Analysis of surface temperature changes in the foothill zone of South Russia on the example of Kislovodsk

Based on the series of surface air temperature (average, absolute maxima, absolute minima) for 1961-2018, obtained from instrumental data from the Kislovodsk station, an analysis of changes in seasonal and annual temperatures is carried out. We obtained averaged values in the base (1961-1990, normal) and modern (1991-2018) periods, the results of the t-test for determining the statistical equality/inequality of temperatures for two sub-periods, as well as characteristics of the distribution shape (asymmetry, kurtosis), the rate of temperature change with the criterion of statistical significance (F-test), the value of the Hurst exponent H for determining the stability of the series. Based on the results of statistical and fractal analysis, it can be concluded about a steady increase in temperatures (with the selection of summer averages, maximum and minimum) in the foothill zone of southern Russia (Kislovodsk).