Regional features of the bioclimate of Central and Southern Europe against the background of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification

Błażejczyk, Krzysztof; Baranowski, Jarosław (1970– ); Jendritzky, Gerd; Błażejczyk, Anna; Bröde, Peter; Fiala, Dusan

doi:0016-7282

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Regional features of the bioclimate of Central and Southern Europe against the background of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification Błażejczyk, KrzysztofBaranowski, Jarosław (1970– )Jendritzky, GerdBłażejczyk, AnnaBröde, PeterFiala, Dusan

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Regional features of the bioclimate of Central and Southern Europe against the background of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification

Geographia Polonica Vol. 88 No. 3 (2015)

Błażejczyk, Krzysztof ; Baranowski, Jarosław (1970– ) : Autor ; Jendritzky, Gerd ; Błażejczyk, Anna ; Bröde, Peter ; Fiala, Dusan

human bioclimate ; Universal Thermal Climate Index ; Koeppen-Geiger climate classification ; seasonal and regional variability of climate

Climate Index UTCI to studies of regional variability in human-biometeorological conditions. The variability in question was assessed by reference to selected meteorological stations representing Central and Southern Europe, i.e. Kołobrzeg, Warsaw and Świeradów (in Poland), Prague, Budapest, Ljubljana, Milan, Rome and Athens, with the bioclimatic features characterising these localities being presented against the background of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. In line with that classification, the first five stations are found to represent the cold climate zones (Dfb, Dfc). The last four stations are in turn located in the temperate climate zones (Cfa, Cfb, Csa). Seasonal changes in UTCI values and the frequency of occurrence of UTCI categories are discussed. Significant regional differences in bioclimatic characteristics were found between the stations representing various types of climate. While the highest summer values for UTCI are very similar at all stations (39-42°C), the frequency of occurrence of days with at least strong heat stress (SHS) varied from 2% at the coastal station of Kołobrzeg in Poland to more than 50% at the Milan, Rome and Athens stations. In winter the lowest UTCI values are much differentiated regionally, from -54°C at the mountain station in Świeradów, Poland, to -22°C in Rome. In the zone of cold climate, the frequency of occurrence of days with at least strong cold stress (SCS) is >40%, while in the temperate climates, strong cold stress is characteristic of less than 2% of winter days.

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