Relations between selected elements of climate and an increase in soil moisture deficit in the warm half-year in East-Central Europe between 1971 and 2020

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the relationships between soil moisture, cloud cover, solar radiation, air temperature and humidity, and precipitation during the warm half of the year in East-Central Europe over the years 1971–2020. The temporal and spatial variability of these meteorological elements is presented in association with the occurrence of anticyclonic blocking events over the study area. It demonstrates that changes in soil moisture in East-Central Europe point to the combined influence of many meteorological factors resulting from the atmospheric circulation, and are an indicator of the comprehensive relationships among those factors. The main factors affecting soil water content are precipitation and evapotranspiration, which in turn depend on air humidity, cloudiness, intensity of solar radiation and air temperature. The increase in the frequency and duration of sequences of days with blocking events in East-Central Europe has contributed to an increased probability of longer periods with soil moisture negative anomalies.