The Behavior of Diurnal Temperature Range (DTR) and Annual Temperature Range (ATR) in the Urban Environment: A Case of Zagreb Grič, Croatia

Abstract

This paper analyzed the variations of two air temperature indices, diurnal temperature range (DTR) and annual temperature range (ATR), calculated based on observations at the Zagreb Grič Observatory over a period of 133 years (1887–2019). In intense climate changes strongly manifested by the increased air temperature, these two climate indices were determined to significantly impact human health and the environment. This effect is especially evident in urban areas. The Zagreb Grič Observatory is located in the center of Zagreb and has not changed its location during the observed period. It has a long homogeneous series of climatological observations, enabling a detailed study of climate variation in the city, which is strongly influenced by various urbanization processes. In 133 years, both of the analyzed indicators showed a statistically insignificant downward trend. The Rescaled Adjusted Partial Sums (RAPS) method revealed statistically significant differences in DTR’s time series between three sub-periods: 1887–1953, 1954–1989, and 1990–2019. The time series of ATR during 133 years behaved statistically differently in four sub-periods: 1887–1905; 1906–1926; 1927–1964; and 1965–2019. The analysis of monthly values of DTR showed that the DTR values are the highest in the warm part of the year, from May to August, when they are twice as high as those during the cold period from November to December. With an increase in precipitation, the DTR values decrease, while they increase as the mean annual temperature increases.