Average Monthly Air Temperature Research Articles

Changes in precipitation and air temperature over Turkey using innovative trend pivot analysis method

Changes in precipitation and air temperature over Turkey using innovative trend pivot analysis method

A century-long tendency of change in surface air temperature on the territory of Ukraine

A century-long tendency of change in surface air temperature on the territory of Ukraine

Morphological, cytological, physiological, and molecular evidence to explain how underground fleshy roots expand in herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.)

The fleshy roots of herbaceous peonies serve as vital storage organs and are the primary source material for Chinese herbal medicine. Moreover, in certain cultivars, these roots can be propagated by root cuttings. However, the specific mechanisms governing the expansion and development of fleshy roots in herbaceous peonies currently remain unclear. To elucidate patterns of changes during the enlargement and development of herbaceous peony fleshy roots, this study assessed fleshy roots in six growth and development periods (P1–P6). By integrating environmental monitoring data, morphological, cytological, physiological and biochemical, as well as molecular characteristics across these developmental periods were compared. Both precipitation and temperature influenced the development of fleshy roots. The fastest enlargement of fleshy roots occurred under the following growth conditions: daily average precipitation = 5.6 mm; monthly average air temperature = 25.6°C; monthly average soil temperature = 26.3°C. Phloem and xylem, produced by the activity of vascular cambium, are important components of fleshy roots. Secondary xylem thickness consistently increased across the six developmental periods, resulting in the radial expansion of fleshy roots. When average monthly air and soil temperatures were about 26°C, starch accumulated gradually in fleshy roots, and carbohydrates were mostly starch-based. However, when the average monthly air and soil temperatures decreased to about 11.0°C, soluble sugar content increased. Endogenous hormones such as IAA, ZR, GA3, MeJA, and ABA played regulatory roles throughout the development of fleshy roots, and their levels and dynamic equilibrium were correlated with expansion rate. Elevated IAA and ZR content, and stabilized IAA/ABA and MeJA/ABA ratios, favored fleshy root expansion. Trends in the expression of three genes that play key roles in the expansion of fleshy roots (PlEXLB3, PlAUX1 and PlWRKY13) were consistent with morphological and physiological data, but PlHXK1 and PlIPT3 also play important roles. These findings lay a foundation for studying, in greater depth, the regulatory mechanisms governing the enlargement of herbaceous peony fleshy roots, and offer practical advice pertaining to field cultivation and management practices of this ornamental plant.

The Prevalence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Wild Rodents Captured in Tick-Borne Encephalitis Foci in Highly Endemic Lithuania.

Wild rodents are considered to be one of the most important TBEV-amplifying reservoir hosts; therefore, they may be suitable for foci detection studies. To investigate the effectiveness of viral RNA detection in wild rodents for suspected TBEV foci confirmation, we trapped small rodents (n = 139) in various locations in Lithuania where TBEV was previously detected in questing ticks. Murine neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells were inoculated with each rodent sample to maximize the chances of detecting viral RNA in rodent samples. TBEV RNA was detected in 74.8% (CI 95% 66.7-81.1) of the brain and/or internal organ mix suspensions, and the prevalence rate increased significantly following sample cultivation in Neuro-2a cells. Moreover, a strong correlation (r = 0.88; p < 0.05) was found between the average monthly air temperature of rodent trapping and the TBEV RNA prevalence rate in cell culture isolates of rodent suspensions, which were PCR-negative before cultivation in cell culture. This study shows that wild rodents are suitable sentinel animals to confirm TBEV foci. In addition, the study results demonstrate that sample cultivation in cell culture is a highly efficient method for increasing TBEV viral load to detectable quantities.

ГИДРОМЕТЕОРОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ФАКТОРЫ И ИХ ВЛИЯНИЕ НА СОДЕРЖАНИЕ ХЛОРОФИЛЛА-α В АЗОВСКОМ МОРЕ В 2006–2022 ГГ.

