Department of Climatology
Climatology is a science which deals with climate and studies meteorological processes from the long-term perspective. It describes and explains typical as well as specific properties of the climate on various scales (ranging from global description of the whole Earth to minute details of the terrain); classifies climate and defines climatic zones; and studies climate over long periods of times (climate fluctuations, climate change). Its applications use climatological data for practical purposes (e.g. the transportation and energy sectors).
Meteorological Data
Meteorological data is obtained by means of measurements and observations at stations designed for these purposes. Meteorological stations are either manned by our employees (professional stations) or, in most cases, operated by volunteer observers. These stations are categorized as principal stations and precipitation stations.
Principal stations take measurements at 07.00, 14.00 and 21.00 hours of local solar time. Principal stations consist of
temperature screens, with walls of double louvres and a wire mesh bottom. Its door faces the north..
The screen houses thermometers, a hygrometer, a thermograph and a hygrograph.
Wind direction and velocity are measured on a mast at a height of ten metres above ground with the help of a wind arrow and anemometer. Cloudiness (i.e. the degree to which the sky is clouded) is determined by estimate. Atmospheric phenomena are also observed (rain, snow, fog, ice etc.).
A heliograph is located on a point with unobstructed exposure to sunshine.
Pluviometers are used for measuring precipitation. A pluviometer has an active surface of 500 cm
2 at one metre above ground. Snow cover depth is determined with the help of a scale rod. For agrometeorological purposes, soil thermometers take the
temperature in soil, usually at depths of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 cm.
Precipitation stations take measurements at 07.00 hrs only (precipitation and snow cover) and observe atmospheric phenomena.
Primary Operative Tasks of the Department
- Methodological guidance of station networks, which involves instructions for the setting up and documentation of stations, for observers' operations concerning instrument reading, observation and recognition of phenomena, phases and their intensities, numerical interpretation of recording instruments' registration, and for the filling of the prescribed forms and reports
- Methodological guidance for data checking, processing and archiving, which involves instructions for the checking and correcting of the data observed, distribution of database systems and instructions for working with databases, which involves instructions for the checking and correcting of the data observed, distribution of database systems and instructions for working with databases
- Digitisation and verification of the data collected between 1961 and 1990, i.e. a reference period recommended by the World Meteorological Organisation
- Digitisation and verification of secular station data which is used for the detection of climate change and other research purposes
- Maintenance of the central climatological database within the CLIDATA database and ongoing additions to it of data for the past months
- Data distribution for scientific, research and other purposes; for scientific purposes (including diploma theses) such data is provided against reimbursement of operating costs and subject to commitment not to distribute it any further or use it for commercial purposes
- Processing of information that relates to more than one regional office or that has been requested by foreign partners.
Professional Activities of the Department
Examples of Climate Data Processing
An example of standard processing is the graph of cumulative frequencies of the daily average air temperature that has occurred at two stations in North Bohemia, which are not too distant from each other but are located at different altitudes.
Another option is processing meteorological elements into charts which best describe regional distribution together with all of its specific features. The charts make it easy to read values for the localities in which no station of the Institute is located.
Identification of occurrence probabilities during various periods of a longer time series serves for technical purposes (design of heating or air conditioning systems).
Similarly, wind conditions prevailing in a locality can be identified (in our case with regard to atmosphere stratification) and processed into a polar graph (wind rose).
