Trends in combined climate indices in Serbia from 1961 to 2010

Abstract

In this study, trends of combined climate indices based on daily mean temperatures and precipitation were analysed. The combined indices Cold/Dry (CD), Cold/Wet (CW), Warm/Dry (WD) and Warm/Wet (WW) days were examined during the period 1961–2010 at seven stations distributed across Serbia. Decreasing tendencies of CD and CW and increasing tendencies of WD were observed during the winter, spring and summer. It was found that trends of all combined indices were insignificant during the autumn. The most significant trends of CD and WD were revealed for the summer season. The results showed that a negative correlation existed between the East Atlantic pattern and CD and CW, but that a positive correlation existed for WD for all seasons. The North Atlantic Oscillation dominated during the winter, and the East Atlantic/West Russia pattern governed during the autumn.