J. Rapp – författare

Climate variations occur on all scales of time and space and this problem is a matter of intensive discussion in both science and public affairs. Whereas the reasons (natural and anthropogenic) of climate change are various, complicated and not clearly understood, there is much observational data available on climate change. However, this data needs proper statistical analysis to become informative and applicable. Focused on the industrial period of the past 100 years in Europe, this atlas provides observational-statistical information using the concept of selected climate element (temperature, precipitation, humidity, pressure) change charts specified for different months or seasons of the year, including tests of statistical confidence. It describes a number of problems in detail: reliability and accuracy of data, time series homogeneity, adequate spatial interpolation, graphical presentation and so on. This is outlined in an introductory text which also summarizes the main findings of climate trend analysis. Bearing in mind the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) climate normal (CLINO) period, the authors have also calculated, in addition to 1891-1990, the 1961-1990 trends.In total, 316 trend charts are presented which allow an overview and a detailed analysis of the geographical patterns of climate change in Europe. Scientists dealing with climate problems as well as all those concerned with its effects (economics, agriculture, energy etc.) should benefit from this information.

Climate varies on all scales of time and space, bya large variety of reasons. However, before any discussion of reasons can be performed it is necessary to realize the very facts of climate variability by means of observations or reconstructions, respectively. In this book we focus on observed long-term trends of selected climate elements (tempera­ ture, precipitation, humidity, pressure ) as revealed by direct measurements of the Euro­ pean station network within the recent 100 years. Of course, there are a number of problems in detail: Reliability and accuracy of data, time series homogeneity, statistical confidence oftrends and so on. We hope that these problems are addressed in an instructive and, as far as possible, exhausting way. The main purpose of this work, however, was to provide a collection of trend charts which specify the regional particularities of observed climate trends in different months or seasons of the year leading us to an 'Atlas of observed climate trends in Europe'. Keeping in mind the recent World Meteorological Organization (WMO) climate nor­ mal (CLINO) period, we have also calculated the 1961-1990 trends.