LOCAL CLIMATE MECAHANISMS RELATED TO ARIDIZATION OF OLTENIA PLAIN

We use the Palmer Drought Severity Index computed for Băilesti, Bechet, Caracaland Calafat to analyze the multiannual and decadal behavior of soil moisture conditions inthe period 1961-2010. We check how Palmer index represents local conditions usingobserved soil moisture data for the period 1970-2010. Large scale influences and localones are configuring the mechanisms involved in the aridization of Southern Oltenia Plain.An out of phase relationship links variability of North Atlantic Oscillation in cold season(January to March) with annual Palmer index computed for Băilesti, Bechet, Caracal andCalafat. The strongest correlation is for Caracal station. Numerical experiments with aregional climate model show that local factors such as land-use and vegetation type haveimportant local effects on climate variables such as temperature, precipitation andevapotranspiration which are further involved in aridization processes.