Scholarly record
CLIMATIC EXTREMES AND AGRO-CLIMATIC TRENDS IN THE CIUC BASIN
Abstract
The Ciuc Basin is characterized by distinct climatic conditions that influence agricultural potential, hydrological balance, and regional climate resilience under ongoing climate change. This study analyzes temperature extremes and temporal variations of the Huglin Climate Index (HI), a widely used agro-climatic indicator for assessing viticultural and thermophilic crop suitability. The analysis is based on meteorological observations (temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) from the national monitoring network (calitateaer.ro) for the period 2008–2024. Data were processed at daily and hourly resolution and aggregated to monthly and annual scales. Trend detection was performed using linear regression, while thermal stress conditions were evaluated using the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) and Wind Chill Temperature (WCT). The results indicate an increasing frequency of temperature extremes. During winter, WCT values between –10 °C and –27 °C occurred in approximately 15% of the analyzed period, indicating a considerable risk of cold stress. In summer, THI values showed uncomfortable heat conditions on nearly 80% of days, with high heat stress in about 2% of cases. The multiannual mean HI value (1658) indicates suitability for moderately heat-demanding crops. A significant positive trend was identified between 2008 and 2024, with an average increase of ~40 HI units per year. The maximum HI value (2052) recorded in 2024 represents an observed value and exceeds the thermal requirements of several grapevine cultivars. These findings highlight a shift in agro-climatic suitability, with implications for climate resilience, land use, and agricultural adaptation in cold-climate regions.
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References8
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