Variability of Extreme Air Temperatures and Precipitation in Different Natural Zones in the Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries According to ERA5 Reanalysis Data

The global temperature rise is accompanied by an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, which can lead to significant disturbances in plant metabolic processes and the functioning of plant communities. Depending on the type of vegetation and climatic conditions, the extent and nature of this impact can vary significantly. Therefore, the aim of this work is to identify areas with different types of plant communities that have been most affected by extreme temperatures and precipitation in recent decades. To identify regions with temperature and precipitation extremes, we estimate the frequency at which a given threshold is exceeded (less than 5% quantile or greater than 95% quantile) for selected theoretical probability density functions for the air temperature and precipitation series. The number of cases in which the extreme threshold is exceeded is calculated for the whole globe, and their spatial and temporal variability in different seasons of the year and in the first decades of the 21st century compared to the end of the 20th century is analyzed. Regions with different types of plant communities with the most pronounced amplification of extreme temperature and precipitation regimes under changing climate conditions are identified.

Automated summary

The global temperature rise has resulted in an increase in extreme weather events, affecting plant metabolic processes and community functioning. This study aims to identify regions with different types of plant communities that have been most affected by extreme temperatures and precipitation in recent decades.