Micrometeorological measurements of air temperature in part of the northern slope of the Western Rhodopes (preliminary results)

The present study characterizes some microclimatic differences on the northern slope of the Western Rhodopes Mountains. The data for the analysis are based on the observations at three points: Brestovitsa at the foot, Bryanovshtitsa on the slope and Vurhovruh hut on the ridge, during July and August. Average temperatures, average minimum and maximum temperatures as well as the absolute minimum and maximum temperatures were established. They decrease naturally in accordance with altitude change, showing a dependence on synoptic conditions and microclimatic differences. The vertical temperature gradient is calculated for the studied parameters, with the largest values for the absolute maximum temperature amounting to 1.1 °C and the smallest for the absolute minimum and mean minimum temperature amounting to 0.5 °C. The largest values of the vertical temperature gradient for all parameters were observed between Brestovitsa and Bryanovstitsa.