Snow-Cover Dynamics as one of the Factors of Formation of Landscapes of the Moscow Region

The author analyzes the landscape-forming role of the snow cover by distinguishing four snow-cover periods in the winter season and investigating snow-accumulation conditions under various meteorological, relief and vegetation situations. The effect of the snow cover on ground frost, the wintering of plants and animals, the amount of surface runoff and soil erosion in the spring is analyzed for various combinations of conditions in each period.