Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa

Abstract

Contemporary climatic changes occur on global, regional and local scales. On each of these, changes are shaped by a set of various climatic controls, whose concurrent action has various effects on the functioning of climate in time and space. The climate of the Raba River valley in the period 1971-1992 is presented in this study as an example of the changes that can take place in the character and structure of a local climate. The regional scale trends of air temperature changes for the Carpathian Foothills are presented along with local scale transformation of climatic relations in the Foothill valleys produced by the construction of a reservoir. It is also demonstrated how an analysis of trends in air temperature changes can help detect inhomogeneities in observation series made for different types of topoclimate.

Keywords: topoclimate, climatic change, data homogeneity, human impact on climate

Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow

Abstract

Contemporary climatic changes occur on global, regional and local scales. On each of these, changes are shaped by a set of various climatic controls, whose concurrent action has various effects on the functioning of climate in time and space. The climate of the Raba River valley in the period 1971-1992 is presented in this study as an example of the changes that can take place in the character and structure of a local climate. The regional scale trends of air temperature changes for the Carpathian Foothills are presented along with local scale transformation of climatic relations in the Foothill valleys produced by the construction of a reservoir. It is also demonstrated how an analysis of trends in air temperature changes can help detect inhomogeneities in observation series made for different types of topoclimate.

Keywords: topoclimate, climatic change, data homogeneity, human impact on climate

Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow

Abstract

The changes in the climate of Cracow agglomeration during last forty years are discussed as example of the effects of urbanization in Poland. The alteration of climate was influenced mostly by industry. The human impact is shown by longterm variability of the climatic elements and phenomena. The study also concerns the changes in the industrial production and the effects of the formation of free market and economic recession.

Keywords: Urbanization, human impact, air pollution, local climate change, urban climate

Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow

Abstract

The multi-annual variability of thermal, solar and cloudiness conditions in Cracow was examined from the point of view of the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the climate change. The analysis concerned the annual air temperature range (RAT) and daily ranges of air temperature (DAT) in January and July. Special attention has been paid to the climatic trends and changes of climatic continuity. Long-term changes of RAT reflect the impact of the circulation factors, these of DAT are influenced by the urbanisation.

Keywords: climate, monitoring, research of climatic changes, global warming

Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
Zygmunt Olecki, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Instytut Geografii, ul. Grodzka 64, 21-044 Kraków
Janina Trepińska, Institute of Geography, Jagellonian University ul. Grodzka 64, 31-044 Kraków, Poland

Abstract

Climatic changes in Southern Poland, including the Carpathian Mountains are shown in regional and local scale. There are discussed: changeability of the circulation indices during the winter season and fluctuations of the air temperatures based on the instrumental observations in the mountain stations. The influence of climate is referred to the secular changes in the width of tree rings in Tatra Mountains and the thermal feelings of human body. Local changes of the radiation inflows are characteristic features of developing urbanization.

Keywords: climate change, circulation indices, air temperature, sunshine duration, precipitation, long-term instrumental observations, Carpathian Mountains, dendroclimatologi-cal data, thermal sensibility of human body, transparence of atmosphere

Zdzisław Bednarz, Agricultural University in Cracow
Tadeusz Niedźwiedź, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia Będzińska 60,41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Borowego 14, 30-215 Kraków, Poland.
Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
Zygmunt Olecki, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Instytut Geografii, ul. Grodzka 64, 21-044 Kraków
Janina Trepińska, Institute of Geography, Jagellonian University ul. Grodzka 64, 31-044 Kraków, Poland

Abstract

The last decade brought about interesting results of investigations on climatein that area (Hess et al. 1977, Obrębska-Starklowa 1977, Michna 1978, Michnaand Paczos 1978), as well as geobotanic and hydrologic characteristics of that area.Such studies make it possible to have a fresh look at the climatic positionof the Low Beskid range in relation to the West and East Carpathians. Therefore,the aim of the present article is to show the distinct character of climatic conditionsof the transversal depression in relation to the West Carpathians, and, next,to present the functional characteristics of some environmental elements dependenton climate in those units. The second part of the task is to verify still fragmentary,because of scarcity of observations, results of climatological research.

Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow

Mieczysław Hess, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
Tadeusz Niedźwiedź, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia Będzińska 60,41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Borowego 14, 30-215 Kraków, Poland.
Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow

Bolesław Adamczyk, Department of Forest Soils, Agricultural University, Cracow
Tadeusz Gerlach, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland
Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
Leszek Starkel [starkel@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to find connections between the climatic conditions and the rhythm of the seasonal plant development in the upper Vistula basin. Owing to the vastness of this area stretching from west to east, and to its varied relief, the dominating feature of the phenological phenomena is its differentia-tion in the west-east cross-section and, above all, in the vertical profile. There-fore particular stress has been laid in this paper on specifying the role of the geographical coordinates (altitude, latitude and longitude) and of climatic ele-ments in shaping the phenological regime of the particular physiographical units.

Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow

Mieczysław Hess, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
Tadeusz Niedźwiedź, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia Będzińska 60,41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Borowego 14, 30-215 Kraków, Poland.
Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the methods of constructing climatic maps of various scales for mountainous and upland territories worked upon in the last ten years in the Department of Climatology of the Geographical Institute of the Jagellonian University based on investigations carried out in Southern Poland. This paper forms a contribution to the discussion on drawing general and detailed climatic maps useful for estimating the qualities of the natural environment, and solving numerous economic problems, especially those of spatial planning.

Mieczysław Hess, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
Tadeusz Niedźwiedź, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia Będzińska 60,41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Borowego 14, 30-215 Kraków, Poland.
Barbara Obrębska-Starklowa, Department of Climatology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow