Prevailing surface winds in Northern Serbia in the recent and past time periods; modern- and past dust deposition

Abstract

This study utilizes four different methodological approaches to examine the prevailing surface winds and their associated aeolian processes in Northern Serbia, focusing on the southeastern part of the Carpathian Basin. We utilized wind and atmospheric pressure data from 1939-2014 and 1960-2010 for the climatological analyses. Geomorphological data and numerical simulations were used to estimate prevailing paleowind systems. Northern Serbia is currently dominated by surface winds coming from the fourth (270°-360°) and second (90°-180°) quadrants, with frequencies of ca. 116 and 105 days/year, respectively. Comparable frequencies within Banatska Peščara are 115 and 129 days/year, respectively. Crestal orientations of the vast majority of the ≈1300 parabolic dunes here suggest that they have formed from winds derived from the second quadrant, indicating formation during the early Holocene. The remaining dunes, of the transverse type, have orientations aligned to the third quadrant. Grain size analysis of loess deposits near Banatska Peščara points to deposition driven by southeasterly winds, probably during the period between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the early Holocene. Modern wind measurements and geomorphological data showed that the prevailing winds in the recent and past periods were from the same quadrant, in and around Banatska Peščara. These results were confirmed with an explicit numerical simulation that modelled prevailing winds from the second quadrant during the LGM. Thus, the various geomorphologic and climatic data analyzed in this study show that the general air circulation patterns in the recent period are not dissimilar to those operative during the LGM.

Independent Aridity and Drought Pieces of Evidence Based on Meteorological Data and Tree Ring Data in Southeast Banat, Vojvodina, Serbia

“…Other significant geomorphological features include two sandy terrains: Banatska Peščara (Banat Sands, 250 m AMSL) in the southeast, and Bačka Peščara (Bačka Sands, 134 m AMSL) in the north, as well as lower areas and alluvial plains. Forests only comprise about 7% of Vojvodina and exist mainly in the mountains and terrains situated along river banks, while agricultural land occupies about 84% of the territory [40].…”

“…A wide range of extreme temperatures and a very irregular distribution of precipitation per month led to different values of calculated aridity types [17]. The climate diversity of Vojvodina is mainly the result of surface wind blowing from opposite directions: NW when it is cold and humid, and SE when it is warm and dry [40,41]. The mean annual surface air temperature and the mean annual amount of precipitation are approximately 11.3 • C and 607.3 mm (see Section 4.1.5); [42][43][44], respectively.…”

“…The values of the mean annual surface air temperature (11.7 • C), and the mean annual precipitation (652.4 mm) are higher than in Vojvodina as a whole (see Section 4.1.5), while the mean annual aridity is almost the same (see Section 4.1.1) in both the SE Banat subregion and Vojvodina as a whole. In SE Banat, there is also a higher frequency of the unique, dry, southeastern wind phenomenon known locally as a Košava, which occurs, on average, 129 days annually, while, in the rest of Vojvodina, it occurs at a lower rate of about 105 days annually [40].…”

Identifying Areas Sensitive to Wind Erosion—A Case Study of the AP Vojvodina (Serbia)

“…In prior research on the vulnerability of the entire area of the AP Vojvodina, similar results were found by Velasević [45] and Savić [12], and the most severely affected areas were northern and southeastern parts of AP Vojvodina. The most vulnerable parts of the research area (northern and southeastern parts) contain two sandy areas-the Deliblato and Horgoš sands [46]. Although they are not agricultural areas, a high probability of sand detachment in these places has negative impacts on agriculture [47].…”

“…Studies on the intensity of wind erosion in the Republic of Serbia and AP Vojvodina were carried out (in sandy areas) in four sample plots and at two locations which were used for validation in this research. The first location was positioned in a highly vulnerable area in The most vulnerable parts of the research area (northern and southeastern parts) contain two sandy areas-the Deliblato and Horgoš sands [46]. Although they are not agricultural areas, a high probability of sand detachment in these places has negative impacts on agriculture [47].…”