Spatial and temporal analysis of extreme bioclimate conditions in Vojvodina, Northern Serbia

Abstract

© 2017 Royal Meteorological Society Several indices, with focus on extreme climate and bioclimate events have been calculated and their trends (over 1961 to 2014) analyzed in order to identify possible changes in temperature-related climate extremes over Vojvodina region, Northern Serbia. Physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) has been used for the assessment of bioclimatological extremes in Vojvodina. A number of indices for temperature extremes have been defined by CLIVAR (Climate Variability and Predictability) and they are modified in order to detect extremes in bioclimatological variables (PET). In this study, we used 11 PET indices. The results indicate that the whole area is dominated by significant increase in the frequency of warm conditions and significant decrease in the cold conditions. These results could indicate that the warming in Vojvodina could be due to the more pronounced and higher frequency of warm bioclimatological extreme conditions. The frequency and the duration of heat waves are increasing for the whole area, while the decrease in number and duration of cold waves is not so pronounced.