TANJA PORJA, DODË PRENGA
Abstract :
Precipitation is a primary element of climate, and changes in its long-term pattern are crucial to changes in the climate itself. Periods of heavy precipitation exert a significant influence on the monthly precipitation totals, consequently impacting the water resources of a specific region. The high frequency of such periods of heavy precipitation is a critical factor in determining the fragility of the water balance in a given area, as well as the complexity of managing water reserves. In this study, we have examined the Maximum Consecutive Wet Days (CWDmax) on both monthly and annual time scales to determine whether a given month or season can be considered a wet or very wet period for a given year or decade. In the wet months or seasons resulting from the CWDmax analyses, the identification of very wet or extremely wet periods was undertaken by estimating the monthly maximum consecutive 5 to 10 days of precipitation (the RX5day and RX10day indices, respectively). Finally, the weight of the RX5day and RX10day indices on the total monthly, seasonal, and annual total precipitation was estimated. The estimation of these indices was based on daily precipitation data from Shkodra city over the period 1950–2022, with the objective of identifying signals of climate change impact on local precipitation changes.
Keywords : Rainy season; wet periods; precipitation trend; water resources; climate changes.