Chronology of strong winds based on documentary evidence in the Czech Republic from AD 1510

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukáš Dolák ◽  
Rudolf Brázdil ◽  
Petr Dobrovolný ◽  
Hubert Valášek ◽  
Ladislava Řezníčková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Convective Storms ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Instrumental Period ◽  
Czech Lands ◽  
Wind Speed Measurement

<p>To develop an understanding of recent variability in strong winds, it is necessary to analyse their past behaviour. While relatively short series of wind-speed measurement in the Czech Lands (recent Czech Republic) started mostly in the first half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, documentary evidence represents a valuable source of information helping extend the knowledge of strong winds to the pre-instrumental period. In this study, we analyse strong winds on the basis of chronicles, weather diaries, early journalism, economic and financial sources, as well as old academic journals, newspapers, professional papers and recent scientific papers. The created dataset presents a chronology of strong winds in the Czech Lands from AD 1510 to present. The dataset contains more than 5000 events, which are classified on duration, location, extent, severity and type of damage on squalls (convective storms), tornadoes, blizzards, gales and windstorms. Gales, often accompanied by loss of human lives, damage to buildings and forests (windthrows), are the most frequently recorded type of strong winds (44%), followed by blizzards (26%), squalls (18%), and tornadoes (7%). Strong winds detected are concentrated 1820s to late-1840s, 1900s to late-1930s and in the 2000s. Seasonal distribution of strong winds is relatively equal throughout the chronology with the highest frequency in July (10.0%), January (8.6%), and December (8.1%). Uncertainties in results emerge from a different spatiotemporal density of documentary data and from the ambiguous nature of some records in determining the classification of strong winds or attribution of damage caused to particular events. Our results highlight the importance of documentary evidence in the analysis of strong winds and contribute to a better understanding of their spatiotemporal variability in the past.</p>

scholarly journals Potential of Documentary Evidence to Study Fatalities of Hydrological and Meteorological Events in the Czech Republic

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brázdil ◽  
Chromá ◽  
Řehoř ◽  
Zahradníček ◽  
Dolák ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Data Uncertainty ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Convective Storm ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Epigraphic Evidence

This paper presents the potential of documentary evidence for enhancing the study of fatalities taking place in the course of hydrological and meteorological events (HMEs). Chronicles, “books of memory”, weather diaries, newspapers (media), parliamentary proposals, epigraphic evidence, systematic meteorological/hydrological observations, and professional papers provide a broad base for gathering such information in the Czech Republic, especially since 1901. The spatiotemporal variability of 269 fatalities in the Czech Republic arising out of 103 HMEs (flood, flash flood, windstorm, convective storm, lightning, frost, snow/glaze-ice calamity, heat, and other events) in the 1981–2018 period is presented, with particular attention to closer characterisation of fatalities (gender, age, cause of death, place, type of death, and behaviour). Examples of three outstanding events with the highest numbers of fatalities (severe frosts in the extremely cold winter of 1928/1929, a flash flood on 9 June 1970, and a rain flood in July 1997) are described in detail. Discussion of results includes the problem of data uncertainty, factors influencing the numbers of fatalities, and the broader context. Since floods are responsible for the highest proportion of HME-related deaths, places with fatalities are located mainly around rivers and drowning appears as the main cause of death. In the further classification of fatalities, males and adults clearly prevail, while indirect victims and hazardous behaviour are strongly represented.

Documentary data in the study of fatalities caused by meteorological and hydrological events: the Czech Republic, 1964–2019

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kateřina Chromá ◽  
Rudolf Brázdil ◽  
Lukáš Dolák ◽  
Jan Řehoř ◽  
Ladislava Řezníčková
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Data Uncertainty ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Uncertainty Factors ◽  
Convective Storms ◽  
Documentary Data ◽  
Epigraphic Evidence