Background. Chlorophyll-α concentration is a key environmental parameter used to calculate the primary production of a water body, which, in turn, determines phytoplankton biomass. The fields with increased chlorophyll concentration can develop under the influence of various hydrometeorological factors considered in this work, such as air and water temperatures, cloud amount, wind-driven water mixing, and precipitation affecting the surface water layer. Relevance. Monitoring of chlorophyll distribution as it is influenced by hydrometeorological factors facilitates the rational fisheries management on account of their relation to the phytoplankton biomass providing fish and zooplankton with a food source. The aim of this work is to analyze the inter-annual variability of the average monthly hydrometeorological factors and their influence on the chlorophyll-α concentration in the Azov Sea (excluding Taganrog Bay) for the time range from 2006 to 2022. Methods. Spatial and temporal analysis of the average monthly water temperatures and chlorophyll-α concentrations has been conducted based on the daily satellite images of the sea surface taken by MODIS spectroradiometer in the Azov Sea; the analysis of the meteorological characteristics has been carried out using the weather observation data from international data exchange and reports (SYNOP, METAR) posted on the website pogodaiklimat.ru for the time range from April 2006 to September 2022. Results. It is shown that, for the entire investigated time range (2006–2022), the trends of the inter-annual variability of the average monthly air and water temperatures were not significant. An increase in water temperature that started in the middle of 1990s changed for the opposite in 2011, i. e. turned into a decrease. The wind velocity above the Azov Sea (excluding Taganrog Bay) over the investigated time range gradually decreased, which fell in line with the decrease in the chlorophyll-α concentrations. The average monthly cloud amount in the area has shown a weak inter- annual and considerable seasonal variability with relatively low values in the summer season and high values in the winter season. A positive trend of the monthly amount of atmospheric precipitation was observed, in contrast with the negative trend of the chlorophyll-α concentration. Conclusion. A significant positive correlation of the average monthly chlorophyll-α values with water and air temperatures has been identified, as well as a negative one with the wind velocity and cloud amount over the Azov Sea (excluding Taganrog Bay) — both in the individual investigated areas and in the sea as a whole.

Air temperature change manifestation at the Zhytomyr territory

The territory of cities with a changing environment, a significant density of population, industrial and transport facilities, daily activities that ensure its vital activity and cause significant greenhouse gas emissions, causes a significant contribution to climate change, which is one of the most acute environmental problems of our time. Purpose. To assess the manifestations of air temperature changes in the city of Zhytomyr for the period 2000-2022. Methods. Statistical, the coefficient of deviation essentiality of air temperature from the average long-term values was calculated in accordance with the methodology of Pede D.A. . Results. The information base of the research was the data on average annual and average monthly air temperatures in Zhytomyr of the Zhytomyr Regional Centre for Hydrometeorology. It was determined that in the period 2000–2022, the air temperature in the city increased by 1.9 °C compared to the climatic norm. 2015, 2019, and 2020 were the warmest during the period of our observations. Based on the calculation of the coefficients of of deviation essentiality of air temperature deviations from long-term average values, it was determined that for individual months of the year for the period 2000–2022, 2.9% of recorded conditions were close to extreme, and 31.9% – recorded conditions that differ significantly from the perennial average, the remaining 65.2% have conditions close to normal. According to the years of observation, temperature conditions that are significantly different from the long-term average occurred in 2002, 2007, 2008, 2015-2020, close to normal - during the rest of the years. Conclusion. The obtained results are important for understanding the problem of increasing air temperature in Zhytomyr and developing measures to adapt to climate change at the local level.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE PRODUCTIVITY OF AGROPHYTOCENOSES WITH PEAS DEPENDING ON HYDROTHERMAL RESOURCES

In the soil and climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe, regardless of the influence of abiotic and biotic factors, high adaptability of annual agrophytocenoses of spring oats and spring triticale with seed peas was established during the growing season. It is important to note the response of oat and pea plants to changes in moisture supply and temperature during the growing season, provided that the biological characteristics of the crop are maintained, to form an average yield of dry matter and digestible protein within 5.81 and 0.619 t/ha over 24 years of observations, respectively. During the long-term research period, the sum of active temperatures was 874 oC, precipitation was 124 and the hydrothermal coefficient was 1.46. Long-term studies have shown that during the formation of vegetative mass by agrophytocenoses (May-June), the distribution of precipitation was uneven against the background of an increase in the average monthly air temperature, which was reflected in the yield of dry matter and its quality. During the 10 years of research, the highest amount of precipitation was observed - 159-204 mm. The most critical period for growth processes and crop formation was 1999, 2003, 2004, when 37-53 mm of precipitation fell with the sum of active temperatures of 762-880 mm and the GTC of 0.46-0.69. Over the past 9 years (2011-2019), the temperature has increased to 1021°C. Comparing the fodder productivity of binary mixtures of annual crops, it can be stated that with early spring sowing, the yield of fodder units and crude protein in fodder oats was higher compared to spring triticale. This is primarily due to the biological characteristics and duration of the vegetation period of the studied crops, which in spring triticale, unlike oats, the earing phase occurs 8-10 days earlier. The research gives grounds to conclude that it is agrobiologically expedient to use binary grass mixtures with different types of cereal crops in the raw material conveyor. The use of cereal crops that mature at different times ensures the production of plant material for harvesting fodder (green mass, silage, hay or haylage from dried grasses) between the first and second mowing of perennial grasses. In particular, it is also important to note that biological groups of plants effectively use agrometeorological resources during the stages of organogenesis, forming a sustainable crop with high quality indicators. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to predict the productivity of annual agrophytocenoses for the following years.

