The Central European drought of 1947: causes and consequences,
with particular reference to the Czech Lands

J 2016

The Central European drought of 1947: causes and consequences, with particular reference to the Czech Lands

BRÁZDIL, Rudolf, Pavel RAŠKA, Miroslav TRNKA, Pavel ZAHRADNÍČEK, Hubert VALÁŠEK et. al.

Basic information

Original name

The Central European drought of 1947: causes and consequences, with particular reference to the Czech Lands

Authors

BRÁZDIL, Rudolf (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Pavel RAŠKA (203 Czech Republic), Miroslav TRNKA (203 Czech Republic), Pavel ZAHRADNÍČEK (203 Czech Republic), Hubert VALÁŠEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Petr DOBROVOLNÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Ladislava ŘEZNÍČKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Pavel TREML (203 Czech Republic) and Zdeněk STACHOŇ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Climate Research, 2016, 0936-577X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10500 1.5. Earth and related environmental sciences

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.578

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00088079

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/cr01387

UT WoS

000388194400006

Keywords in English

1947 drought; meteorological drought; hydrological drought; agricultural drought; drought impact; socio-economic responses; Czech Lands

Abstract

V originále

A drought of exceptional severity took place in Central Europe in 1947, with marked socio-economic consequences and far-reaching political responses in the Czech Lands. A rich body of meteorological observations from the Czech Lands is drawn upon to construct a comprehensive picture of the various direct and indirect factors that led to this extreme event and to describe its impacts across a range of spatiotemporal scales. In terms of the Czech Lands in their entirety and the full 1804-2014 period of instrumental measurements, the 1947 drought, which lasted from April to October, may be expressed as very low monthly values of Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index for 1 month (SPEI-1), Standardised Precipitation Index for 1 month (SPI-1), and Palmer’s Z-index. Independent evidence from mean monthly patterns of sealevel pressure suggests it originated in an anticyclone over Central Europe and ridges of high pressure extending over the area. Duration and deficiency volumes recorded at selected Czech hydrological stations indicate that the 1947 event was one of the 3 most important hydrologic drought episodes since the late 1880s. Severe agricultural drought was reflected in a low to extremely bad harvest of cereals and other agricultural crops. A critical lack of cereals was remedied by ‘brotherly help’, i.e. relief shipments from the Soviet Union given for reasons that were far more political than altruistic. The whole process received considerable attention in the national media, influencing public opinion for decades. It also led to various administrative responses and decisions at local, regional and even state levels. This study demonstrates that the 1947 drought was a significant climatic anomaly of great spatial extent, and with wide-ranging socio-economic consequences.

Links

GA13-19831S, research and development project

Name: Hydrometeorologické extrémy na jižní Moravě odvozené z dokumentárních pramenů

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

BRÁZDIL, Rudolf, Pavel RAŠKA, Miroslav TRNKA, Pavel ZAHRADNÍČEK, Hubert VALÁŠEK, Petr DOBROVOLNÝ, Ladislava ŘEZNÍČKOVÁ, Pavel TREML and Zdeněk STACHOŇ. The Central European drought of 1947: causes and consequences, with particular reference to the Czech Lands. Climate Research. 2016, vol. 70, 2-3, p. 161-178. ISSN 0936-577X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/cr01387.

@article{1351752,
   author = {Brázdil, Rudolf and Raška, Pavel and Trnka, Miroslav and Zahradníček, Pavel and Valášek, Hubert and Dobrovolný, Petr and Řezníčková, Ladislava and Treml, Pavel and Stachoň, Zdeněk},
   article_number = {2-3},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/cr01387},
   keywords = {1947 drought; meteorological drought; hydrological drought; agricultural drought; drought impact; socio-economic responses; Czech Lands},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0936-577X},
   journal = {Climate Research},
   title = {The Central European drought of 1947: causes and consequences, with particular reference to the Czech Lands},
   volume = {70},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1351752
AU  - Brázdil, Rudolf - Raška, Pavel - Trnka, Miroslav - Zahradníček, Pavel - Valášek, Hubert - Dobrovolný, Petr - Řezníčková, Ladislava - Treml, Pavel - Stachoň, Zdeněk
PY  - 2016
TI  - The Central European drought of 1947: causes and consequences, with particular reference to the Czech Lands
JF  - Climate Research
VL  - 70
IS  - 2-3
SP  - 161-178
EP  - 161-178
SN  - 0936577X
KW  - 1947 drought
KW  - meteorological drought
KW  - hydrological drought
KW  - agricultural drought
KW  - drought impact
KW  - socio-economic responses
KW  - Czech Lands
N2  - A drought of exceptional severity took place in Central Europe in 1947, with marked socio-economic consequences and far-reaching political responses in the Czech Lands. A rich body of meteorological observations from the Czech Lands is drawn upon to construct a comprehensive picture of the various direct and indirect factors that led to this extreme event and to describe its impacts across a range of spatiotemporal scales. In terms of the Czech Lands in their entirety and the full 1804-2014 period of instrumental measurements, the 1947 drought, which lasted from April to October, may be expressed as very low monthly values of Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index for 1 month (SPEI-1), Standardised Precipitation Index for 1 month (SPI-1), and Palmer’s Z-index. Independent evidence from mean monthly patterns of sealevel pressure suggests it originated in an anticyclone over Central Europe and ridges of high pressure extending over the area. Duration and deficiency volumes recorded at selected Czech hydrological stations indicate that the 1947 event was one of the 3 most important hydrologic drought episodes since the late 1880s. Severe agricultural drought was reflected in a low to extremely bad harvest of cereals and other agricultural crops. A critical lack of cereals was remedied by ‘brotherly help’, i.e. relief shipments from the Soviet Union given for reasons that were far more political than altruistic. The whole process received considerable attention in the national media, influencing public opinion for decades. It also led to various administrative responses and decisions at local, regional and even state levels. This study demonstrates that the 1947 drought was a significant climatic anomaly of great spatial extent, and with wide-ranging socio-economic consequences.
ER  -

BRÁZDIL, Rudolf, Pavel RAŠKA, Miroslav TRNKA, Pavel ZAHRADNÍČEK, Hubert VALÁŠEK, Petr DOBROVOLNÝ, Ladislava ŘEZNÍČKOVÁ, Pavel TREML and Zdeněk STACHOŇ. The Central European drought of 1947: causes and consequences, with particular reference to the Czech Lands. \textit{Climate Research}. 2016, vol.~70, 2-3, p.~161-178. ISSN~0936-577X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/cr01387.

Detailed Information on Publication Record