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Climatic regions of the Czech Republic
Alena Vondráková a , Aleš Vávra a & Vít Voženílek a
a Department of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science , Palacký
University , 17. listopadu 50, 771 46 , Olomouc
Published online: 13 May 2013.
To cite this article: Alena Vondráková , Aleš Vávra & Vít Voženílek (2013) Climatic regions of the
Czech Republic, Journal of Maps, 9:3, 425-430, DOI: 10.1080/17445647.2013.800827
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2013.800827
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SCIENCE
Climatic regions of the Czech Republic
Alena Vondra
´kova
´∗, Ales
ˇVa
´vra and Vı
´tVoz
ˇenı
´lek
Department of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science, Palacky
´University, 17. listopadu 50, 771 46
Olomouc
(Received 25 October 2012; Accepted 26 April 2013)
The map created represents the result of an application of Quitt’s Climate Classification to a
dataset of climatic characteristics of the Czech Republic from 1961 to 2000. The Quitt’s
climatic classification is based on dividing a territory into climate regions (units) according
to complex climatological characteristics. These units represent specified classes defined by
the combination of values of 14 climatological characteristics. All units are included in three
basic climatic regions: warm, moderately warm and cold. The classification is popular as it
allows the definition on a single map of site boundaries where there are changes in climatic
characteristics. There are 17 climatic units (from a 23 possible units) recognized for the
given time period in the Czech Republic. The study includes an assessment of compliance
of the resulting map with the actual values of selected meteorological characteristics. The
map provides a comprehensive overview of climatic characteristics for the Czech Republic.
Keywords: climate classification; regionalization; synthetic map
1. Introduction
Climate is the result of long-term radiation exposure, the general circulation of the atmosphere,
surface characteristics (altitude, terrain shape, slope and its orientation, the ability to absorb
and reflect radiation), and human intervention (Sobı
´s
ˇek et al., 1993). Climate classification collec-
tively reflects climatic conditions with regard to mutual ties between meteorological elements, or
to the prevailing atmospheric circulation types. There are many types of climate classifications
and their design depends on the intended use. The most commonly used are the Ko¨ppen Classi-
fication, Berg Classification, Penck Classification, Thornthwait Classification and others. The
Quitt’s Climate Classification is popular as it allows the definition, on a single map, of site bound-
aries where there are changes in climatic characteristics.
2. Methods
Quitt’s Climate Classification recognizes 23 units representing specified classes (defined by the
combination of 14 climatological characteristics). These units are included in three basic climatic
regions: warm, moderately warm and cold (areas defined by similar conditions). Unit boundaries
have been established by the specific characteristics occurring in the initial maps of individual
#2013 Alena Vondra
´kova
´
∗Corresponding author. Email: alena.vondrakova@gmail.com
Journal of Maps, 2013
Vol. 9, No. 3, 425–430, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2013.800827
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elements. Values for each characteristic are divided in to specific intervals and the resulting inter-
vals for all 14 climatological characteristics combined so that specific types of climatological
areas are captured. The methodology is based on the climatic conditions in Czechoslovakia in
the first half of the twentieth century. The classifications of characteristics were derived manually
from the maps of the Climate Atlas of Czechoslovakia from 1958 (Pru
˚s
ˇa et al., 1958) using a 3 ×
3 km grid. The unit boundaries on the resulting map were determined according to Quitt’s meth-
odology which incorporates an expert’s subjective approach.
Based on the meteorological and climatological characteristics, the most suitable value inter-
vals were calculated based on the frequency of distribution. Intervals of individual characteristics
were then combined so that the same intervals of selected characteristic values are used. This is
the typing process (Tuc
ˇek et al., 2012), which was subsequently displayed on the map.
2.1 Identification and description of climatic characteristics of Quitt classification units
Kve
ˇton
ˇand Voz
ˇenı
´lek (2011) descriptions of the Quitt classification are only valid for the Czech
Republic and are relative, numerical, determination (Table 1):
C1 – The summer is very short, cold, very wet, and has a very long transition period with a very
cold spring and a cold autumn. The winter is very long, very cold, and very wet with a very long
duration of snow cover.
C2 – There is a very short summer, cold and wet, a very long transition period with a very cold
spring and a cold autumn. The winter is very long, very cold, very wet (in comparison C1 areas
with less rainfall), with a very long duration of snow cover. In comparison with C1 areas there is
less rainfall.