Features of the vital activity of cereal aphids in the North-West of Russia

The publication presents data on long-term monitoring of the dynamics of the number of cereal aphids on spring grain crops in the Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg and the Tosnensky district of the Leningrad region. The appearance of winged parthenogenetic females in the fields in the biotope of grain crops was noted in the first decade of June, the maximum number of aphids - in the second decade. Over the years of observations, outbreaks of mass reproduction were in 1999, 2002, and 2021. The analysis is carried out of the dependence of the number of aphids Rh. padi on the weather conditions of the region. The correlation between the number of aphids on wheat plants and the average monthly April air temperatures was low (r= 0.31), it was higher between the number of insects and the June average monthly air temperatures (r=0.57). At the same time, the average monthly air temperature in April and June 1999 and 2002 were higher than the average long-term indicators. This indicator turned out to be the most effective between the sum of effective temperatures for the spring-summer period (April May, June) and the number of aphids (r= 0.77). The correlation coefficient between the amount of precipitation during this period and, accordingly, the number of aphids turned out to be negative (– 0.6). It is assumed that the degree of pest population of plants in the summer period depends on the number of eggs laid by oviparous females in the previous autumn. In our studies, the correlation coefficient between these indicators was 0.52. One of the most important entomophages of cereal aphids is the beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. Over the years of observations, the number of predators varied from 0.2 to 5 individuals per 1 model site. During the years of mass reproduction of aphids in 2002 and 2021, the number of coccinellids per model site was low and equal to 0.2-0.5. The large grass aphid Sitobion avenae F. appears in the fields of the region in early July. The largest number of species was recorded in 2016, 2020,2022. In the experiments of 2022, the insect preferred spring wheat and oats, compared with barley.

INFLUENCE OF PLANTING SCHEMES ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF POTATOES IN THE REPUBLIC OF KHAKASIA

. The influence of potato planting patterns on yield and quality was revealed in the steppe zone of the Republic of Khakassia on dark chestnut soils. In addition, varieties of Siberian selection of different maturity groups were studied as an object of study: Krasnoyarsk early - early ripening, Tanai - medium before, and Nakra - mid-ripening. The experiments were laid in 2020 - 2022 on light sandy, loamy dark chestnut soils with a humus content of 2.8% at a slightly alkaline pH. The technology recommended for the steppe zone of Khakassia was used for cultivation. Potato planting schemes were selected for cultivation for food and seed purposes. During the years of research, the average monthly air temperatures during the growing season were close to the long-term averages. The amount of precipitation was close to the norm. However, there were also significant excesses (July 2020 - 268%) and half the bars (July 2021). A decrease in the feeding area increased the height of plants due to a lack of light, with a significant reduction in the parameter of the average leaf area to 12.6%. Due to the optimal feeding area choice, the yield increase was from 1.9 to 3.2 t/ha. The variation in the yield between the planting patterns of varieties of different ripeness groups ranged from 22.7 to 30.5%. Statistical calculations showed that the yield value depends on the array by 21.6%, by 28.5% - from the planting pattern and by 22.8% - from the conditions of the growing season. With the decreased distance between plants in a row, dry matter and starch content increased, and the amount of vitamin C in tubers increased. However, the accumulation of nitrates by tubers in all variants of the experiment and all varieties did not exceed 126 mg/kg at the maximum allowable concentration of 250 mg/kg.

