MIESIĘCZNE ANOMALIE TERMICZNE W BASENIE MORZA ŚRÓDZIEMNEGO (1951-2010).

The study determines the frequency of monthly thermal anomalies in the Mediterranean Basin (approx. south of 45oN), in the area from Lisbon in the west to Van in eastern Turkey, changes in the frequency of such anomalies over six decades, as well as the location and size of the area over which they occurred. The present study is based on the average monthly air temperature values from 80 meteorological stations in the years 1951-2010. Thermally anomalous months are considered to have occurred when the average air temperature t at a given station differed from the corresponding tav. by at least 2 standard deviations (s); for anomalously cold months (ACMs: t£tav.-2s) and for anomalously warm months (AWMs: t=tav.+2s). One feature that distinguishes the Mediterranean Basin from the rest of Europe located in the temperate climate zone is the prevalence of AWMs over ACMs. The number of ACMs and AWMs showed significant variations over the 60-year period. The years 1971-1980 were the coldest ones, while the 21st century saw the highest temperatures. The vast majority of ACMs and AWMs occur over small areas. There were 22 anomalous months (11 ACMs and AWMs) that covered larger areas (at least 25% of the stations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]