C3 – The summer is very short, cold and moist, with a very long transition period of a very cold to
cold spring and a cold autumn. The winter is very long, very cold, and moist with a very long
duration of snow cover.
C4 – The summer is very short, cold and moist with a very long transition period, a cold spring
and a slightly cold autumn. The winter is very long, very cold and wet with a very long duration of
snow cover.
C5 – The summer is very short to short, slightly cold and wet with a long transitional period with
a cold spring and a slightly cool autumn. There is a very long, cold winter which is cold and
slightly damp with a long duration of snow cover.
C6 – The summer is very short to short, moderately cold, and humid to very humid, with a long
transition period, a slightly cold spring and a cold autumn. The winter is very long, slightly cold,
and wet with a long-lasting snow cover.
C7 – The summer is very short to short, slightly cold and wet with a long transitional period and a
slightly cool spring and mild autumn. The winter is long, mild, and slightly damp with a long
duration of snow cover.
MW1 – The summer is short, moderately cold and moist with a very long transition period and a
slightly cool spring and mild autumn. The winter is normally cold, dry to slightly dry with a long
duration of snow cover.
MW2 – The summer is short, mild to slightly cool and slightly moist with a short transition period
and a mild spring and autumn. The winter is long with mild temperatures, dry and with a long
duration of snow cover.
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Table 1. The numerical details of climatic characteristics of the Quitt’s climatic classification.
Climatic unit Climatological characteristic
ANSD ADT10 NFD NID TSU 01 TSU 07 TSU 04 TSU 10 NDP RVEG RW DSC NCLD NCAD
C1 0–10 0– 80 160– 180 60 – 80 27–28 10 –12 0– 2 2–4 140– 160 900 –1000 600–700 160 – 200 130 – 150 30 – 40
C2 0–10 0– 80 160 – 180 60 –70 27–28 10 – 12 0– 2 2 – 4 140–160 700– 900 500– 600 160–200 130– 150 30 – 40
C3 0–20 80– 120 160 – 180 60 – 70 27–28 12 – 14 0– 2 2–4 120– 140 600 –700 400– 500 140 – 160 140 –150 30–40
C4 0–20 80– 120 160 – 180 60 – 70 27–26 12 – 14 2– 4 4–5 120– 140 600 –700 400– 500 140 – 160 130 –150 30–40
C5 10–30 100 – 120 140 – 160 60 – 70 25–26 14 – 15 2– 4 5–6 120– 140 500 –600 350– 400 120 – 140 140 –150 30– 40
C6 10–30 120 – 140 140 – 160 60 – 70 24–25 14 – 15 2– 4 5–6 140– 160 600 –700 400– 500 120 – 140 150 –160 40– 50
C7 10–30 120 – 140 140 – 160 50 – 60 23–24 15 – 16 4– 6 6–7 120– 130 500 –600 350– 400 100 – 120 150 –160 40– 50
MW1 20–30 120 – 140 160 – 180 40 – 50 25–26 15 – 16 5– 6 6–7 120– 130 500 –600 300– 350 100 – 120 120 –150 40– 50
MW2 20–30 140 – 160 110–130 40 – 50 23–24 16 – 17 6– 7 6–7 120– 130 450 –500 250– 300 80 – 100 150 – 160 40 – 50
MW3 20–30 120 – 140 130 – 160 40 – 50 23–24 16 – 17 6– 7 6–7 110– 120 350 –450 250– 300 60 – 100 120 – 150 40 – 50
MW4 20–30 140 – 160 110–130 40 – 50 22–23 16 – 17 6– 7 6–7 110– 120 350 –450 250– 300 60 – 80 150–160 40 – 50
MW5 30–40 140 – 160 130 – 140 40 – 50 24–25 16 – 17 6– 7 6–7 100– 120 350 –450 250– 300 60 – 100 120 – 150 50 – 60
MW6 30–40 140 – 160 140 – 160 40 – 50 25–26 16 – 17 6– 7 6–7 100– 120 450 –500 250– 300 80 – 100 120 – 150 40 – 50
MW7 30–40 140 – 160 110–130 40 – 50 22–23 16 – 17 6– 7 7–8 100– 120 400 –450 250– 300 60 – 80 120–150 40 – 50
MW8 40–50 140 – 160 130 – 140 40 – 50 24–25 17 – 18 7– 8 7–8 100– 120 400 –450 250– 300 60 – 80 120–150 40 – 50
MW9 40–50 140 – 160 110–130 30 – 40 23–24 17 – 18 6– 7 7–8 100– 120 400 –450 250– 300 60 – 80 120–150 40 – 50