Long‐term changes in the frequency of exceptionally cold and warm months and seasons at selected stations in Europe in the early instrumental period

AbstractExtreme thermal conditions have been known for a long time as is evidenced by the oldest preserved historical accounts referring to weather. However, direct data, that is, air temperature measurements, which began in Europe in the 17th century, are the only reliable source of information. They provide insight into how climate evolved over the characteristic period of the climate timeline known as the Little Ice Age. This study focuses on extreme climatic phenomena, referred to here as exceptionally cold (EC) and exceptionally warm (EW) months and seasons that occurred in the early instrumental period (until 1830). The research is based on average monthly air temperature values (of different lengths) from five meteorological stations in Europe. The Central England Temperature series (CET) offers the longest series that spans 172 years whereas Padua has the shortest, 57 years. Consequently, the year 1659, which is the start date of the Central England Temperature series, marks the beginning of the study period for the research presented in this article. Thermally anomalous periods are identified based on the standard deviation of the average temperature from the corresponding long‐term average (1831–2020). The highlights of the study include the identification of the pronounced prevalence at all five stations of EC months and seasons when compared to EW months and seasons, especially in Western Europe (CET) during the Maunder Minimum. The study also finds a lack of synchronicity in the timing of the anomalous periods under investigation in the different parts of Europe.

Analysis of Radial Growth Dynamics of Pinus Nigra Subsp. Pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe in Different Parts of the Slope Profile

The results of the research of radial growth of Pinus nigra trees growing in the foothill-forest-steppe zone (in Belogorosk district) with continental climate type of the Crimean Peninsula are presented. The research was con[1]ducted to evaluate the influence of the location of the growth site on the local slope on the total width of the annual ring. Geomorphologically, the sampling points were located along the profile of a gentle convex slope of eastern exposure. Wood samples were collected at sites within the lower, middle and watershed parts of the slope, as well as at the top of the Biyuk-Karasu River watershed. Generalised tree-ring chronologies were obtained for each part of the slope, the average age of the chronologies being 50 years. As a result of the research, a synchronism in growth dynamics of trees growing in the lower part of the slope and in the watershed was established; the radial growth of Pinus nigra trees in the middle parts of the slope reacts the earliest to the influence of environmental factors. The reaction lag of radial growth in the watershed part of the slope is about 11 years. Analysis of the constructed chronologies shows that over the past 50 years, the radial growth is comparable to the dynamics of meteorological parameters. The analysis of correlations of the obtained chronologies with the values of average monthly air temperatures and annual precipitation according to the data of the Simferopol meteorological station was carried out. For the lower and middle parts of the slope, as well as for the watershed, the amount of precipitation is more significant than air temperature. Correlations have been established between the radial growth index of the lower and middle parts of the slope, as well as watershed and the sum of precipitation in May, and the summer months of both the current and previous years. For Pinusnigra trees growing on the watershed parts of the slope, air temperatures of summer months of the current and previous year are more significant. The established close relationship can be used to reconstruct climatic conditions of Pinus nigra trees.

Dendrochronological Analysis of the Response of Forest-Forming Tree Species of the Projected Mystygyegan Reserve (Vakh River Basin) to Climate Change in the XX-XXI Centuries

The purpose of this study is to identify the age-old dendroclimatic dynamics of the state of the forests of the Mestygyegan reserve, as a representative standard of zonal middle-taiga forests of the Vakh river basin under global warming conditions. The main tasks of the work: analysis of tree-ring chronologies of the most important forest growers of this territory (Pinus sibirica, P. sylvestris, Betula pendula), identification of responses of radial growth of trees to average monthly air temperatures and monthly precipitation of the growing season and the previous period (only 18 months), identification of trends and patterns of dendroclimatic responses. They adhered to the methods of wood sampling, cross-dating, standardization of ring width rows (radial gain), and calculation of the function of growth responses adopted in dendroclimatology. For the period 19372021, trends were revealed to increase the deficit/excess of heat and precipitation in certain months, in particular with signs of summer drought in recent years. There was a shift in the isolines of the growth responses to an earlier time in spring and later in autumn, showing an elongation of the growing season. There is a shift in the manifestation of dendroclimatic responses from the growth of the current year to the growth of the next year, which may indicate both increased opportunities for the accumulation and redistribution of plastic resources by trees and the influence of pathogens. Grass-roots fires amplify the marked trends. Dendroclimatic response patterns of different tree species have both similarities and differences. The smallest response to climate change in birch, the largest in Siberian pine, which requires the greatest measures to protect and protect cedar trees. In the future of further research a great detail of the results obtained on the taxational characteristics of the forest and accounting for anthropogenic factors.

