure 2.6 Central Europe to Western Russia MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, April-July 2022

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles                                            b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles                            d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (℃)

e. Biomass accumulation potential departure

f. Cropped arable land

g. Maximum VCI

h. VHI minimum