MW10 40–50 140 – 160 110–130 30 – 40 22–23 17 – 18 7– 8 7–8 100– 120 400 –450 200– 250 50 – 60 120–150 40 – 50
MW11 40–50 140 – 160 110–130 30 – 40 22–23 17 – 18 7– 8 7–8 90– 100 350 – 400 200–250 50– 60 120– 150 40 – 50
W1 50–60 160 – 170 120 – 130 30 – 40 23–25 17 – 19 7– 8 7–9 90– 100 350 – 400 200–300 50– 80 120– 140 40 – 50
W2 50–60 160 – 170 100 – 110 30 – 40 22–23 18 – 19 8– 9 7–9 90– 100 350 – 400 200–300 40– 50 120– 140 40 – 50
W3 60–70 170 – 180 110–120 30 – 40 23–24 19 –20 8–10 8–9 90– 100 350 –400 200– 300 50 – 60 110 – 120 50–60
W4 60–70 170 – 180 100 – 110 30 – 40 22–23 19 –20 9– 10 9 – 10 80 – 90 300–350 200– 300 40 –50 110–120 50 – 60
W5 60–70 .180 90– 100 ,30 21–22 19 – 20 9– 10 9 – 10 80– 90 300 – 350 200 – 300 ,40 ,110 50 – 60
C 0–30 0– 140 140–180 50 – 80 28–23 10 – 12 0–6 2– 7 120 – 160 500 – 1000 350 – 700 100 – 200 130 –160 30– 50
MW 20–50 120 – 160 110–180 30 – 50 26–22 15 –17 5–8 6– 8 90 – 130 350 – 600 200 – 350 50 – 120 120–160 40 – 60
W 50–70 160 – 365 90 – 130 0–40 25–21 17 –20 7–10 7–10 80– 100 300 – 400 200 – 300 0 – 80 0 – 140 40–60
Explanatory notes: ANSD, annual number of summer days; ADT10, number of days with an average temperatureof 108C and more; NFD, number of frost days; NID, number of ice days;
TSU01, average temperature in January; TSU07, average temperature in July; TSU04, average air temperature in April; TSU10, average temperature in October; NDP, number of days
with total precipitation 1 mm or more; RVEG, total rainfall during the vegetation period (April– September); RW, total rainfall in winter (October –March); DSC, number of days with
snow cover; NCLD, annual number of cloudy days; NCAD, annual number of clear days.
Journal of Maps 427
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MW3 – The summer is short, mild to moderately cold, dry to slightly dry, and a normal transition
period with a moderate to long mild spring and autumn. The winter duration is normally mild to
moderately cool, dry to slightly dry to normal with a short duration of snow cover.
MW4 – The summer is short, mild, and dry to slightly dry with a short transition period and a mild
spring and autumn. The winter duration is normally slightly warm and dry with a short duration of
snow cover.
MW5 – The summer is normally long, mild to moderately cold, and dry to slightly dry with a
normal transition period and a moderate to long mild spring and autumn. The winter is normally
long, slightly cool and dry to slightly dry with a normal duration of snow cover.
MW6 – The summer is normally long or long, soft, slightly moist, intermediate to long term
normal with mild to moderately warm spring and a mild autumn. The winter is normally long,
cold, and dry to slightly dry with a normal duration of snow cover.
MW7 – The summer is normally long, mild, and slightly dry with a short transition period, a mild
spring and slightly warm autumn. The winter is normally long, slightly warm, and dry to slightly
dry with a short duration of snow cover.
MW8 – The summer is long, warm, and slightly damp with the transitional period normally long
and a slightly warm spring and autumn. The winter is normally long, mild to moderately cool, and
dry with a short duration of snow cover.
MW9 – The summer is long, hot and dry to slightly dry with a short transition period, a mild to
moderately warm spring and a slightly warm autumn. The winter is short, mild and dry, with a
short duration of snow cover.
MW10 – The summer is long, warm, and slightly dry with a short transition period and a slightly
warm spring and autumn. The winter is short, slightly warm and very dry, with a short duration of
snow cover.
