Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of Them

The aim of the study is to analyze the occurrence of hot days and heat waves in Poland, their intra-annual distribution, and their long-term variability, and to present the circulation factors favoring the appearance of extensive waves in the country. Hot days were days with Tmax not lower than the...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Joanna Wibig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/3/340
_version_ 1797413204233551872
author Joanna Wibig
author_facet Joanna Wibig
author_sort Joanna Wibig
collection DOAJ
description The aim of the study is to analyze the occurrence of hot days and heat waves in Poland, their intra-annual distribution, and their long-term variability, and to present the circulation factors favoring the appearance of extensive waves in the country. Hot days were days with Tmax not lower than the threshold value defined by the 95th percentile of summer Tmax in the period 1961–1990. Atmospheric circulation was described using sea level pressure, geopotential of 700 and 500 hPa level, and horizontal and vertical wind on these levels. A statistically significant increase in the number of hot days in the entire study period and a significant acceleration in growth after 1980 were shown. In the entire analyzed period, only 11 waves were found covering at least 25% of the country area and lasting no less than a week. Among them, only one occurred before 1990, and more than half were observed in the last decade. Four circulation patterns favoring the extensive heat waves were distinguished differing the location of main baric center location. Spatial and temporal distribution of vertical velocity anomalies allows distinguishing clear phases of strengthening, stabilization, and weakening of anticyclone accompanying the occurrence of a heat wave.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T05:14:16Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ab1ce810f6974ab08f3e4c9c595e3ad7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2073-4433
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T05:14:16Z
publishDate 2021-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Atmosphere
spelling doaj.art-ab1ce810f6974ab08f3e4c9c595e3ad72023-12-03T12:46:47ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-03-0112334010.3390/atmos12030340Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of ThemJoanna Wibig0Department of Meteorology and Climatology, University of Lodz, 90-139 Lodz, PolandThe aim of the study is to analyze the occurrence of hot days and heat waves in Poland, their intra-annual distribution, and their long-term variability, and to present the circulation factors favoring the appearance of extensive waves in the country. Hot days were days with Tmax not lower than the threshold value defined by the 95th percentile of summer Tmax in the period 1961–1990. Atmospheric circulation was described using sea level pressure, geopotential of 700 and 500 hPa level, and horizontal and vertical wind on these levels. A statistically significant increase in the number of hot days in the entire study period and a significant acceleration in growth after 1980 were shown. In the entire analyzed period, only 11 waves were found covering at least 25% of the country area and lasting no less than a week. Among them, only one occurred before 1990, and more than half were observed in the last decade. Four circulation patterns favoring the extensive heat waves were distinguished differing the location of main baric center location. Spatial and temporal distribution of vertical velocity anomalies allows distinguishing clear phases of strengthening, stabilization, and weakening of anticyclone accompanying the occurrence of a heat wave.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/3/340temperature extremesspatial extentlong-term variabilityatmospheric circulationsubsidence
spellingShingle Joanna Wibig
Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of Them
Atmosphere
temperature extremes
spatial extent
long-term variability
atmospheric circulation
subsidence
title Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of Them
title_full Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of Them
title_fullStr Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of Them
title_full_unstemmed Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of Them
title_short Hot Days and Heat Waves in Poland in the Period 1951–2019 and the Circulation Factors Favoring the Most Extreme of Them
title_sort hot days and heat waves in poland in the period 1951 2019 and the circulation factors favoring the most extreme of them
topic temperature extremes
spatial extent
long-term variability
atmospheric circulation
subsidence
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/3/340
work_keys_str_mv AT joannawibig hotdaysandheatwavesinpolandintheperiod19512019andthecirculationfactorsfavoringthemostextremeofthem