Predictive Model of Temperature Regimes of a Concrete Gravity Dam during Construction: Reducing Cracking Risks

In consideration of the mild climatic conditions of North Vietnam with average monthly air temperatures ranging from 15 °C in winter to 26.5 °C, this study analyzes the regulation of the temperature regime and thermally stressed state of a concrete gravity dam made of rolled concrete. Despite the favorable weather conditions, there remains a risk of thermal cracking, necessitating the presentation of crack-formation models from different countries to assess and mitigate the risk of cracking through the adjustment of construction conditions. The study has developed a predictive model for the temperature regime and thermally stressed state of a layer-by-layer concrete mass under the given construction conditions using the factor-analysis method. Regression equations were then derived from the factorial experiment to quantify the responses of the maximum temperature and maximum stress in the concrete mass. The numerical finite-element method using the Midas Civil software package was employed to calculate the temperature regime and thermally stressed state of the concrete mass. To validate the mathematical predictive model, it was tested on the Ban Lai gravity dam in North Vietnam. The dam, which was constructed from rolled concrete and stands 56 m tall, was selected as the object in this practical example. The results obtained from applying the predictive model were compared to the results obtained from numerical calculations of the dam under construction, as well as the findings from field observations. These results were found to be in good agreement, indicating the effectiveness of the predictive model. Furthermore, an evaluation of the potential for temperature cracking of the concrete during the construction period was conducted.

Variability in the occurrence of thermal seasons in Poland in 1961–2020

AbstractThe article analyses the variability of thermal seasons in Poland in 1961–2020. Based on the average monthly air temperature values from 55 stations, the onset and end dates as well as the duration of the six thermal seasons were calculated. Taking into account the thermal thresholds of 0°C, 5°C and 15°C for each year, early spring, spring, summer, autumn, early winter and winter can be distinguished. A significant spatial differentiation of the dates of the beginning and duration of the thermal seasons in Poland was observed. The influence of continentalism (in the east) and oceanic climate (in the west) and the influence of the Baltic Sea are noticeable, and in mountainous regions, altitude above sea level is the main factor. The air temperature in Poland increases at the rate of 0.3°C–0.4°C/10 years. This causes significant changes in the occurrence and duration of the thermal seasons. An early beginning of early spring and spring was observed. Summer arrives earlier and is significantly longer, becoming the longest season of the year (above 110 days in the south of Poland). Autumn and early winter are delayed and get shorter, whereas winter comes much later. Throughout the country, winter is 44 days shorter, and in the north‐west it does not occur at all. Changes in the onset of thermal seasons are a clear indicator of progressing global warming. They have also a decisive impact on the environment and human activity.

The modern nature of changes in the average monthly air temperature during 2006-2020

The proposed article is devoted to the study and analysis of changes in the field of average monthly air temperature on the territory of Ukraine over the past fifteen years (2006-2020) of the period 1991-2020 to determine the trends that have emerged as a result of changes in global circulation over the Atlantic-European sector of the Northern Hemisphere and the possible occurrence of frequent drought events on the territory of Ukraine. Тaking into account the drastic climate changes that have occurred during the last decades, there is a problem in adapting a number of branches of the production complex to such changes in order to prevent economic losses and develop a new strategy in this direction. Connection with research tasks. The presented study is related to the implementation of a number of state-ordered research works dedicated to the study of the peculiarities of modern climate changes in Ukraine and the identification of climate-vulnerable areas on its territory. Problems to be solved in the article. Taking into account the accumulated material regarding the features of the distribution of the air temperature field in Ukraine and the probabilistic scenarios for its change under the influence of general warming in the Northern Hemisphere, for the territory of Ukraine it is necessary to find out the mechanism of its current changes and determine their direction on a temporal and territorial scale. The main purpose of the presented article was to investigate and establish the main trends in the current field of average monthly air temperature in Ukraine over the past 15 years (2006-2020) and show the nature of the spatial and temporal distribution of these changes. Materials and methods. The data of the average monthly air temperature at 55 stations of Ukraine during all months of the year for the fifteen-year periods 1991-2005 and 2006-2020 served as the research materials. The main research methods were physical and statistical to determine the deviations of two 15-year periods and cartographic to determine spatio-temporal differentiation of detected cells. Main results. It was established that on the territory of Ukraine in January 2006-2020 there was a certain decrease in the average monthly air temperature due to lower temperatures. In the rest of the winter months, its growth is observed, especially in the territory of the northwestern, northern, and northeastern regions and in some central and southern regions.. In the spring, the increase in the average monthly air temperature in 2006-2020 occurred more intensively in the northern regions and in a number of regions of the western region (Peredkarpattia). In the summer, the increase in air temperature was observed throughout the territory of Ukraine, but most intensively in July. Territorially, the greatest increase in the average monthly air temperature was expressed in the north, northeast and south. In autumn, the increase in the average monthly air temperature was most intense in November 2006-2020 in the regions of the northern and central regions, as well as in the Carpathian region. In the last 15 years, the average monthly air temperature in Ukraine has increased, but in January it decreased in the north, northeast, in some places in the center and south. This trend is new for today's climate. The results of the study for the territory of Ukraine are presented for the first time and can be used for planning agricultural works.

