Geographia Polonica (2025) vol. 98, iss. 1

Long-term and seasonal variability of air masses temperature in Kraków (1961-2023)

Zuzanna Bielec-Bąkowska

Geographia Polonica (2025) vol. 98, iss. 1, pp. 53-77
doi: https://doi.org/0.7163/GPol.0292

This study attempted to determine temperature changes in southern Poland due to changes in the thermal characteristics of individual air masses. For this purpose, the daily air temperature values at the Kraków-Balice synoptic station were used, as well as the types of atmospheric circulation and air masses for southern Poland from the daily Calendar of Atmospheric Circulation Types for southern Poland. The study showed that the temperature increase of individual air masses was most significant in tropical airmasses and was noticeable in both average and extreme daily temperature values. It was also found that the increase in temperature in particular air masses is associated with an increased number of warmer days, although not necessarily hot ones.

Keywords: atmospheric circulation, air masses temperature, southern Poland • Europe

Zuzanna Bielec-Bąkowska [zuzanna.bielec-bakowska@us.edu.pl], Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Earth Sciences University of Silesia in Katowice Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland