Changes in atmospheric circulation in Central Europe and their influence on climate in the Czech Republic

Abstract

This work is concerned with the influence of changes of atmospheric circulation (represented by the Hess-Brezowsky and Brádka’s subjective catalogues of synoptic types) on observed linear trends of 11 climatic elements from 21 stations in the Czech Republic in the period 1961-1998. The ratio of "hypothetical" (caused only by changes in the frequency of synoptic types) and observed trends shows that changes in atmospheric circulation are the primary cause of massive winter warming, and autumn cooling connected with increasing precipitation and humidity. In spring and summer, the influence is insignificant except for precipitation, relative humidity and cloudiness changes that are related to trends in the Hess-Brezowsky catalogue, mostly in spring