SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF DROUGHTS IN THE REGION OF POMORZE AND KUJAWY DURING THE PERIOD OF HIGH WATER NEEDS OF CORN

The objective of the work, carried out as part of research programme on current change of the regional climate, was to confirm the hypothesis about the increasing frequency and intensity of droughts occurring during the high water needs of corn, during the period of June and July, in the region of Pomorze and Kujawy in the years 1981-2010. Furthermore, the aim was to confirm a significant relationship between indicators characterizing meteorological and agricultural droughts. Material for the research was data from five meteorological measuring points located in the region. Statistical methods used in climatological studies were applied, particularly the method of trends. The average multi-annual totals (1981-2010) of rainfall in the period of high water needs of corn (June-July) in the region of the Pomorze and Kujawy were characterized by spatial variability amounts to 22.6%. The frequency of meteorological drought in June through July is 26.7-33.3%. In the analyzed period there were no significant changes in the frequency and intensity of these droughts with the passage of years. Rainfall shortages in corn production extend to maximum of -91 to -124 mm, depended on the locality. The shortages did not show any significant changes in the years of the study. ...