Tanja LiksoMeteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia

Introduction Climate monitoring Publications Weather reports for different users Catastrophic floods affecting Croatia in

May 2014 Conclusion

Fig. 1 Geographical location of Croatia in the European Union.

Extreme climate conditions such as heat and cold waves and extremely dry and wet periods are of particular importance because they affect both people and economy

Recognising these periods on different time scales (month, season, year) is an excellent basis for further analysis of their impact on the economy (agriculture, tourism, transport, etc.) and sometimes, unfortunately, it results in the loss of human lives

Fig. 2 Air temperature anomalies for Croatia in 2014.

Fig. 3 Precipitation amounts expressed as percentages (%) of multi-annual average (1961-1990) for Croatia in 2014.

Fig. 4 Average annual air temperature trend, Zagreb-Grič (1862-2014).

A comparison of the average annual air temperature for the Zagreb-Grič Observatory during the period 1862-2014 indicates that the year 2014 is on a par with the year 2000 as the warmest year on record.

For the Zagreb-Grič Observatory the average annual air temperatue for the year 2014 is 13.8°C

Air temperature trend in Croatia is in accordance with the global warming trend with a certain inter-annual fluctuations

Such temperature is followed by heavy precipitation events and floods in many regions of Croatia especially in May 2014 which is in accordance with the expectations related to the climate change

Monthly, seasonal and annual reports regarding climate anomalies for temperature and precipitation are avaiable online (www.meteo.hr)

Publications (Meteorological and Hydrological Bulletin, Reviews, Climate Atlas of Croatia 1961-1990, 1971-2000, etc.)

Fig. 5 Title page of the Meteorological and Hydrological Bulletin.

Fig. 6 Title page of the publication Reviews.

Fig. 7 Climate Atlas of Croatia.

Media Transportation Electric power industry (national power company

“Hrvatska elektroprivreda”) Legal entity for water management (“Hrvatske vode”) Insurance companies Courts Government and the president Forest fire defence Sport, culture and other institutions

Users:

Fig. 8 A request for meteorological data and weather reports.

Fig. 9 Number of requests for meteorological data and information during the period 1998-2013.

Fig. 10 Flooded Gunja hydrological station.

Fig. 11a

Fig. 11b

Fig. 11c

Fig. 11 (a-d) Eastern Croatia devastated by the catastrophic flood in May 2014.

Fig. 11d

Fig. 12 Precipitation amounts expressed as percentages (%) of multi-annual average (1961-1990) in April 2014.

Fig. 13 Precipitation amounts for Croatia in May 2014.

▪ The flood occured in the lower Sava river basin is a consequence of heavy rainfall in the period 15-18 May 2014. ▪ The most affected areas are along the Sava river (Eastern Croatia, Northern Bosnia and Serbia).▪ Due to abnormal intensity and stationarity of the cyclone → extreme rainfall (in some places several times exceeded the average monthly precipitation amounts → large-scale flood

Hydrological aspects

▪ soil was saturated with water▪ rivers were full▪ water spills over the river banks▪ river banks burst in several places▪victims and damage (people, animals, crops, property, infrastructure)

▪ Political borders do not impact on weather and floods → much closer cooperation in meteorological and hydrological data and information sharing between neighbouring countries should be established▪ International exchange of quality controlled data and information is an essential element for the implementation of basin-wide activities ranging from flood forecast and warnings to wide range of aspects of water resources management

The issue has to be addressed from several points of view:

► Establishment of arrangements on the data and information exchange policy► Improvements and optimization of the current data exchange mechanisms► Consistency of the measurement carried out at hydrological stations located at the state borders

Increasing number of extreme weather events → increasing number of requests for meteorological data and weather reports (courts, insurance companies, scientific community, etc.)

Maps of climate anomalies can help upon analysis of extreme events like catastrophic floods affecting Croatia in May 2014

Political borders do not impact on weather and floods → much closer cooperation between neighbouring countries should be established

International exchange of quality controlled data and information is an essential element for implementation of activites ranging from flood forecast and warnings to various aspects of water resources management