<p>Reports from the newspaper “Rudé právo/Právo”, complemented by chronicles, epigraphic evidence, systematic meteorological/hydrological observations, media (including internet), professional reports and papers were used to create a database of fatalities taking place in the course of hydrological and meteorological events over the territory of the Czech Republic during the 1964–2019 period. The spatiotemporal variability of fatalities arising out of floods, flash floods, windstorms, convective storms, lightning, frosts, snow/glaze-ice calamities, avalanches, heats and other events is shown, with particular attention to closer characterisation of fatalities (gender, age, cause of death, place, type of death and behaviour). In the classification of fatalities, males and adults clearly prevail, while indirect victims and hazardous behaviour are strongly represented. Examples of two outstanding events with the highest numbers of fatalities during a flash flood on 9 June 1970 (34 fatalities) and a rain-induced flood in July 1997 (60 fatalities) are described in detail. Discussion of results includes the problem of data uncertainty, factors influencing the numbers of fatalities, and the broader context. The study emphasises the significance of documentary data and reveals its new utilisation in the study of fatalities in the Czech Republic.</p>

scholarly journals Droughts in the Czech Lands, 1090–2012 AD

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1985-2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Brázdil ◽  
P. Dobrovolný ◽  
M. Trnka ◽  
O. Kotyza ◽  
L. Řezníčková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Indices ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
Recurrence Intervals ◽  
Southern Moravia ◽  
Instrumental Period ◽  
Instrumental Records ◽  
Czech Lands ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. This paper addresses droughts in the Czech Lands in the 1090–2012 AD period, basing its findings on documentary evidence and instrumental records. Various documentary sources were employed for the selection of drought events, which were then interpreted at a monthly level. While the data on droughts before 1500 AD are scarce, the analysis concentrated mainly on droughts after this time. A dry year in 1501–1804 period (i.e. pre-instrumental times) was defined as a calendar year in the course of which dry patterns occurred on at least two consecutive months. Using this definition, 129 dry years were identified (an average of one drought per 2.4 yr). From the 16th to the 18th centuries these figures become 41, 36 and 49 yr respectively, with the prevailing occurrence of dry months from April to September (73.7%). Drought indices – SPEI-1, Z-index and PDSI – calculated for the Czech Lands for April–September describe drought patterns between 1805 and 2012 (the instrumental period). N-year recurrence intervals were calculated for each of the three indices. Using N ≥ 5 yr, SPEI-1 indicates 40 drought years, Z-index 39 yr and PDSI 47 yr. SPEI-1 and Z-index recorded 100 yr drought in 1834, 1842, 1868, 1947 and 2003 (50 yr drought in 1992). PDSI as an indicator of long-term drought disclosed two important drought periods: 1863–1874 and 2004–2012. The first period was related to a lack of precipitation, the other may be attributed to recent temperature increases without significant changes in precipitation. Droughts from the pre-instrumental and instrumental period were used to compile a long-term chronology for the Czech Lands. The number of years with drought has fluctuated between 26 in 1951–2000 and 16 in 1651–1700. Only nine drought years were recorded between 1641 and 1680, while between 1981 and 2012 the figure was 22 yr. A number of past severe droughts are described in detail: in 1540, 1590, 1616, 1718 and 1719. A discussion of the results centres around the uncertainty problem, the spatial variability of droughts, comparison with tree-ring reconstructions from southern Moravia, and the broader central European context.

