PRECIPITATION CONDITIONS EVALUATION IN SLOVAKIA FOR 1991-2020

Abstract

Climate change is the most pronounced in the last thirty years. In the world, but also in Slovakia, there are extreme temperatures and frequent periods of drought alternating with torrential precipitation. Neither of these two options is suitable for the country. The aim of this article was to determine the distribution of precipitation in the period 1991- 2020. Using the Mann-Kendall trend analysis, it was determined a statistically significant increase or decrease in precipitation in individual months of the year for 75 stations in Slovakia. The results showed that a statistically significant decrease in precipitation is in April. The lack of precipitation causes low moisture in the soil and thus the growth of agricultural crops is limited. A statistically significant increase in precipitation occurred in January. However, this does not mean an increase in snow cover. On the contrary, due to the higher temperatures in the winter months, the snow cover will not last long, especially in the south. As a result, moisture cannot gradually flow to the soil from the snow cover, but the water in the liquid form will flow away from the land. This result with the lack of precipitation in the spring cause prolonged droughts. Based on the data processed, it is proven that despite the increase in precipitation in January, the decrease in precipitation in April is significant over the last thirty years and it is necessary to create measures to collect water in order to use it in the spring months.