Thermal stress diversity during heat waves in the Kielecka Upland in the beginning of XXI century

Natural Environment Monitoring 2012, No 13, 41-50

THERMAL STRESS DIVERSITY DURING HEAT WAVES IN THE KIELECKA UPLAND IN THE BEGINNING OF XXI CENTURY

Krzysztof Jarzyna

 

Summary

The topic of a study was the diversity of the hot weather occurrence in the Kielce Upland, Central Poland, in the beginning of XXI century. Diversity of the thermal sensation of a man during heat waves was discussed too. The thermal sensation was estimated with use of the effective temperature (TE) which joins the influence of the air temperature and humidity together with wind speed on the man. Eight heat waves, defined as at least 3 consecutive days with tmax>30.0°C, has occurred in wide valleys and low plateaus of the Kielce Upland since the beginning of XXI century. This number was similar to values in adjacent regions. The longest heat wave registered in the Kielce lasted 12 days, since 18th till 29th July 2006. Heat waves were virtually absent atop the Świętokrzyskie Mts., the highest part of the Kielce Upland. The thermal stress was less intense there as compared to lower areas. However the thermal sensation class “very hot” could appear there during hot weather periods too as a consequence of higher air humidity and lower wind speed. The thermal stress was bigger in the Kielce’s downtown when compared to the city’s peripheries, especially in the evening and at night. It also appeared that biometeorological conditions could be less favourable in rooms without air conditioning than outdoors.