CLIMATE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HILLY-MOUNTAINOUS AREA IN EASTERN SERBIA

This article presents climate characteristics of a hilly-mountainous area in Eastern Serbia. The area belongs to the Carpathian-Balkan geophysical system according to climate data obtained by multi-annual measurements (from 1971 to 2010) at selected meteorological stations typical of this area. We applied the method of the altitudinal gradients of the climatic elements. The gradients values were based on the data obtained at Negotin lowland meteorological (weather) station (located at 42 m above the sea level), and at Crni vrh mountain weather station (located at 1,037 m above the sea level) within the study area. Using the calculated linear gradients, we obtained the values of climate elements for specific altitudes (from 100 to 1,100 m a.s.L), characterized by altitudinal distribution of certain forest zones in this area. The paper presents annual, seasonal and growing season values for the major climate elements that affect the growth of vegetation. These are: temperature and precipitation regimes, climate-geographical features, Lang's Rain Factor that was used as a basis for the vegetation-based climate classification. The climate type was determined both after Thornthwaite's and after Lang^s method. The study results can be used as an indicator needed for the purposes of regional climatology.