Title: The influence of atmospheric circulation and cloudiness on the intensity of temperature inversions in Sosnowiec (Upper Silesia, Southern Poland)

Authors: Zbigniew A. Caputa, Mieczyslaw R. Lesniok, Tadeusz Niedzwiedz, Grazyna Bil-Knozova

Addresses: Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Climatology, University of Silesia 60 Bedzinska Street, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. ' Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Climatology, University of Silesia 60 Bedzinska Street, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. ' Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Climatology, University of Silesia 60 Bedzinska Street, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. ' Czech Hydrometeorological Institute – Brno Regional Office, 43 Kroftova Street, 616 67 Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract: The paper presents research results of the thermal structure of the near-ground atmospheric layer (100 m) carried out in the years 1993-2005 in Sosnowiec. It is a city located in the central part of the most urbanised and industrialised Katowice Region in Poland. Research of seasonal changes in the frequency of near-ground inversions of temperature revealed their most frequent occurrence on clear winter days. In this season, temperature inversions can sometimes persist for the whole day and night. Air temperature inversions over Sosnowiec occur mainly during anticyclonic stagnation (Ca-anticyclone centre and Ka-anticyclonic ridge) and in anticyclones with air advection from the south and southwest (Sa and SWa).

Keywords: urban climate; temperature inversions; macrocirculation types; cloudiness; air pollution; Katowice region; Poland; atmospheric circulation; air quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.026881

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.17 - 31

Published online: 28 Jun 2009 *

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