engleski

Hydrological response to changing climate in headwater streams of the Plitvice lakes NP, Croatia

Changing climate in the mountainous part of Croatia is mainly manifested through warmer and shorter winters which are coming later in the year. Higher winter temperatures mean less snow and more liquid precipitation. In addition, higher summer temperatures bring higher values of evapotranspiration. Hydrological response is complex. In the study area of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Plitvice Lakes National Park (Dinaric Karst area) we analyzed changes in discharge regime of main headwater streams of the lake system, i.e. the Plitvica Stream, the Bijela rijeka Stream and the Crna rijeka Stream. We used different statistical methods on yearly and monthly hydrological data. Results show changes in discharge regime with recent increase of secondary maximum discharge in autumn and winter months (more liquid precipitation), decrease of primary maximum discharge in spring months (lower snow retention effect). Changes in summer months are twofold. On the one hand, minimums are in general lower resulting from longer dry and warm periods. On the other hand, summer discharge has higher variability which is correlated with higher precipitation variability and intensity.

Changing climate, discharge regime, Plitvice Lakes NP, Croatia

U organizaciji: Faculty of Geography, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj- Napoca