Climatic Atlas of Carinthia
Carinthia, Austria
PROJECT TEAM
& PARTNERS
- Carinthian Institute for Climate Protection (KIKS)
- Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG)
- Government of Carinthia (Dep. 15 Environment, Dep. 18 Hydrology, Dep. 20 GIS)
- Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein für Kärnten (NWV)
CONTRACT VALUE - 40,000
FUNDING - Governmental funding
TIMESCALE - 4 years
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
Carinthia intended to develop a so-called 'climatic atlas' for its whole region, especially because the last atlas dates from the year 1913 and all surrounding regions of Carinthia hold much more recent atlases. Thus, particularly in times of possibly anthropogenic induced climate change, it seems to be immediately advisable to follow up, to interpret and to illustrate the main characteristics of the individual climate elements in a timely manner.
The aim of this modern climatic atlas was the full representation of the climatological conditions for the whole region of Carinthia, what is based on digital maps, tables and graphics as well as accompanying textual descriptions of the latest climatological 30-years period from 1971 to 2000. Additionally, this 30-years period was considered in the context of climate variability since the beginning of instrumental measurements. Focus lied on the classical climate parameters as e.g. air temperature and humidity, radiation, sunshine duration, cloudiness, mist, precipitation, thunderstorms, snow/wind conditions and many more. But these individual climate parameters were not only treated separately. For many applications a combination of these climatic parameters was much more meaningful. Hence, special indices were developed and their mean and extreme frequencies were determined for all individual sub-regions of Carinthia as well as further climate elements like run-off and ground water data, or environmentally deduced characteristics like the ventilation ability of valleys and basins were included.
Such a climatological atlas has its uses in many sectors. Due to the systematic and comprehensive treatment of the climatic conditions the atlas can be used in administrative areas, for research and teaching purposes as well as the private sector. With a placement on the internet and as CD-ROM each individual user has the opportunity to get extensive information about the climatic conditions of his region. In detail, amongst many others. The following users and branches would benefit from it: Consulting engineers and planning agencies for all projects with climatic relevant contents; the tourism industry as well as agriculture and forestry for phonological aspects, freezing threats or dry spells; the transport sector for considerations of mist, freeze and snow conditions; the alternative power industry for solar radiation, wind speeds, precipitation or the number of heating days; the medical science, health sector and health resorts for bioclimatological considerations and dissemination of pollutants as well as schools and universities for practice-oriented education. Furthermore this climatic atlas can be drawn on as scientific background for research projects in the subjects of natural hazards, climate change impacts or adaption to climate change as well as for insurance agencies considering heavy rainfall events, hails or storms.
CHALLENGES FACED
The most problematic barrier was at the beginning of the project
the corresponding partners could not agree on a precisely defined
work-sharing arrangement because of fearing of losing their
competences. The reason was that similar competences lied at
several partners and they could not resolve who would be
responsible for different modules within the climatic atlas of
Carinthia. The solution of this problem was a clearly defined and
well separated working plan of the project leader (KIKS) for all
partners, so that no partner had to fear any losses but could
instead agree to the same scope.
LESSONS LEARNT & APPLICABILITY IN OTHER
SITUATIONS
The most important lesson learned from this project was that
defining a concise a priori working plan for all involved project
partners can avert disputes regarding competences within the
project.
INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
The most innovative practice was to extend the whole project beyond the end of the project with operational monthly, seasonal and yearly updates of selected outcomes of the climatic atlas of Carinthia. This will have the underlying role of informing all potential users about recent climatological conditions in their regions and to record climatological changes in Carinthia compared to the period from 1971 to 2000.
CONTACT DETAILS
Dr. Markus Kottek, KIKS, markus.kottek@ktn.gv.at, www.kiks.ktn.gv.at
