CR 20:123-133 (2002)  -  doi:10.3354/cr020123

ABSTRACT: The variability of minimum and maximum temperature and the daily temperature range (DTR) in Poland was analyzed on the basis of the data from 9 stations with different periods of data (the longest was 98 yr). The long-term changes of seasonal means as well as for all Julian days were determined. The increase in the minimum temperature was accompanied by a slighter increase in the maximum temperature and a decrease in the DTR. It was found that the DTR changes correlate well with cloudiness, and the extreme temperature changes are related to the NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) intensity, especially during winter and spring. The analysis of intra-annual changes has shown that the strongest increase in the minimum and maximum temperatures occurs in mid- and late winter, but there are also periods with decreasing tendencies, i.e. late autumn, the beginning of winter and the beginning of summer. All temperature indices indicate the cooling in autumn.

KEY WORDS: Daily minimum and maximum temperature · Daily temperature range · Long-term trends · Poland