MW11 – The summer is long, hot and dry with a short transition period and a slightly warm spring
and autumn. The winter is short, warm and very dry, with a short duration of snow cover.
W1 – The summer is long, hot and dry, with a short transition period, slightly warm spring, warm
autumn. The winter is short, mild to moderately cool and dry to very dry with a short duration of
snow cover.
W2 – The summer is long, hot and dry with a very short transition period and a moderately warm
spring and a warm autumn. The winter is short, slightly warm and dry to very dry with a very short
duration of snow cover.
W3 – The summer is very long, very hot and dry, with a short transitional period and a warm
spring and autumn. The winter is short, mild, and dry to very dry, with a short duration of
snow cover.
W4 – The summer is very long, very hot and very dry with a very short transition period and a
warm spring and autumn. The winter is short, moderately warm, and dry to very dry, with a very
short duration of snow cover.
W5 – The summer is very long, very hot and very dry with a very short transition period and a
warm spring and autumn. The winter is very short, warm, and dry to very dry with a very short
duration of snow cover.
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These descriptions provide a general overview of the values listed in Table 1. The explanation
is, however, indicative only and further analysis should always be made using numeric values.
The map was completed using the digital grid representation of individual climatic character-
istics (map elements). It averages these characteristics for the period 1961 – 2000 and is prepared
for the wider needs of the collective publication Climate Atlas of Czechia (Tolasz et al., 2007).
The methods of classification are fundamentally different from other maps of individual climatic
characteristics, as the climate models present categorical data and cannot be interpolated (Kve
ˇton
ˇ
&Z
ˇa
´k, 2005). Therefore, all elements of the grids were transferred to the database environment,
and the classification for each pixel (a square with sides 500 m) that represented the terrain grid of
the Czech Republic was performed. A total of 314,512 squares were processed. The resulting
boundaries of climatic units were plotted, followed by import into ArcGIS for the final editing
(Figure 1).
3. Conclusions
The accompanying map is intended primarily for professionals to identify climatic regions of the
Czech Republic. The correct interpretation of the map requires a basic knowledge of climate
issues. To determine the relationships between the climatologic characteristics and to gain knowl-
edge for deeper analysis, it is necessary to become familiar with the related research topics. The
contribution describes many details about the climatological characteristics of the Czech Republic
and about Quitt’s climatic classification.
The Quitt’s climatic classification distinguishes three areas and 23 units, some of which do not
occur in the Czech Republic between 1961 and 2000. The lowlands are in the warm area, the
Figure 1. Final map preview of climatic regions of the Czech Republic.
Journal of Maps 429
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central region is in the moderately warm area and the slightly higher region is in the cold area. In
this time period the warm area encompassed 25%, the moderately warm area was 66% and the
cold area was 9% of the total area of the Czech Republic.
The numerical boundaries of the classifications are only approximately related to real con-
ditions (Quitt, 1971) as different approaches can achieve different results. The processing of
the same initial data (Kve
ˇton
ˇ&Z
ˇa
´k, 2007) can be considered an advantage of Quitt’s classifi-
cation. The form of an unambiguous determination of the classification allows the convenient
use of this classification by administrative authorities. Adding the table with values map provides
the real range of occurring values of other elements within well-defined climatic areas.
Quitt’s climatic classification operates on the same principle as a modern approach presented
in (Tuc
ˇek, Pa
´szto, & Voz
ˇenı
´lek, 2009), that mathematically defines the process leading to similar
results. The study also included an assessment of compliance of the resulting map with the actual
values of selected meteorological characteristics in the period 2000 – 2010 and in this reporting
period, there were no significant differences. There was also a comparison with other famous
classifications, but in the result Quitt’s Classifications together with the implemented system of
meteorological data acquisition is the most detail and suitable for the needs of the Czech Republic.
Software
All geodata has been created and processed in the ESRI ArcGIS Desktop version 9.3.1. Map
outputs were processed in ArcGIS 10. Graphic designs, including preparation of maps, were pre-
pared in Adobe InDesign CS4.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support by the Operational Program Education for Competitiveness
– European Social Fund, project CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0170 of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of
the Czech Republic. The authors wish to thank the experts who participated in the project – Radim Tolasz
and Vı
´t Kve
ˇton
ˇ. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
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