There is growing evidence of changes taking place in the weather circulation systems operating within the Caspian Sea region. Moreover, the Sea itself has a significant influence on local weather conditions through feedback loops [need to explain this more?]. It is also now accepted that climate change will produce warmer temperatures and both these factors are leading to increased precipitation. Indeed, significant increases in winter precipitation have been recorded at regional meteorological stations, particularly in the Volga catchment. More of this is likely to fall as rain rather than snow. This leads to quicker and faster runoff to river networks since the incoming water is neither held back on theland in its frozen state and released over a longer period as the spring thaw sets in nor is it able to percolate unsaturated soils.