Ivanov: More frequent extreme weather and climate events are expected

In Montenegro, due to climate change, we should expect more frequent extreme weather and climate phenomena, such as heat waves, extreme temperatures, droughts, storms and heavy rains that lead to floods.

The head of the Department for Applied Meteorology and Climate Change at the Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology (ZHMS), Mirjana Ivanov, told the MINA agency.

She said that monitoring and assessments show that the climate of Montenegro is changing as a result of global climate change and variability.

According to Ivanov, the hottest decade so far in Montenegro was from 2011 to 2020.

"From 2000 until now, the northern region has had more warm periods during the year than is usual for the area, and fewer frosty days," said Ivanov.

She said that the growing season has been extended, especially in Žabljak.

Ivanov said that positive changes in the number of summer and tropical days, warm days and nights, length and number of heat waves are evident in the central and coastal regions.

"The trend is positive, growing over time, while unlike the northern region, there are no major changes in the number of frosty days or the length of the growing season," said Ivanov, adding that the exception is Bar, where the number of frosty days is significantly lower.

She said that between 2000 and 2020, higher daily precipitation intensities were particularly pronounced in the northern and central regions.

"The total annual amount of precipitation in days of heavy rains was increased in this period compared to the climatological norm of 1961-1990," Ivanov stated.

As she said, droughts followed by heat waves in Montenegro in the last two decades particularly affected the coastal region, the Zeta-Bjelopavlić plain, and then the northern mountain region.

"They affected not only agriculture and forests, but significantly also the water level of important rivers and lakes, such as the Morača and Zeta rivers, as well as Lake Skadar, which then affected fishing, agriculture and the energy sector," said Ivanov.

She said that climate change has also affected underground water, which, as she stated, already represents a potential problem in the future.

Ivanov explained that the deficit of precipitation also means that the water content in the soil is significantly reduced, which makes it difficult for plants to draw water from the soil and slowly wither.

"Given that we are already in a warmer climate, we should expect more frequent extreme weather and climate events such as heat waves, extreme temperatures (primarily high), droughts, storms, heavy rains that lead to floods," said Ivanov.

As she said, there will be fewer cold waves in Montenegro compared to the climatological norm of 1961-1990, and observations show that there will also be fewer frosty days.

"Such opportunities will especially affect agriculture, forestry, health, tourism and hydrology, and through hydrology, the economy that depends on it," said Ivanov.

She believes that the Montenegrin public is well aware of the danger of climate change, because numerous workshops have been held on the subject.

Ivanov said that a two-year seminar was held during which experts from ZHMS, the Agency for Nature and Environmental Protection, the Examination Center and the United Nations Development Program had the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with over 200 teachers from primary and secondary schools from all over the world. municipality.

As she stated, the public is well aware of the danger of climate change through television coverage, newspaper and electronic articles.

"This topic should be present more often in written and electronic media, as well as information about workshops and lectures on this topic," said Ivanov.

She said that on a global level, climate change occurs due to changes in the concentration of gases with the greenhouse effect, and on a local level, due to the conversion of land, deforestation, and the development of urban areas.

"The recommendations contained in the relevant documents are that the rules of sustainable development should be respected," concluded Ivanov.