Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlands

Synoptic conditions of daily changes in the snow cover depth by 5 cm were analyzed. Negative pressure anomalies appear over the North Atlantic and Scandinavia, which means low pressure systems moving over Europe along a northerly path. At the same time, positive pressure anomalies appear over the Me...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ewa Bednorz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Borntraeger 2012-02-01
Series:Meteorologische Zeitschrift
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2012/0228
_version_ 1827363646743773184
author Ewa Bednorz
author_facet Ewa Bednorz
author_sort Ewa Bednorz
collection DOAJ
description Synoptic conditions of daily changes in the snow cover depth by 5 cm were analyzed. Negative pressure anomalies appear over the North Atlantic and Scandinavia, which means low pressure systems moving over Europe along a northerly path. At the same time, positive pressure anomalies appear over the Mediterranean, indicating the expansion of the Azorean High. Such distribution of anomalies increases the horizontal baric gradient, which results in the intensification of the western and south western flow and stronger than usual winds from the SW quadrant. Transport of warm and humid air masses from the south-west brings about thaw-conducive conditions in central Europe: an increase in temperature and a considerable increase in the content of precipitable water, which means abundant precipitation. Different circulation types favorable for intense thawing were distinguished using the method of the hierarchical grouping. Two of them are characterized by the presence of deep and widespread cyclonal systems located north, north-west or west of the researched area. Less frequently, the decrease in the depth of snow cover occurs in the presence of the high located west over the Atlantic Ocean, which brings air masses from the north western direction. Such situations occur most frequently towards the end of winter.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T07:53:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d82f43f88f8243a7a74c0ab2a2cd0e16
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0941-2948
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T07:53:12Z
publishDate 2012-02-01
publisher Borntraeger
record_format Article
series Meteorologische Zeitschrift
spelling doaj.art-d82f43f88f8243a7a74c0ab2a2cd0e162024-02-02T14:35:34ZengBorntraegerMeteorologische Zeitschrift0941-29482012-02-01211899810.1127/0941-2948/2012/022876603Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlandsEwa BednorzSynoptic conditions of daily changes in the snow cover depth by 5 cm were analyzed. Negative pressure anomalies appear over the North Atlantic and Scandinavia, which means low pressure systems moving over Europe along a northerly path. At the same time, positive pressure anomalies appear over the Mediterranean, indicating the expansion of the Azorean High. Such distribution of anomalies increases the horizontal baric gradient, which results in the intensification of the western and south western flow and stronger than usual winds from the SW quadrant. Transport of warm and humid air masses from the south-west brings about thaw-conducive conditions in central Europe: an increase in temperature and a considerable increase in the content of precipitable water, which means abundant precipitation. Different circulation types favorable for intense thawing were distinguished using the method of the hierarchical grouping. Two of them are characterized by the presence of deep and widespread cyclonal systems located north, north-west or west of the researched area. Less frequently, the decrease in the depth of snow cover occurs in the presence of the high located west over the Atlantic Ocean, which brings air masses from the north western direction. Such situations occur most frequently towards the end of winter.http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2012/0228
spellingShingle Ewa Bednorz
Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlands
Meteorologische Zeitschrift
title Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlands
title_full Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlands
title_fullStr Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlands
title_full_unstemmed Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlands
title_short Atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the Polish lowlands
title_sort atmospheric conditions of intense thaws in the polish lowlands
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2012/0228
work_keys_str_mv AT ewabednorz atmosphericconditionsofintensethawsinthepolishlowlands