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Spatiotemporal distribution of aridity indices based on temperature and precipitation in the extra-Carpathian regions of Romania

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Abstract

In the last decades, droughts are a recurrent phenomena in many regions of the world, especially in the subtropics and mid-latitudes, affecting more and more the society. Aridity indices are often used to identify regions prone to that phenomenon. In this paper, we used data recorded in 30 locations in the extra-Carpathian areas of Romania over the period 1961–2007. The De Martonne aridity index (I DM) and the Pinna combinative index (I P) were employed in order to identify critical areas in the most important agricultural regions of the country. Monthly, seasonal, annual, and winter wheat and maize growing season datasets of I DM and annual values of I P were calculated. The trends were identified using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope, while ordinary Kriging technique was employed for interpolation. The main findings are that the most vulnerable to semi-aridity are the southeastern regions, especially during the warm period of the year, and that for Romania, the use of I DM is more appropriate compared to I P.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the National Meteorological Administration in Romania for the monthly data provided. This paper was partially supported by POSDRU CUANTUMDOC “Doctoral Studies for European Performances in Research and Inovation” ID79407 project funded by the European Social Found and the Romanian Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical and Technical Department, Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-7, Clinicilor Street, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Adina-Eliza Croitoru

  2. Department of Environmental Analysis and Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30, Fantanele Street, 400294, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Adrian Piticar

  3. Regional Geography Department, Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-7, Clinicilor Street, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Alexandru Mircea Imbroane

  4. Oltenia Regional Meteorological Center, National Meteorological Administration, 3A, Brestei Street, Craiova, Dolj, Romania

    Doina Cristina Burada

  5. Department of Atmospheric Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405, Atomistilor Street, PO Box MG-11, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania

    Doina Cristina Burada

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  1. Adina-Eliza Croitoru
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  2. Adrian Piticar
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Correspondence to Adina-Eliza Croitoru.

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Croitoru, AE., Piticar, A., Imbroane, A.M. et al. Spatiotemporal distribution of aridity indices based on temperature and precipitation in the extra-Carpathian regions of Romania. Theor Appl Climatol 112, 597–607 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-012-0755-2

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