Mateusz Taszarek

A Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Climatology for Poland

AbstractThis research focuses on the climatology of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes based on PERUN lightning detection network data from 2002 to 2013. To present various CG lightning flash characteristics, 10 km × 10 km grid cells are used, while for estimating thunderstorm days, circles with radii of 17.5 km in the 1 km × 1 km grid cells are used. A total of 4 328 892 CG lightning flashes are used to analyze counts, density, polarity, peak current, and thunderstorm days. An average of 151 days with thunderstorm (appearing anywhere in Poland) occurs each year. The annual number of days with thunderstorms increases southeasterly from the coast of the Baltic Sea (15–20 days) to the Carpathian Mountains (30–35 days). The mean CG lightning flash density varies from 0.2 to 3.1 flashes km−2 yr−1 with the highest values in the southwest–northeast belt from Krakow-Czestochowa Upland to the Masurian Lake District. The maximum daily CG lightning flash density in this region amounted to 9.1 km−2 day−1 (3 July...

Sounding-Derived Parameters Associated with Convective Hazards in Europe

AbstractObserved proximity soundings from Europe are used to highlight how well environmental parameters discriminate different kind of severe thunderstorm hazards. In addition, the skill of parameters in predicting lightning and waterspouts is also tested. The research area concentrates on central and western European countries and the years 2009–15. In total, 45 677 soundings are analyzed including 169 associated with extremely severe thunderstorms, 1754 with severe thunderstorms, 8361 with nonsevere thunderstorms, and 35 393 cases with nonzero convective available potential energy (CAPE) that had no thunderstorms. Results indicate that the occurrence of lightning is mainly a function of CAPE and is more likely when the temperature of the equilibrium level drops below −10°C. The probability for large hail is maximized with high values of boundary layer moisture, steep mid- and low-level lapse rates, and high lifting condensation level. The size of hail is mainly dependent on the deep layer shear (DLS) i...

Deadly Tornadoes in Poland from 1820 to 2015

AbstractUsing historical sources derived from 12 Polish digital libraries, an investigation into killer tornado events was carried out. Although some of the cases took place more than 150 years ago, it was still possible to identify tornado phenomena and the course of events. This study has shown that historical sources contain dozens of tornado reports, sometimes with information precise enough to reconstruct the tornado damage paths. In total, 26 newly identified deadly tornado cases were derived from the historical sources and the information on 11 currently known was expanded. An average of 1–2 killer tornadoes with 5 fatalities may be depicted for each decade and this rate is decreasing over time. It was estimated that 5%–10% of significant tornadoes in Poland have caused fatalities and the average number of fatalities per significant tornado was roughly 0.27. Most of the cases were reported in late July and early August. The majority of deaths and injuries were associated with victims being lifted o...

Large Hail in Poland in 2012

Abstract This report analyses significant hailstorms that occurred in Poland during 2012. The number of reports, derived from the European Severe Weather Database with the hail diameter over or equal 2 cm, were analyzed with respect to their frequency in individual months, time of the day, intensity and spatial distribution. Analyzed cases were divided for hail with diameter less than 4 cm and greater or equal 4 cm. Accompanying conditions were examined by synoptic analysis charts derived from Deutscher Wetterdienst. The total number of 121 large hail cases gave 26 days with this phenomenon. The period of their occurrence extended from April to August reaching peak in July. Above 60% of all events were reported between 1500 and 1800 UTC. Most of them were associated with cold front and squall line features, usually with the south-western warm and moist air mass influx.

Climatological Aspects of Convective Parameters over Europe: A Comparison of ERA-Interim and Sounding Data

AbstractWe compare over 1 million sounding measurements with ERA-Interim reanalysis for the 38-yr period from 1979 to 2016. The large dataset allows us to provide an improved insight into the spati...

Multi-hazard weather risk perception and preparedness in eight countries

ABSTRACTWeather risk perception research lacks multihazard and transcultural datasets. This hypothesis-generating study used a cognitive behavioral approach and Brunswik’s lens model for subjective...