This paper describes the frequency analysis of absolute maximum air
temperatures, using annual maximum series (AMS) in the period 1961-2010 from
40 climatological stations in Serbia with maximum likelihood estimation of
distribution parameters. For the goodness of fit testing of General Extreme
Value (GEV), Normal, Log-Normal, Pearson 3 (three parameters), and
Log-Pearson 3 distribution, three different tests were used
(Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Anderson-Darling, chi-square). Based on the results of
these tests (best average rank of certain distribution), the appropriate
distribution is selected. GEV distribution proved to be the most appropriate
one in most cases. The probability of exceedance of absolute maximum air
temperatures on 1%, 0.5%, 0.2%, and 0.1% levels are calculated. A spatial
analysis of the observed and modeled values of absolute maximum air
temperatures in Serbia is given. The absolute maximum air temperature of
44.9?C was recorded at Smederevska Palanka station, and the lowest value of
maximum air temperature 35.8?C was recorded at Zlatibor station, one of the
stations with the highest altitude. The modeled absolute maximum air
temperatures are the highest at Zajecar station with 44.5?C, 45.6?C, 47.0?C, and 48.0?C and the lowest values are calculated for Sjenica station
with 35.5?C, 35.8?C, 36.1?C, and 36.2?C for the return periods of 100,
200, 500, and 1000 years, respectively. Our findings indicate the possible
occurrence of much higher absolute maximum air temperatures in the future
than the ones recorded on almost all of the analyzed stations.