Seasonal precipitation variation in central-eastern Poland

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to characterise pluvial conditions in central-eastern Poland from the beginning of the 21 st century (2001–2020). The analysis involved seven meteorological stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute (IMGW-PIB): Białowieża, Legionowo, Pułtusk, Siedlce, Szepietowo, Terespol and Warsaw. The work contains the analysis of the annual and seasonal atmospheric precipitation pattern (summer, winter, spring and autumn) and its temporal and spatial variation throughout a 20-year period. Moreover, the percentage share of precipitation in each season in the annual sum was calculated. In order to analyse precipitation patterns in the study period, the Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) was applied. The average long-term annual atmospheric precipitation sum ranged from 557 mm at Terespol to 653 mm at Białowieża. The highest seasonal precipitation sum in the studied region was recorded for the summer (218 mm) whereas in spring and autumn, precipitation stayed at a similar level and amounted to 130 and 131 mm, respectively. The lowest precipitation was recorded in winter (109 mm). The highest percentage share of the atmospheric precipitation sum was associated with summer rainfall (from 35 to 38%), whereas the lowest in winter (from 18 to 20%). Comparisons of 2001–2010 and 2011–2020 decades revealed a decline in the share of summer precipitation in the annual sum at most of the stations, and an increase in the share of winter precipitation. The ITA demonstrated that the most significant trends in precipitation change occurred in summer and winter and the directions of the trends were different for each station.

Keywords

• atmospheric precipitation
• central-eastern poland
• seasonality
• tendency for change