Geographia Polonica (2009) vol. 82, iss. 1

Heat- and cold-related mortality in the north-east of Poland as an example of the socio-economic effects of extreme hydrometeorological events in the Polish Lowland

Magdalena Kuchcik, Marek Degórski

Geographia Polonica (2009) vol. 82, iss. 1, pp. 69-78 | Full text

Abstract

This article looks at certain socioeconomic consequences of extreme hydrometeorologicalphenomena in the Polish Lowland, e.g. fl oods, droughts, hurricanes, heat and cold waves that haveall become more intense in Poland over recent years. The particular focus is on the impact of extremehigh temperature and severe cold events on socio-medical parameters such as mortality. The analysis isespecially concerned with increased daily numbers of deaths in 3 large urban centers located in northeastPoland.

Keywords: extreme hydrometeorological phenomena, heat waves, cold waves, human mortality, Polish Lowland

Magdalena Kuchcik [mkuchcik@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Marek Degórski [m.degor@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland