Record-breaking summer ends in Kunashir

The press service of the Kuril Nature Reserve reported the beginning of autumn in Kunashir. This year, the phenological summer lasted 144 days and became a record length in the entire history of observations.

For the first time in 37 years, the summer phenological season began in May and ended in mid-October. At the same time, scientists note that the end of summer in mid-October is not something unusual for the Southern Kuril Islands. Over the past 15 years, this has been the rule rather than the exception.

Phenological summer is divided into three subseasons. The first one is called Pervoletye. This year it lasted 43 days. The subseason begins with the transition of average daily temperatures through the threshold of +10°C. Gradually, average daily temperatures reach 12°C, and on warm sunny days, maximum temperatures can exceed 20°C. Precipitation increases and air humidity rises to 93%. The forest completely turns green, and purple flowers of Kamchatka thistle, white “daisies” of common cornflower, light panicles of Volzhanka dioecious and Kamchatka meadowsweet appear in the meadows, Sakhalin raspberries begin to bloom. During this period, you can meet the first numerous groups of gray herons, and cicadas begin to sing.

The second summer subseason is Full Summer. This is the warmest main period of summer. It begins with an increase in average daily temperatures to 15°C and can last up to two calendar months. This year, full summer arrived quite early, at the beginning of July. The usual date for the onset of this subseason is August 3-5. During this period, shrubs and vines bloom, and late-summer herbaceous plants bloom. By the end of the subseason, you can notice the first reddening leaves and berries of mixed rowan, yellowing leaves of stone birch, and a massive appearance of russula and other mushrooms. Small shrubs have ripening fruits. The first wave of shorebird migrations begins. Towards the end of the subseason, flocks of geese appear.

Full summer lasted 91 days in Kunashir with an average daily temperature of 18.6 °C, which is currently the highest average temperature for this subseason since 1987.

Third summer subseason - The decline of summer begins with the first long reverse transition of average daily temperatures through 15°C. Average air humidity drops to 84%, and wind gusts increase. At this time, in open areas of the forest, the variegation of branches and entire tree crowns becomes more and more noticeable. This year the summer recession lasted 10 days. The average daily air temperature in the last summer subseason of 2023 was 13.3°C.