Analysis of annual and seasonal temperature trends using the Mann-Kendall test in Vojvodina, Serbia

Abstract

The annual and seasonal trends of mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures were analyzed on the territory of Vojvodina, north Serbia. We used observed, quality controlled, homogenized, and spatially averaged data from 9 meteorological stations during two periods: 1949-2013 and 1979-2013. Positive trends were found in 29 out of the 30 analyzed time series using a linear tendency (trend) equation, while negative trends were found in only 1 case. After the application of the classical Mann-Kendall (MK) test, statistically significant positive trends were confirmed in 15 series, while in remaining cases, statistically significant trends were not confirmed. After applying the modified MK test, positive trends were found in 26 series, and 4 cases were with no trend. We find that significant positive trends are dominated during the year, spring and summer; and they are most numerous in the time series of monthly mean temperatures. In accordance with the behavior of analyzed trends, the increase of temperatures is dominant in Vojvodina.