The paper analyses changes in potential evaporation E0 (mm) in north-western Poland in the years 1952–2018. E0 (mm) has been calculated according to Ivanov’s formula based on the monthly values of air temperature (t, °C) and relative air humidity (f, %) for six weather stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. The data were collected using the Statistica software ver. 13 and the QGIS software ver. 3.80. The results indicate statistically significant trends in the increase of E0 during the period 1952–2018, and that it is particularly high during the spring and summer months, which should be associated with a statistically significant increase in air temperature and a decrease in relative humidity at all examined stations. The results also indicate an exceptionally high increase in evaporation since the end of the 20th century and in the 21st century, which reflects a potentially higher risk of permanent changes in hydrological conditions. The research results point to the major role of climatic factors in the often-dramatic decreases in water resources observed in the 21st century, particularly in lakes and small watercourses. The progressing reduction of water resources may cause permanent changes in physical and chemical conditions in waterbodies.
The objective of research involved the comparison of daily and seasonal courses of thermal stress occurring in Central Europe depending on the inflowing air mass. The analysis used data from Warsaw (1991–2000), including air temperature (°C), water vapour pressure (hPa), wind speed (m s−1) and cloud cover (%). Universal thermal climate index was calculated and subsequently averaged for the individual months and four types of atmospheric air masses: polar maritime (mP), arctic(A), polar continental (cP) and tropical (T). The studies analysed differences in daily patterns of the averaged values of universal thermal climate index between air masses and determined the frequency of days with various types of thermal stress in individual air masses. The analyses indicated that under the conditions of Central Europe, the highest daily variance of biothermal conditions occurs between the masses of cP and T in the spring and autumn. Considerably greater diversity of biothermal conditions was observed between the masses during daytime compared with nighttime, especially in the warm half of the year. The thermal stress, which can be encountered in Central Europe, ranges from an “extreme cold stress” in winter at night and early morning hours to “very strong heat stress” in summer at noon. Extreme thermal stress is related primarily to the masses of cP, A and T. The most optimal biothermal conditions occur during the advection of mP air.
The work describes diurnal meteorological and biometeorological conditions in June 2019 in the urban areas of Central Europe. UTCI, STI, Oh_H, WL, and OV indices were calculated based on 24-h data from Bydgoszcz (Poland) for hot days. The degree of risk connected with heat stress of different intensities, risk of hyperthermia, body water loss, and decreased oxygen volume was determined. The studies showed that June 2019 was an example of an extreme situation with a heatwave that generated high stress for the inhabitants of urban areas. The conditions were burdensome mostly due to “very strong” and “strong” heat stress and periodic risk of dehydration, situations that could quickly lead to overheating of the body and a decreased oxygen volume leading to stress.
The work is a description of onerousness of bio-thermal conditions occurring at midday during days of t max ≥30°C in three towns located in north-western Poland: Kolobrzeg, Chojnice and Poznan, for people undertaking physical activity of varying intensity. Based on the meteorological data for 12 a.m. UTC from the period 1981-2016 average values of biometeorological (HIS, STI) and thermophysiologial (HR, Oh_H, SW, DhRna) indices, as well as their extreme values and amplitudes were calculated. The frequency of conditions burdening human body, when undertaking exercise outdoors, was also determined. The analyses showed that in the midday hours an increased physical activity leads to an increase in intense thermal sensations and a significant burdening of the human body with heat stress. A potential risk of overheating, that could occur within an hour of intense effort, was noted. A serious risk of dehydration of the body, even at moderate activity, was also indicated. Particularly burdening conditions, with high sultriness and a possibility of hyperthermia were observed in Kolobrzeg.
This article seeks to analyse the universal thermal climate index (UTCI, °C), in order to characterise hazards associated with high air temperature that may possibly occur in Poland around noon on very hot days. Values for the index (calculated for UTC by reference to air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (v∙ms-1) and cloudiness (%)) related to from the Polish cities of Kołobrzeg, Poznań and Kraków, and to the period 2001–2018. Mean values with standard deviations were calculated, with minimum and maximum values noted, amplitudes, lower and upper quartiles and the skewness coefficient. One-way analysis of variance was deployed to determine whether UTCI values at midday on very hot days differ significantly from month to month. The frequency of occurrence of different intensities of heat stress was also determined. In each case, analysis related to both the overall period and individual years. Hours around noon on very hot days were mainly associated with “moderate” or “severe” heat stress, though instances “very sever heat stress” may also arise. The greatest threat of thermal heat stress could be noted for July and August, with conditions noticeably more severe in Kraków than the other stations studied. Kołobrzeg faced the most-limited hazard associated with the occurrence of heat stress, and only in July may “very severe heat stress” appear there sporadically. In turn, Poznań – located in a region with bioclimatic conditions typical for Poland – was rather characterised by “moderate” or “severe heat stress”. Equally, on a majority of the very hot days studied, all three stations recoded above-average UTCI values, with this fact making it clear that when a high level of thermal stress arises it may be rather a country-wide phenomenon. The most stable, near-average conditions characterised May, while biothermal differentiation peaked in July and August. Analysis of variance showed that, other than in relation to April in Poznań, levels of thermal stress on hot days did not differ significantly from one month to another. Analyses of the variability to values for the multi-year universal thermal climate index revealed an increase over time for maxima, especially in Kraków. This may point to an intensified risk associated with overheating of the body, in the south of Poland in particular. In addition, calculations confirm both spatial and temporal differentiation of biothermal conditions. Years in which hot days proved particularly burdensome were 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2013.
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