ANALYSIS OF VARIATIONS IN SNOW COVER IN THE TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION BETWEEN 1961 AND 2010 USING GIS METHODS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-5843/2026-2-4Keywords:
climate change, snow cover, Transcarpathia, linear trends, kriging, GISAbstract
Relevance of the study: Climate warming and related phenomena, such as changes in snow cover, have become among the most important environmental problems of our time at both global and regional scales. Subject of the study: Changes in the duration of snow cover in the Transcarpathian region over recent decades. Aim of the study – to reveal the regional characteristics of snow-cover changes in Transcarpathia during 1961–2010 and to identify their possible causes. Methods: The study primarily applied mathematical and statistical methods, with an emphasis on trend analysis; cartographic methods of visualization and spatial analysis also played a significant role. Results: Trend analysis for the study period revealed a statistically significant linear trend primarily in the timing of spring snowmelt, with melt dates occurring markedly earlier in mountainous areas. In contrast, the autumn onset of the first snow cover did not change significantly. Although the number of snow-cover days changed substantially, this change was not statistically significant across most of the study area, which may be attributable to strong interannual variability. Practical significance: The findings contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of climate change – particularly snow-cover change – and may support improved forecasting and adaptation. Conclusions: The number of days with snow cover is changing in Transcarpathia region, but the changes may differ substantially across space and time. Future research directions: The results provide a basis for further analyses, including assessments of snow depth, and for extending the study in both spatial and temporal scope.
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