Changes in Air Temperature and Snow Cover in Winter in Poland

Arkadiusz M Tomczyk,Katarzyna Szyga-Pluta,Ewa Bednorz

doi:10.3390/atmos12010068

Arkadiusz M Tomczyk, Katarzyna Szyga-Pluta + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12010068

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Journal: Atmosphere	Publication Date: Jan 5, 2021
Citations: 28	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Abstract

The primary objective of the paper was to characterize the climatic conditions in the winter season in Poland in the years 1966/67–2019/20. The study was based on daily values of minimum (Tmin) and maximum air temperature (Tmax), and daily values of snow cover depth. The study showed an increase in both Tmin and Tmax in winter. The most intensive changes were recorded in north-eastern and northern regions. The coldest winters were recorded in the first half of the analyzed multiannual period, exceptionally cold being winters 1969/70 and 1984/85. The warmest winters occurred in the second half of the analyzed period and among seasons with the highest mean Tmax, particularly winters 2019/20 and 1989/90 stood out. In the study period, a decrease in snow cover depth statistically significant in the majority of stations in Poland was determined, as well as its variability both within the winter season and multiannual.

Highlights

The currently observed climate warming raises no doubts, and the first decade of the21st century is recognized as the warmest in the history of instrumental measurements [1].It is estimated that human activity caused global warming approximately 1.0 ◦ C above the level from before the industrial age, with a probable range from 0.8 ◦ C to 1.2 ◦ C [2].Further increase in air temperature is forecasted for the following decades
For example the boreal winter season 2019/2020 was warmest in the history of measurements, with mean temperature higher by 1.4 ◦ C in comparison to the warmest winter so far in 2015/2016
The primary objective of the paper was to characterize the climatic conditions in the winter season in Poland in the years 1966/67–2019/20

Summary

Introduction

The currently observed climate warming raises no doubts, and the first decade of the21st century is recognized as the warmest in the history of instrumental measurements [1].It is estimated that human activity caused global warming approximately 1.0 ◦ C above the level from before the industrial age, with a probable range from 0.8 ◦ C to 1.2 ◦ C [2].Further increase in air temperature is forecasted for the following decades. The currently observed climate warming raises no doubts, and the first decade of the. 21st century is recognized as the warmest in the history of instrumental measurements [1]. Further increase in air temperature is forecasted for the following decades. According to the IPCC report [3] and other research, temperature will grow faster in winter than in the remaining seasons, in far future (2071–2100), according to scenario RCP8.5 by more than 1 ◦ C [4,5]. Warming more intense than the global average is observed in many terrestrial regions in different seasons, which is followed by extreme records in recent years. For example the boreal winter season 2019/2020 was warmest in the history of measurements, with mean temperature higher by 1.4 ◦ C in comparison to the warmest winter so far in 2015/2016

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Conclusion