Changes in Potential Evaporation in the Years 1952–2018 in North-Western Poland in Terms of the Impact of Climatic Changes on Hydrological and Hydrochemical Conditions

Monika Okoniewska,Danuta Szumińska

doi:10.3390/w12030877

Monika Okoniewska, Danuta Szumińska

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12030877

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Journal: Water	Publication Date: Mar 20, 2020
Citations: 16	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz

Abstract

The paper analyses changes in potential evaporation E0 (mm) in north-western Poland in the years 1952–2018. E0 (mm) has been calculated according to Ivanov’s formula based on the monthly values of air temperature (t, °C) and relative air humidity (f, %) for six weather stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. The data were collected using the Statistica software ver. 13 and the QGIS software ver. 3.80. The results indicate statistically significant trends in the increase of E0 during the period 1952–2018, and that it is particularly high during the spring and summer months, which should be associated with a statistically significant increase in air temperature and a decrease in relative humidity at all examined stations. The results also indicate an exceptionally high increase in evaporation since the end of the 20th century and in the 21st century, which reflects a potentially higher risk of permanent changes in hydrological conditions. The research results point to the major role of climatic factors in the often-dramatic decreases in water resources observed in the 21st century, particularly in lakes and small watercourses. The progressing reduction of water resources may cause permanent changes in physical and chemical conditions in waterbodies.

Highlights

Hydrological systems are highly sensitive to any changes in the natural environment, and in particular to changes in climatic conditions [1,2,3,4,5]
Considering the increase in air temperature recorded since the mid-20th century in many areas around the globe [6,7], the problem of the impact of climate changes on both the quantity and quality of water resources is becoming significant, both in terms of their ecological [8,9,10,11] and economic role [12,13]
Average annual relative air humidity in the years 1952–2018 amounted to approximately 81%; in summer, it dropped to 75–78%, while in winter, it rose to approximately 86% (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Hydrological systems are highly sensitive to any changes in the natural environment, and in particular to changes in climatic conditions [1,2,3,4,5]. Evaporation is one of the key elements affecting water circulation processes in catchment areas. Considering the increase in air temperature recorded since the mid-20th century in many areas around the globe [6,7], the problem of the impact of climate changes on both the quantity and quality of water resources is becoming significant, both in terms of their ecological [8,9,10,11] and economic role [12,13]. Climatic changes recorded at a global scale are visible in Poland, where since the 1950s there has been a statistically significant increase in the average annual air temperature; the rate of this warming has slightly exceeded 0.2 ◦ C per 10 years [14,15,16].

Results

Discussion

Conclusion