Baran-Gurgul et al. (2025) Regionalisation of Summer Hydrological Droughts Variability in Poland in Period 1993–2022

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Identification

• Journal: International Journal of Climatology
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-19
• Authors: Katarzyna Baran-Gurgul, Wałęga Andrzej
• DOI: 10.1002/joc.70186

Research Groups

Information not available from the provided abstract.

Short Summary

This study investigated the spatiotemporal variability of summer hydrological droughts in Poland from 1993 to 2022 across seven physiographic regions. It found marked regional differences, with northern and central lowlands experiencing intensified droughts, particularly after 2015, driven by rising temperatures and increased potential evapotranspiration, while mountainous areas showed fewer drought days.

Objective

• To investigate the spatiotemporal variability of summer hydrological droughts (May–October) from 1993 to 2022 across Poland's seven physiographic regions.
• To understand drought patterns amidst climate change and inform strategies for mitigating water shortages, specifically addressing the interplay of precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), standardised runoff index (SRI), and temperature across diverse physiographic regions.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Poland's seven physiographic regions.
• Temporal Scale: Summer hydrological droughts (May–October) from 1993 to 2022.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Standardised Runoff Index (SRI) for hydrological drought assessment; Q 90% threshold flow rate for defining drought days.
• Data sources: Over 52 synoptic stations and 125 gauging stations. Regional monthly averages of air temperature (degrees Celsius), precipitation (millimetres), potential evapotranspiration (PET), and Standardised Runoff Index (SRI) were analysed.

Main Results

• Marked regional variability in drought conditions was observed across Poland.
• Northern and central regions experienced the highest number of drought days, with a notable intensification after 2015.
• Mountainous areas (Carpathians and Sudetes) recorded fewer drought days due to higher precipitation and lower PET compared to lowland regions.
• Trend analysis revealed rising temperatures across all regions, which drove increased PET, particularly in northern areas.
• Precipitation trends were inconsistent, with some regions observing limited changes.
• A strong positive correlation between PET and precipitation was observed in lowland regions.
• Mountainous areas exhibited a negative correlation between PET and precipitation, where higher precipitation curtailed evaporation.
• The SRI highlighted a clear intensification of hydrological drought across Poland, especially in lowlands, primarily driven by rising temperatures, limited precipitation recovery, and human activities that reduce water retention.

Contributions

• Addresses a gap in understanding regional hydrological drought dynamics across Poland's diverse physiographic regions.
• Confirms the critical role of temperature and evapotranspiration in intensifying droughts in a temperate climate zone.
• Provides valuable insights into hydrological drought patterns in Poland, contributing to more informed water resource management strategies amidst ongoing climate changes.

Funding

Information not available from the provided abstract.

Citation

@article{BaranGurgul2025Regionalisation,
  author = {Baran-Gurgul, Katarzyna and Andrzej, Wałęga},
  title = {Regionalisation of Summer Hydrological Droughts Variability in Poland in Period 1993–2022},
  journal = {International Journal of Climatology},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1002/joc.70186},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.70186}
}