2. Climate
Many factors influence the shaping of the Polish
climate. The most important are meteorological
factors, i.e. types of air masses flowing over the area
of Poland from different directions, systems of
atmospheric fronts at specific times of the year, and
baric systems, occurrence of the main low and high
centers. In addition to meteorological factors, non-
meteorological factors also affect the shaping of the
climate in Poland, including geographical location,
which is related to the degree of insolation of the
earth at certain times of the year, distances from
large water bodies, terrain morphology - altitude,
type of ground - i.e. vegeta cover - forests,
meadows, lakes, watercourses, snow cover.
3. Meteorological factors:
Types of air masses flowing over Poland’s
territory, distribution of atmospheric fronts in
different seasons, distribution of main low
and high pressure bar centers.
5. Non-meteorological factors
Latitude (an altitude of the Sun above the
horizon at different times of the year),
distance from larger sea reservoirs,
topography (height above sea level, nature
and course of larger forms of relief), nature of
the ground (type of vegetation; surface
water, snow cover ). These factors, acting
together and simultaneously create the
climate image of Poland.
7. The location of Poland and
the climate
Poland is located in the center of Europe. It is
characterized by a temperate and warm
climate which can be placed between oceanic
and continental types of climate. The average
annual air temperatures are 7-8.5 * C, the
average annual rainfall is about 600mm.
8. Characteristics of temperate
climate
- high weather variability,
- increase in annual temperature eastwards,
- the interaction of two main polar air masses
(oceanic and continental),
- differences between the course of weather
in respective years,
- six thermal seasons (there are two
additional seasons - early spring and early
winter)
10. The weather in Poland is shaped
by the influence of air masses
inflowing to Poland’s area from
various directions. Air masses
differ primarily in temperature.
11. Temperature
There are six climate seasons during the year:
- Early spring (average daily temperature from 0
to 5ºC)
- Spring (average daily temperature from 5 to
15ºC)
- Summer (average daily temperature from 15ºC)
- Autumn (average daily temperature from 5 to
15ºC)
- Early winter (average daily temperature from 0
to 5ºC)
-Winter (average daily temperature below 0ºC)
12. The biggest influence on climatic
conditions have extreme phenomena
which present increase in the number of
occurrences, noticeable change the
dynamic of the climate nature in Poland.
There is a serious intensification of
weather phenomena, such as drought,
hurricane-force winds, tornadoes and hail.
14. Types of precipitation in
Poland
Precipitation can take different forms depending
on the physical conditions in which they arose.
Basic types of precipitation include:
- rain
- drizzle
- snow
- hail
- dew
- frost
- rime
- glaze
15. Rain
Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have
condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then
become heavy enough to fall under gravity.
Rain can be of different intensities which is why a few
types of rain can be distinguished:
- heavy,
- moderate
- light
Rain is a phenomenon that is relatively often observed
in Poland. However, there are places on Earth where
rain is such a rare and unprecedented phenomenon
that observing it can be difficult or even impossible
(even for years and sometimes decades).
16. Rain
Rain is dependent on topographic features.
Average rainfall in Poland is around 600 mm. The
precipitation varies from less than 500 mm in the
central part of the Poland to almost 800 mm on the
coast and more than 1,000 mm in the Tatra
Mountains. The highest precipitation is during the
summer months.
In most of Polish areas an increase in the number of
days per decade with high intensity heavy rainfall
occurrences is observed.
19. Drizzle
Drizzle is a light liquid precipitation consisting
of liquid water drops smaller than those of
rain. Drizzle is normally produced by low
stratiform clouds and stratocumulus clouds.
Owing to the small size of drizzle drops,
under many circumstances drizzle largely
evaporates before reaching the surface and
so may be undetected by observers on the
ground.
21. Snow
Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow
while suspended in the atmosphere—usually
within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on
the ground where they undergo further changes.
It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout
its life cycle, starting when, under suitable
conditions, the ice crystals form in the
atmosphere, increase to millimeter size,
precipitate and accumulate on surfaces, then
metamorphose in place, and ultimately melt,
slide or sublimate away.
23. Hail
Hail is a precipitation of ice nuggets of various
sizes, from pepper grains to the size of chicken
eggs. Hail is rare precipitation, it occurs most
often in summer during violent storms. It can be
short-lasting usually to about 5 minutes of
duration, but it can also last longer. It's best to
find cover when the hail is about to fall. Hail can
be very dangerous, for example, it can do serious
harm to people or break windows in cars,
houses, destroy crops in the fields.
25. Dew
These are water droplets on the ground, on
plants and objects. Dew is otherwise
condensed water vapor that has deposited on
the surface of the earth. Dew can be easily
observed in the early morning and late
evening in the warmer season. The cold
ground (earth) cools the air directly above it.
In cool air, the water vapor condenses and
settles on the ground (condenses).
27. Frost
Like dew, frost sets on the surface of the earth.
It is made of ice crystals. It occurs in autumn
and spring, when the mornings are already or
still cool and are accompanied by ground
frosts. As in the case of dew, the water vapor
contained in the air settles on the surface of
the earth, plants and additionally freezes. A
whitish coating forms, sparkling ice needles.
29. Rime
Rime occurs in the form of thin needles or scales
growing during frost. It is formed on the edges of
various objects. Rime forms on the side from
where the fog comes. It is a very picturesque
phenomenon, which is easier to observe in the
countryside than in the city because the city's
climate is a little warmer than the surrounding
areas. A convenient place for observing the rime
are river valleys, areas around large water
reservoirs (rivers and lakes) and wherever there
is a lot of moisture in the air on cold winter days.
31. Sleet
Sleet or glaze ice, also called glazed frost, is a
smooth, transparent and homogeneous ice
coating occurring when freezing rain or
drizzle hits a surface. It is similar in
appearance to clear ice, which forms from
supercooled water droplets. It is a relatively
common occurrence in temperate climates in
the winter when precipitation forms in warm
air aloft and falls into below-freezing
temperature at the surface.
