Katarzyna Piotrowicz
Articles
Relationships between cloudiness, precipitation and air temperature
Geographia Polonica (2004) vol. 77, iss. 1, pp. 9-17 | 
Full text
Abstract
The work described in this paper aimed at determining the relationship between air temperature, cloudiness and precipitation, based on the Cracow meteorological records. Meteorological data from the period 1901-2000 were used. The research was based on mean monthly temperature totals; the number of days with maximum temperatures above 10°C and above 25°C; annual and daily precipitation as well as the cloud cover and cloud type in three climatic observation terms. The mean yearly air temperature was found to show steady growth, induced by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Climatic warming in Cracow probably has resulted in the more frequent appearance of convective clouds, as well as intense showers, thunderstorms and hailstorms. On the other hand, the frequency of Stratus clouds and fog has been diminished which probably contributed to a reduction in the number of days with light precipitation. No overall trend has been detected in the long-term series for total annual precipitation, as periods of high and low precipitation balanced each other.
Keywords: cloudiness, precipitation, air temperature, Cracow, Poland
[d.matuszko@uj.edu.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University Grodzka 64, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
[r.twardosz@uj.edu.pl], Department of Climatology, Institute of Geography of the Jagellonian University ul. Grodzka 64, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
[k.piotrowicz@iphils.uj.edu.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University Grodzka 64, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
Geographia Polonica (1997) vol. 70, pp. 89-100 | Full text
Abstract
The paper attempts an evaluation of winter thermal differentiation in the Carpathian altitudinal profile in relation to some external and internal factors of the montane climatic system. Mean monthly, mean daily and daily maximum air temperatures were taken, for three stations representing different altitudinal climatic zones, in the period 1961/62-1990/91. The variability of the dates of winter commencement and end, winter duration and thermal indices were analysed, as was the relation between the occurrence of frosty days and atmospheric circulation characteristics. The biggest decrease in the examined period was observed for the numbers of winter days and frosty days in Zakopane and Krakow, while at Kasprowy Wierch mountain the number of winter days increased slightly and the number of frosty days decreased. It was established that winter thermal conditions at Kasprowy Wierch depend above all on air circulation and advection conditions in the free atmosphere, while at the two other stations, located in urban areas, anthropogenic factors interfere with natural climate changes
Keywords: winter, air temperature, Carpathian Mountains, climatic vertical zones
[k.piotrowicz@iphils.uj.edu.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University Grodzka 64, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
Thermal characterization of winters in the 20th century in Krakow
Geographia Polonica (1996) vol. 67, pp. 77-88 | Full text
Abstract
Based on Krakow's measurement series of air temperature in the 20th century an attempt was made to analyse the winter season by means of some criteria which are important for the thermal conditions which — in turn — influence natural processes and phenomena. The first day with mean daily air temperature <0°C was taken to determine the beginning of a winter and the last such day for the end of winter. The characterization of winters was based on the number of winter days (mean daily air temperature <0°C), the number of frosty days (daily maximum air temperature <0°C), the number of extreme frosty days (daily maximum air temperature <-10°C) and the sums of frost (sums of mean daily air temperature <0°C). Special attention was paid to extreme winters because of their thermal conditions as well as their frequency and variability. It was established that recently observed winters are the mildest in our century and that the concentration of such winters in the 1980s allowed for a link with global warming. The winters in question are inducing environmental changes.
Keywords: winters, extreme winters, air temperature, South Poland, Kraków
[k.piotrowicz@iphils.uj.edu.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University Grodzka 64, 31-044 Kraków, Poland