Spatio-temporal changes in atmospheric precipitation over south-western Poland between the periods 1891–1930 and 1981–2010

• Published in: Theoretical and applied climatology Vol. 135; no. 1-2; pp. 505 - 518
• Main Authors: Szymanowski, Mariusz, Wieczorek, Małgorzata, Namyślak, Marika, Kryza, Maciej, Migała, Krzysztof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01-01-2019; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric precipitations; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospheric Sciences; Circulation; Climate science; Climatology; Continentality; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Lowlands; Monthly precipitation; Original Paper; Orographic effects; Orography; Precipitation; Precipitation (Meteorology); Precipitation distribution; Preservation; Spring precipitation; Temporal variations; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Poland
• ISSN: 0177-798X; 1434-4483
• DOI: 10.1007/s00704-018-2376-x

In this paper, we quantify the changes in precipitation distribution in south-western Poland between the periods 1891–1930 and 1981–2010. The average monthly precipitation totals available for 368 and 245 stations, respectively, are spatially interpolated and processed to calculate maps of differences and pluvial continentality indices for both periods. The maps are analysed against changes in atmospheric circulation and take into account the potential role of the mountain barrier of the Sudetes. The main findings are (1) winter totals generally increased in conjunction with a higher frequency of zonal circulation; it is more pronounced in the upper parts of the Sudetes due to orographic effects; (2) a decreased frequency of zonal circulation together with an increased frequency of southern flows has likely led to the reduction of precipitation in spring and autumn. These changes have led to a significant modification of the region’s pluvial regime, mostly by decreasing continentality features (especially in the Sudetes and the western lowlands). In addition, the strong sheltering influence of the mountain barrier is observed, driving the preservation or even the enhancement of the continental pluvial characteristics in the north-eastern to eastern foregrounds of the Sudetes. This leads to the conclusion that in areas where long-term observed trends or future projections of precipitation are ambiguous, there may occur significant modifications in regional characteristics, especially as a result of changes in atmospheric circulation modified by local orography.