scholarly journals Droughts in the Czech Lands, 1090–2012 AD

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 2423-2470 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Brázdil ◽  
P. Dobrovolný ◽  
M. Trnka ◽  
O. Kotyza ◽  
L. Řezníčková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Indices ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
Recurrence Intervals ◽  
Southern Moravia ◽  
Instrumental Period ◽  
Instrumental Records ◽  
Czech Lands ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. This paper addresses droughts in the Czech Lands in the 1090–2012 AD period, basing its findings on documentary evidence and instrumental records. Various documentary sources were employed for the selection of drought events, which were then interpreted at a monthly level. While the data on droughts before 1500 AD are scarce, the analysis concentrated mainly on droughts after this time. A dry year in 1501–1804 period (i.e. pre-instrumental times) was defined as a calendar year in the course of which dry patterns occurred on at least two consecutive months. Using this definition, 129 dry years were identified (an average of one drought per 2.4 yr). From the 16th to the 18th centuries these figures become 41, 36 and 49 yr, respectively, with the prevailing occurrence of dry months from April to September (73.7%). Drought indices – SPEI-1, Z-index and PDSI – calculated for the Czech Lands for April–September describe drought patterns between 1805 and 2012 (the instrumental period). N year recurrence intervals were calculated for each of the three indices. Using N ≥ 5 yr, SPEI-1 indicates 40 drought years, Z-index 39 yr and PDSI 47 yr. SPEI-1 and Z-index recorded 100 yr drought in 1834, 1842, 1868, 1947 and 2003 (50 yr drought in 1992). PDSI as an indicator of long-term drought disclosed two important drought periods: 1863–1874 and 2004–2012. The first period was related to a lack of precipitation, the other may be attributed to recent temperature increases without significant changes in precipitation. Droughts from the pre-instrumental and instrumental period were used to compile a long-term chronology for the Czech Lands. The number of years with drought has fluctuated between 26 in 1951–2000 and 16 in 1651–1700. Only nine drought years were recorded between 1641 and 1680, while between 1981 and 2012 the figure was 22 yr. A number of past severe droughts are described in detail: in 1540, 1590, 1616, 1718 and 1719. A discussion of the results centres around the uncertainty problem, the spatial variability of droughts, comparison with tree-ring reconstructions from southern Moravia, and the broader Central European context.

scholarly journals Flash floods in Moravia and Silesia during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Geografie ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Halásová ◽  
Rudolf Brázdil
Keyword(s):  
Flash Flood ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Spatiotemporal Data ◽  
Data Uncertainty ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Central European ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries

A range of documentary evidence and systematic meteorological/hydrological observations were employed to create a database of flash floods for Moravia and Silesia (the eastern part of Czechia) in the 19th and 20th centuries. The data extracted were used for an analysis of the spatiotemporal variability of flash floods, based on the frequency of days with flash floods and the number of municipalities affected. The dynamic climatology of flash floods was interpreted using the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute classification of synoptic types. Descriptions of flash-flood-related damage enabled their further division into six different types. Examples of three outstanding flash floods are described in more detail. All interpreted results are discussed with respect to spatiotemporal data uncertainty and their national and broader central European context. Flash floods constitute significant extreme natural events in Moravia and Silesia; knowledge of them, and more detailed investigation, are important to risk reduction.

scholarly journals Extreme droughts and human responses to them: the Czech Lands in the pre-instrumental period

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Brázdil ◽  
Petr Dobrovolný ◽  
Miroslav Trnka ◽  
Ladislava Řezníčková ◽  
Lukáš Dolák ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Return Period ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Standardized Precipitation Index ◽  
Drought Indices ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Sea Level Pressure ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
Summer Half ◽  
Instrumental Period ◽  
Czech Lands

Abstract. The Czech Lands are particularly rich in documentary sources that help elucidate droughts in the pre-instrumental period (12th–18th centuries), together with descriptions of human responses to them. Although droughts appear less frequently before 1501, the documentary evidence has enabled the creation of a series of seasonal and summer half-year drought indices (Standardized Precipitation Index, SPI; Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, SPEI; Z index) for the Czech Lands for the 1501–2017 period. Based on the calculation of return period for series of drought indices, extreme droughts were selected for inclusion herein if all three indices indicated a return period of ≥20 years. For further analysis, only those from the pre-instrumental period (before 1804) were used. The extreme droughts selected are characterized by significantly lower values of drought indices, higher temperatures and lower precipitation totals compared to other years. The sea-level pressure patterns typically associated with extreme droughts include significantly higher pressure over Europe and significantly lower pressure over parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Extreme droughts with a return period ≥ 50 years are described in detail on the basis of Czech documentary evidence. A number of selected extreme droughts are reflected in other central European reconstructions derived from documentary data or tree rings. Impacts on social life and responses to extreme droughts are summarized; analysis of fluctuations in grain prices with respect to drought receives particular attention. Finally, extreme droughts from the pre-instrumental and instrumental periods are discussed.

scholarly journals Extreme droughts and human responses to them: the Czech Lands in the pre-instrumental period

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Brázdil ◽  
Petr Dobrovolný ◽  
Miroslav Trnka ◽  
Ladislava Řezníčková ◽  
Lukáš Dolák ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Return Period ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Drought Indices ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Sea Level Pressure ◽  
Central European ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
Summer Half ◽  
Instrumental Period ◽  
Czech Lands

