2.7 Central Europe to Western Russia

Over the monitoring period, the harvest of summer crops was completed, and winter crops were in their early vegetative stages under generally favorable weather conditions in most parts of the MPZ. The region experienced above normal thermal conditions, with a 1.3°C increase in temperature compared to average, while rainfall increased 21.4% and radiation dropped by a significant 11.3%.

According to the rainfall profiles, favorable rainfall affected the MPZ’s northwestern part (almost 19% of the MPZ) from late-October and January, especially in Belarus (RAIN, +40%), Poland (+41%), and northwestern Ukraine. The maximum precipitation occurred in mid-December when it was 40% above average in the western part of Romania, as well as Zakarpats'ka, Ivano-frankivs'ka and Ternopil's'ka Oblasts in southwestern Ukraine. Unfavorable rainfall was recorded in southern Ukraine and eastern Romania with the largest deficit (about 20%) occurring in early-January. Temperature profiles show correlated variations in the whole MPZ except the east part (in Russia). Almost all areas of Central Europe to Western Russia enjoyed above average temperature from November to early-January, which benefits the development of winter crops. The coldest area occured in mid-December in the Russian oblast of Chelyabinskaya, with 7°C decrease of temperature below average.

Due to abundant rainfall and high temperatures during the monitoring period in most parts of central Europe and western Russia, the biomass production potential (BIOMSS) for the MPZ as a whole increased 10% over average. This results from BIOMSS increases in north Ukraine (+8% for the whole country), Poland (+17%), and Belarus (+12%). However, southern Ukraine presented a low biomass level, down more than 20% in some pixels. The maximum VCI (0.92) is the highest among all MPZs. According to the maximum VCI map of this monitoring period, most pixels were in excess of 1 in Poland, Belarus and eastern Ukraine, representing good crop condition. Uncropped arable land occurs mostly in eastern Ukraine and southwestern Russia, which is also characterized by clusters of unfavorable VHIn. CALF, however, increased by 4% over the reference period. 

In general, with most parts indicating above average crop conditions, prospects for crop production are promising in Central Europe to Western Russia. 

Figure 2.6a.  Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ spatial distribution of rainfall profiles (left) and profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm) (right), October 2017-January 2018

Figure 2.6b. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ spatial distribution of temperature profiles (left) and profiles of temperature departure from average (mm) (right), October 2017-January 2018

Figure 2.6c. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ maximum VCI, October 2017-January 2018

Figure 2.6d. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ cropped and uncropped arable land, October 2017-January 2018

Figure 2.6e. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ biomass accumulation potential departure, October 2017-January 2018

Figure 2.6f. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ VHI minimum, October 2017-January 2018