Thermal Performance of Horizontal Fixed Sun Shading Device

Earlier investigations on passive cooling methods applied software modelling, and the findings were not confirmed through field measurement. Hence, this study applied a stationary experiment on a real structure and weather conditions employing horizontal sun shading (SDH). The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of fixed passive sun-shading devices put on to the bare façade of three-story terrace shophouses in Malaysia. The experiment findings revealed that SDH significantly improved the internal thermal environment by lowering the average monthly indoor air temperature (Ta) by 0.98 K and the peak temperature by 2.11 K. SDH is also effective during the warmest sunny days, lowering 1.23 K on average for the day. Meanwhile, SDH reduced the temperature in the control room by 5.40 K during the warmest peak time.When it came to indoor mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), SDH performed better than the control room in the very hot peakover a month (2.38 K) and on the highest temperature of the day (7.70 K). Finally, it can be inferred that SDH worked better from late at night until early in the morning, cooling the room temperature faster. This quiescent choice is one of the best for enhancing a building's internal thermal performance while also possibly contributing to a decrease in operational energy consumption.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ ТЕРМИЧЕСКИХ РЕСУРСОВ ВЕГЕТАЦИОННОГО ПЕРИОДА И УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ ЯРОВОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ В УСЛОВИЯХ СРЕДНЕГО ПОВОЛЖЬЯ

The article presents the results of long-term studies (1982-2018) on the assessment of changes in thermal resources during the growing season and the indication of their impact on the yield of spring wheat. The work was carried out in the conditions of the northern part of the Middle Volga region on gray forest soils. The soil of the experimental site is gray forest medium loamy, the content of humus (according to Tyurin) is 2.8...3.2%, mobile phosphorus and potassium (according to Kirsanov) - 105...184 and 79...149 mg /100 g of soil, respectively, pH- 5.6...5.8. During the observation period, the highest temperature increase was recorded in July (2.4°C) and May (2.2°C), and the lowest in June (1.0°C). The sum of effective temperatures over 10°C increased by 500°C during the study period. The yield of spring wheat grown without fertilizers varied greatly in different years, ranging from 0.99 to 2.97 t/ha. The highest value of this indicator was observed at an average monthly air temperature of about 13 0C in May, 17 0C in June, 18 0c in July, and the sum of active temperatures was 1800 0c. The studied thermal resources, in accordance with the significance of the impact on the yield of spring wheat, can be arranged in the following descending order: average air temperature in June &gt; average air temperature in July &gt; the sum of effective temperatures above 10 °C &gt; average air temperature in May. To describe the dependence of the yield of spring wheat grain on thermal resources, in three cases out of four, a polynomial equation of the second degree was better suited, and in one case, an exponential equation.

