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Changes of atmospheric circulation in central Europe and their influence on climatic trends in the Czech Republic

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Abstract

This work deals with the influence of changes of atmospheric circulation on observed trends of 11 climatic elements at 21 stations in the Czech Republic in the period 1961–1998. Atmospheric circulation in central Europe is described by the German (Hess-Brezowsky) and Czech-Slovak (Brádka’s) subjective catalogues of synoptic types. In the study period there is a strong downward trend in the occurrence of anticyclonic types in Brádka’s catalogue in all seasons, this trend being most prominent in autumn. Westerly and northwesterly types become more frequent in autumn and winter, less frequent in spring and summer under both classifications. In the Hess-Brezowsky catalogue, the occurrence of anticyclonic types increases in winter, spring, and summer. To assess the effect of circulation changes on observed climate trends we have used the method of “hypothetical” seasonal trends that are calculated from a daily series, constructed by assigning the long-term monthly average of the given climatic element under a specific circulation type to each day classified with this type. The ratio of these circulation-conditioned trends and observed seasonal trends shows that changes in atmospheric circulation are the primary cause of massive winter warming and autumn cooling, which is connected with increasing precipitation and humidity. Summer climate trends are unrelated to changes in atmospheric circulation. Simultaneous use of more circulation classifications for the detection of climatic changes is highly recommended, as the long-term circulation trends depend on the catalogue applied.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Friedrich-Wilhelm Gerstengarbe and Peter C. Werner, Potsdam Institut für Klimafolgenforschung, Potsdam, Germany, for providing us with the Hess-Brezowsky catalogue and related reports, and for useful discussions; and to Stanislav Racko, Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Prague, Czech Republic, for information on the history of Brádka’s catalogue. The work was carried out within the COST733 Action “Harmonization and Applications of Weather Types Classifications for European Regions”. The participation of the Czech Republic in this action is supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic under contract OC115. The study was also supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Academy of Sciences, contract A300420506.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Boční II 1401, 141 31, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    Monika Cahynová & Radan Huth

  2. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic

    Monika Cahynová

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  1. Monika Cahynová
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  2. Radan Huth
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Correspondence to Monika Cahynová.

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Cahynová, M., Huth, R. Changes of atmospheric circulation in central Europe and their influence on climatic trends in the Czech Republic. Theor Appl Climatol 96, 57–68 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-008-0097-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-008-0097-2

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