Effect of Teleconnection Patterns on Changes in Water Temperature in Polish Lakes

Abstract

The objective of the paper was the determination of the effect of teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Arctic Oscillation (AO), East Atlantic pattern (EA), East Atlantic/Western Russia (EAWR), and Scandinavian pattern (SCAND)) on changes in air and water temperature in Polish lakes. Correlations of circulation indices with air and lake water temperature were analysed in the monthly cycle. Deviations of values of such components in different phases of the analysed atmospheric circulations types from mean average from the years 1971 to 2015 were also determined. The research showed a variable effect of the atmospheric circulations types. The strongest effect on water temperature was observed in winter, when AO and NAO circulation showed particularly evident influence. Deviations of water temperature from mean values from the analysed multi-annual period generally oscillated around 1.0 °C, reaching a maximum value of 1.4 °C. The presented research shows the complexity of processes determining changes in lake water temperature, the course of which depends on many factors with both regional (e.g., ice cover on lakes) and local range (conditions of water exchange, human pressure).