Estimating suitable hydrothermal conditions for vegetation growth for land use cover across China based on maximum-probability-density monthly NDVI

To provide a theoretical basis and key parameters for ecological process modeling, the maximum-probability-density (MPD) atmospheric temperature and precipitation on vegetation growth for various land cover types throughout China were estimated using a non-parametric statistical technique, based on MPD monthly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) during 2000–2021. The results revealed that more than half of all MPD monthly temperatures deviated from the average monthly air temperature. The spatial distribution of MPD monthly temperature closely resembled that of traditional temperature zones. The deviation from the average temperature was caused by the physiological rhythm of vegetation growth. Less than half of all MPD precipitations deviated from the average monthly precipitation. The deviation was caused by the ability of vegetation to absorb water. The suitable temperatures and precipitations on vegetation growth for vegetation cover types, temperature zones, and dry-wet zones were unique and varied widely. The same vegetation in different temperature zones and dry-wet zones had different MPD temperatures and precipitation. In the scenario of Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6, global warming in the future would have negative impacts on vegetation growth in arid and semi-arid regions but have positive effects on vegetation growth in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The rise in precipitation could partially offset the negative effects of rising temperatures. The parameters in the Gaussian kernel density estimation method and the traits of the original dataset (spatial resolution, variance, and length) were the primary influencing factors on the uncertainty of spatial distributions. Our results highlight the potential of MPD temperatures and precipitations in ecological process modeling, particularly in the simulation of NDVI under the influence of air temperature and precipitation changes.

High-Performance Forecasting of Spring Flood in Mountain River Basins with Complex Landscape Structure

We propose the methodology of building the process-driven models for medium-term forecasting of spring floods (including catastrophic ones) in the mountainous areas, the hydrological analysis of which is usually much more complicated in contrast to plains. Our methodology is based on system analytical modeling of complex hydrological processes in 34 river basins of the Altai-Sayan mountain country. Consideration of 13 types of landscapes as autonomous hydrological subsystems influencing rivers’ runoff (1951–2020) allowed us to develop the universal predictive model for the most dangerous April monthly runoff (with ice motion), which is applicable to any river basin. The input factors of the model are the average monthly air temperature and monthly precipitation for the current autumn–winter period, as well as the data on the basin landscape structure and relief calculated by GIS tools. The established universal dependences of hydrological runoffs on meteorological factors are quite complex and formed under influence of solar radiation and physical–hydrological patterns of melting snow cover, moistening, freezing, and thawing of soils. The model shows the greatest sensitivity of April floods to the landscape composition of river basins (49% of common flood variance), then to autumn precipitation (9%), winter precipitation (3%), and finally, to winter air temperature (0.7%). When it is applied to individual river basins, the forecast quality is very good, with the Nesh–Sutcliffe coefficient NSE = 0.77. In terms of the accuracy of process-driven predictive hydrological models for the mountainous areas, the designed model demonstrates high-class performance.

Effect of Plant Seed Mixture on Overwintering and Floristic Attractiveness of the Flower Strip in Western Poland

In order to increase biodiversity in cultivated areas, the implementation of agri-environmental programs is proposed, including interventions and eco-schemes. Flower strips are one such proposal. In order to achieve satisfactory results, the appropriate selection of plants is crucial. In flower strips, the number and diversification of overwintering plant species are important. Our observations suggest that the species diversity observed in the second year of the strip’s presence in western Poland composed of mostly annual 14 plant species did not overlap in the next year. The flower strip was established on soils in a very good rye complex. The average monthly air temperature in both seasons was similar. In the winter months after the establishment of the flower strip, the lowest temperature at the ground level and the lowest air temperature were recorded in December (−5.4 °C and −13.7 °C, respectively). Hydrological conditions were not favorable, including a very dry March. Wild species originally from the soil seed bank were dominant. The selection of the appropriate species composition of mixtures intended for flower strips should take into account not only the preferences of beneficial insects but also environmental conditions. The possibilities of the selected plant species are important. A large variety of spontaneously emerging species (considered weeds) can also successfully colonize existing gaps in the flower strips, providing an increase in biodiversity. From the beginning of June to the end of July, the share of flowering plants from the seed bank ranged from 42.59% to 88.19%, while among originally intended plant species, it was only 11.81–57.41%. In May and at the beginning of June, two intended species that were intensively flowering, Trifolium incarnatum L. (over 70.5%) and Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. (26.47%), were definitely dominant. In later observations, it was noted that, unfortunately, the sown plants had a low level of flowering compared to the wild plants found in the flower strip. It is very important that flower strips include species that also bloom in July and August, and wildflower plants can highlight the attractiveness of the flower strip to beneficial insects and are a valuable addition. This paper evaluates the suitability of a commercially available seed mixture in terms of the floristic attractiveness and overwintering potential of annual plants.