NORD ATLANTIC CYCLONES TRACKS IN EUROPE AND THEIR INFLUENCE OVER AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION RECORDED IN ROMANIA (1985-2015)

Abstract

The region of Romania is characterized in terms of continental temperate climate with oceanic influences. Thus, the precipitation regime and the thermal regime in this part of Europe are strongly influenced by the frequency of cyclones whose trajectories cross Europe from west to east coming from the Atlantic Ocean. The present study analyzes the variation of the amount of precipitation in Romania depending on the frequency and variation of the geographical position of the trajectories of the North Atlantic cyclones in the area of the European continent. Using the classic method of identification and tracking, 1189 cyclones were found that crossed Europe north of the Alps in a period of 30 years between December 1, 1985 - November 30, 2015, of which 71% generated precipitation in Romania. Their influence on the amount recorded at meteorological stations in Romania varies between 43% in the northwest of the country to 13% in the southern regions.