Abstract. The Czech Lands are particularly rich in documentary sources that help elucidate droughts in the pre-instrumental period (12th–18th centuries), together with descriptions of human responses to them. Although droughts appear less frequently before AD 1501, the documentary evidence has enabled the creation of series of seasonal and summer half-year drought indices (SPI, SPEI and Z-index) for the Czech Lands for the 1501–2017 period. Based on calculation of return period for series of drought indices, extreme droughts were selected for inclusion herein if all three indices indicated a return period of ≥ 20 years. For further analysis, only those from the pre-instrumental period (before AD 1804) were used. The extreme droughts selected are characterised by significantly lower values of drought indices, higher temperatures and lower precipitation totals compared to other years. The sea-level pressure patterns typically associated with extreme droughts include significantly higher pressure over Europe and significantly lower pressure over parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Extreme droughts with a return period ≥ 50 years are described in detail on the basis of Czech documentary evidence. A number of selected extreme droughts are reflected in other central European reconstructions derived from documentary data or tree-rings. Impacts on social life and responses to extreme droughts are summarised; analysis of fluctuations in grain prices with respect to drought receives particular attention. Finally, extreme droughts from the pre-instrumental and instrumental periods are discussed.

scholarly journals Historical and recent viticulture as a source of climatological knowledge in the Czech Republic

Geografie ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Brázdil ◽  
Pavel Zahradníček ◽  
Petr Dobrovolný ◽  
Oldřich Kotyza ◽  
Hubert Valášek
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Weather Extremes ◽  
Wine Quality ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Start Date ◽  
Czech Lands ◽  
Grape Varieties ◽  
The Relationship

The cultivation of the vine (Vinis vinifera) that yields grapes for wine manufacture is strongly influenced by the weather. This relationship enables the use of historical viticultural data (e.g., the start date of the grape harvest, notes on wine quality and quantity) for the reconstruction of temperatures and weather extremes in past times. This paper summarises the basics of the relationship between viticulture and climate in the Czech Lands. We compile historical observations before AD 1500 and for the 16th-18th centuries from various types of documentary evidence. The starting dates of the grape harvest in Znojmo for 1800-1890 are used for the reconstruction of April-August temperatures in Brno. The quality of the wine from Bzenec (1800-1890), Znojmo (1802-1845) and Bohutice (1861-1912) is analysed with respect to temperatures corresponding to excellent, good, average and bad wine. Times of flowering and grape harvest are compared with temperatures at the Velké Pavlovice station for the period 1956-2007 and 1984-2007, for various grape varieties.

scholarly journals High-Resolution Modelling of Thermal Exposure during a Hot Spell: A Case Study Using PALM-4U in Prague, Czech Republic

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 175
Author(s):  
Jan Geletič ◽  
Michal Lehnert ◽  
Pavel Krč ◽  
Jaroslav Resler ◽  
Eric Scott Krayenhoff
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Thermal Exposure ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Cooling Effect ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Street Canyons ◽  
General Terms

The modelling of thermal exposure in outdoor urban environments is a highly topical challenge in modern climate research. This paper presents the results derived from a new micrometeorological model that employs an integrated biometeorology module to model Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). This is PALM-4U, which includes an integrated human body-shape parameterization, deployed herein for a pilot domain in Prague, Czech Republic. The results highlight the key role of radiation in the spatiotemporal variability of thermal exposure in moderate-climate urban areas during summer days in terms of the way in which this directly affects thermal comfort through radiant temperature and indirectly through the complexity of turbulence in street canyons. The model simulations suggest that the highest thermal exposure may be expected within street canyons near the irradiated north sides of east–west streets and near streets oriented north–south. Heat exposure in streets increases in proximity to buildings with reflective paints. The lowest heat exposure during the day may be anticipated in tree-shaded courtyards. The cooling effect of trees may range from 4 °C to 9 °C in UTCI, and the cooling effect of grass in comparison with artificial paved surfaces in open public places may be from 2 °C to 5 °C UTCI. In general terms, this study illustrates that the PALM modelling system provides a new perspective on the spatiotemporal differentiation of thermal exposure at the pedestrian level; it may therefore contribute to more climate-sensitive urban planning.

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