Final answer:
The statement is true; moving north in Russia leads to more intense climates due to exposure to cold arctic air masses, continental landmass effects, and geographical features like mountain ranges that block warmer air. This results in Type D (continental) climates in the south transitioning to Type E (polar) climates in the north.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the climate becomes more intense as one moves north in Russia is true. This is because northern Russia borders the Arctic Ocean, and it is exposed to cold air masses from the Arctic. The country's vast expanse exhibits various physical environments, with Type D (continental) climates dominating the southern part, characterized by hot summers and harsh winters, and Type E (polar) climates found in the north along the Arctic Sea, where the physical landscape is mainly tundra.
Land that is far from the moderating effects of the ocean tends to have more extreme temperature variations, and this is evident in Russia's large continental landmass. Factors such as mountain ranges can also affect the climate, blocking warm air masses and resulting in colder regions. In the case of Russia, mountain ranges to the south block summer rains and warm air, contributing to the development of steppes and deserts in southern Russia.
Additionally, as one travels north in Russia, one would encounter a gradual transition from the taiga, a biome of coniferous forests, to the tundra, where the ground is semifrozen and no trees grow. It is important to note that latitude plays a significant role in Russia's climate, with northerly regions experiencing shorter growing seasons and hence a dependency on imported.