Temperature changes and elevation‐warming relationships in the Carpathian Mountains

Abstract

This paper investigates the elevation‐warming relationships across the Carpathian Mountains, using the 0.1° × 0.1° gridded daily air temperature dataset developed within the CARPATCLIM project, in order to understand the spatial patterns of annual and seasonal temperature trends and test the hypothesis of enhanced warming with elevation. Temperature trend and elevation‐warming analyses were conducted over the 50 years of the dataset (1961–2010). The vertical variations of five key isotherms relevant for the development of cold‐climate weathering, presence of permafrost (−2°C, 0°C, +2°C, +3°C) and spread of forest vegetation (July +10°C) were also examined. The Carpathian Mountains are under visible annual and seasonal warming (stronger in the summer and winter), both daytime and nighttime. The warming process shows a great spatial inhomogeneity, but is more pronounced in the lowlands of the region, generally below 1,000–1,200 m. The correlations between elevation and warming rates across the Carpathians have been found both to be positive and negative, while mostly significant at the 5% level. Evidence of enhanced warming with elevation was found to be related to the minimum temperature increase mostly across the NW and SW Carpathians, at both annual and seasonal scales (winter, summer and spring). Less prominent EDW signals have been identified in the NE, E and S Carpathians (summer), as well as in the NE Carpathians (spring). Parts of the detected temperature trends and EDW signals have been considered to be an effect of the changing atmospheric circulation (i.e. westerly intensification especially in the winter), although other mechanisms and processes could be involved (e.g. snow‐albedo feedbacks in the spring). These results could serve as a reference for further investigations of climate warming effects across the Carpathian Mountains region (e.g. ecological and geomorphic), especially in relation to the augmented summer heat stress (e.g. more frequent heatwaves) and milder winters (e.g. less freezing days).

Changes in the Carpathian fauna of Malachiinae beetles (Coleoptera, Melyridae) in the context of temperature increase

“…Over the last century, the average global temperature on the planet has increased by about 0.8 ºC (IPCC, 2007). The Carpathian region is no exception (Micu et al, 2021). The data of multi years' climate observation carried out by the Transcarpathian Regional Centre of Hydrometeorology indicate the increase of average air temperature in the foothills of the Transcarpathian region, also (Fig.…”

Subalpine woody vegetation in the Eastern Carpathians after release from agropastoral pressure

“…In the Bieszczady Mts, the rate of colonization of subalpine pastures by woody species was also attributed to global climate change 34 , 35 . However, climate change in the Carpathians at locations higher than 1200 m is slower than at lower altitudes 61 . The present analysis shows that shrub thicket growth will be the most dynamic at lower elevations (1050–1249 m) and will be moderate at higher elevations (1250–1346 m).…”

Variation Characteristics of Two Erosion Forces and Their Potential Risk Assessment in the Pisha Sandstone Area

“…The northwesterly monsoon is affected by the Siberian high-pressure system (the 'Siberian High') in the winter, while the southeasterly monsoon is affected by the Western Pacific Subtropical High in the summer, influencing the wind speed and precipitation distribution on a large scale [28][29][30]. The elevation of the land gradually increases from east to west in this area, which indirectly affects the local meteorological factors [31]. The specific heat capacities of bare and sand-covered land are smaller than for the soil cover, and vegetation on the former type of land are always less prolific than on the latter, which mainly affect the local wind speed [32].…”