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vol. 13, nr. 2 (2009)


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Extreme pluvial conditions in Cracow and its surroundings in the years 1971-2005
Anita Bokwa1, Barbara Skowera2
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1 Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków
2 Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Agricultural University Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków

vol. 13 (2009), nr. 2, pp. 299-310
abstract: Temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric precipitation is determined by the extreme values and their frequency. That differentiation is very important for the water resources of a given area. Meteorological data from the years 1971-2005 from three stations (Gaik-Brzezowa, Cracow-Botanical Garden and Garlica Murowana) located in Cracow and its surroundings, along a longitudinal profile, were used for the study of spatial differentiation of extreme pluvial condi-tions. In spite of relatively short distances between the three stations, they represent different mesoregions in which relief and land use have considerable impact not only on local differences in precipitation sums but also on the occurrence of pluvial extremes. The index proposed by Kaczorowska was employed in the analysis. The results obtained were compared to similar analyses results for other parts of Poland. The pluvial conditions in Cracow and its surroundings show large variability. The lowest annual precipitation sums occurred in Garlica Murowana, similar to the highest frequency of extremely dry and wet months. The highest number of months with average precipitation occurred at the urban station Cracow-Botanical Garden. The number of very wet and extremely wet months showed increasing tendency only at the station in Cracow.
keywords: precipitation, extreme pluvial conditions, Cracow
original in: Polish