Bioclimatic Conditions of June 2019 in Poland on a Multi-Year Background (1966–2019)

Arkadiusz Marek Tomczyk

doi:10.3390/atmos12091117

Arkadiusz Marek Tomczyk

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091117

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Journal: Atmosphere	Publication Date: Aug 31, 2021
Citations: 6	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Abstract

The study objective was to characterise human-biometeorological conditions in the summer season in the period 1966–2019 in Poland, with particular consideration of June 2019. The study was conducted based on data from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—National Research Institute (IMGW–PIB) for the years 1966–2019. The data provided the basis for the calculation of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The study revealed high spatial variability of human-biometeorological conditions in Poland, with strenuous character intensifying from the north to the south of the country. An increase in UTCI in the summer season was recorded in the studied multi-annual period. It was the most intensive in the north-eastern Poland. The consequence of the observed changes was an increase in the frequency of days with heat stress categories (days with UTCI > 26.0 °C), and a decrease in the frequency of days with cold stress categories (days with UTCI < 9.0 °C). Season 2019 stood out at the scale of the entire country in the context of the multi-annual period. This particularly concerns June, when mean monthly UTCI values were the highest in the analysed multi-annual period.

Highlights

The warming progressing over the last several decades has intensified in recent years [1,2]
An increase in Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) values occurred towards the south and east, and the highest values were determined in the upper course of the Oder River with a maximum in Raciborz (22.7 ◦ C)
The above data suggest that the human-biometeorological conditions caused no thermal stress, their strenuous character increased from the north to the south of the country

Summary

Introduction

The warming progressing over the last several decades has intensified in recent years [1,2]. Hoy et al [4], analysing thermal extremes in Europe; Tomczyk and Bednorz [5], analysing thermal conditions in Poland; as well as Zahradníček et al [6], investigating changes in air temperature in the Czech Republic in recent decades. The second hottest year in terms of mean air temperature, both at the global scale and in Europe, was 2019 [3]. That year was characterised by high air temperature values in June [7,8,9]. As evidenced by Sulikowska and Wypych [8], citing local meteorological services, record-breaking values of the maximum air temperature in June were recorded in many places, e.g., in Spain (43.4 ◦ C in Lleida), Germany (39.6 ◦ C in Bernburg/Saale), Poland (38.2 ◦ C in Radzyn), and the Czech Republic (38.9 ◦ C in Doksany). The highest monthly air temperature anomalies were determined in central Europe, where over a considerable area they exceeded 6.0 ◦ C, and in eastern Germany and western Poland even 8.0 ◦ C [8]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion