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The paper summarizes the results of wind velocity measurement in different distances from windbreak in combination with optical porosity (OP) determination in different periods. Experimental data were obtained by direct measurement of wind speed and OP analyses of images of four windbreaks in Southern Moravia (part of Czech Republic). Wind speed at 2 m above the soil surface in a defined distance from windbreak had been measured since 2006. Thirty images of different phenological stages of selected windbreaks from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed. Windward or leeward images were converted into black and white spectrum. All available measurements were used for a map creation. The highest values of OP (up to 50%) are achieved in non-vegetation period. Due to the high OP variability in height of terminal tree branches "OP reduced" was also assessed (just squares to 2/3 height of windbreaks were evaluated). The wind speed reduction on the leeward side relatively strongly correlated with OP value. The highest correlation was found out when the wind speed measurement at 50 m on leeward side was used. The dependence decreases with increasing distance. Full foliage in summer (10% OP) reduces a wind speed about 60% at 50 m and about 30% at 150 m on the leeward. These values for non-foliaged windbreaks decrease to 80 and 90%. Maximum distance of windbreak effect on wind speed reduction was found out by the extrapolation of the curves constructed using the regression equation of wind speed reduction in dependence on OP and different distances from the windbreak. Regardless of OP value, the reduction effect disappears at a distance of 250 m. The quietest zone of evaluated windbreak with an average height of windbreaks 15-18 m was detected in the area about four times the height (4H). The effect of windbreaks decreases with increasing porosity.

Long-term water balance (WB) of four selected crops (winter wheat, oilseed rape, silage maize, semi-early potatoes) was determined at the field block scale in the Czech Republic for all agricultural growing areas (AGAs): maize-, beet-, potato- and mountain-AGAs for the 1981–2010 period. A novel approach for the calculation of WB was employed, which combined the FAO-56 method for crop water requirements (CWRs) with sources of available water from precipitation, soil, and groundwater. The computed WB was divided into four categories of soil water availability based on soil hydrolimits and crop features: Categories 1 and 2 with zero or mild occurrence of crop water stress; categories 3 and 4 with intermediate and severe occurrence of crop water stress. The winter crops were affected by water stress to a lesser extent (the area of categories 3 and 4: wheat 20.1%, oilseed rape 14.5%) as compared with spring crops (the area of categories 3 and 4: maize 39.6%, potatoes 41%). The highest water deficit was recorded for all crops in the maize-AGA due to low precipitation and high CWRs. Most available water was revealed to occur in the mountain-AGA. A strong need for the adoption of measures towards the optimization of water regimes on agricultural land was indicated. The present study shows a promising approach for evaluating and proposing changes of area of cultivated crops with the appropriate tillage and agricultural water management in terms of satisfactory crop water requirements.

• C. At the bottom of the abyss, the minimum temperatures proved to be higher than at its upper edge and in its vicinity. Thermal circulation is evident to the depth of about 60 m. The highest temperatures were observed in the deeper layers of the abyss in the warm period at around 10 a.m. of Central European Summer Time. Towards the upper edge of the abyss, the hour of daily maximum temperature shifts to 2 to 4 p.m. In the cold season, the minimum temperature was observed between 6 and 7 a.m. of Central European Time. A decrease in the accumulation of cold air (cold-air pool formation) was not found in the lower floors of the abyss. This phenomenon does not occur even during clear nights. The depth of 60 m from the upper edge of the area maintains a high relative humidity (above 95%) in the warm season. However, humidity decreases from this depth towards the top of the abyss. In the cold season, the whole abyss is filled with air with relative humidity of 90 to 95%.

Urban environment differs from the surrounding landscape in terms of the values of meteorological parameters. This is often referred to as the urban heat island (UHI), which in simple terms means higher air temperatures in cities. The cause of these changes lies in the different active surfaces in cities, which subsequently results in a different radiation balance. The higher temperatures, however, also affect the living conditions in the city and during very high temperature periods can have negative effects on the health of the city inhabitants. The results presented in this paper are based on measurements taken over several years at locations near Hradec Králové, which is surrounded by different surface areas. Environment analysis was performed using the Humidex index. The obtained results show that replacing green areas with built-up areas affects temperatures in the city, when air temperatures are very high they significantly increase the discomfort of the inhabitants. Differences in the frequency of discomfort levels are observed especially during periods of high temperatures, at lower temperatures these differences are not significant. Higher frequencies of discomfort are observed at locations with artificial surfaces (asphalt, cobblestones, concrete) and in closed spaces. In contrast, locations with lots of green areas almost always have the value of this index lower or more balanced. The results should therefore be a valid argument for maintaining and extending green areas in cities.