ETCCDI Climate Indices for Assessment of the Recent Climate over Southeast Europe

Abstract

An important task in the modern climatology is to assess extreme climate and weather events alongside various aspects of the mean climate. The analysis of such extreme events has become increasingly important due to their significant impact on society and natural systems. The climate indices are relatively simple, but statistically consistent, quantitative indicators of the climate extremes. The modern sets of such indices, among which the most widely used is the ETCCDI collection, are statistically robust, cover a wide range of climate conditions, and have a high signal-to-noise ratio. The World Meteorological Organization encourages the application of indices, stating that by using the same definitions of extremes and analyzing the data in a standardized way, it is possible to compare results from different places and to obtain coherent pictures of change around the world. The present study is based on source information from five free available datasets of ETCCDI climate indices. Five thermal and five precipitation-based indices, originating from different datasets, are analyzed and compared for their spatial structure over SE Europe and temporal evolution in the period 1979–2010. The study reveals overall similarity of the distribution pattern, at the same time substantial discrepancies for certain indices and years. The trend analysis of centenial-long time series of thermal indices, indicates clear and statistically significant warming in the twentieth century.