DYNAMICS OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN DRY STEPPE CULTIVATED LANDS OF CENTRAL CISCAUCASIA ACCORDING TO WMO PERIODS (DATA OF MOZDOK METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY)

In the article, the peculiarities of relative humidity dynamics according to the data of Mozdok meteorological observatory for 1960-2014 are considered. The average multi-year norms for this index on 1961-1990 WMO basic period are determined and changes in studied index for 1991-2014 WMO post-basic period are detected as well. It is determined that at the same time with the negative trend of average indices the same trend is observed according to Cox-Stuart criterion for minimal values of relative humidity at the steady level of the highest values. Due to that fact, decrease in humidity, especially in minimal values, raises the risk of droughts and their negative influence on such agricultural crops as corn, sunflower and others, at the background of seasonal precipitation redistribution, when in summer a shortage and in autumn their increase take place.