Shalva Elizbarashvili

Using observational data from 50 meteorological stations in Georgia for 1936–2011, some temperature indices were studied for assessing the climate change: extreme values of temperature, the number of frosty, cold, and hot days and tropical nights as well as indices based on distribution percentiles. Geoinformation maps of the spatial structure are plotted and the dynamics of these indices for the period of global warming is studied. Determined are the mean values of indices for different averaging periods. The obtained results can be used for generalizing corresponding indices for the Caucasian region, the Black Sea basin, or Western Asia.

Complex Atlas of climatic and agro-climatic resources of Georgia has been elaborated for the first time. Its publishing as of a fundamental work will be of crucial importance. Results of perennial researches of Georgian scientists involved in this sphere are generalized in the work. The atlas consists of two parts. First part presents maps of general climate, factors of climate formation on the territory of Georgia, main elements of climate, atmospheric phenomena, distribution of resort resources and possible climate change, also as well as hazardous meteorological phenomena. The second part represents agro-climatic resources that enable agronomists to rationally dislocate agricultural crops, also forecast their high productivity. Majority of agro-climatic maps are designated for zoning of separate crops according to districts – cereals, vine, tea, citrus, subtropical crops etc. Phenological maps of agricultural crops shall also be taken into consideration. They are decisive in proper implementation of agro-technical measures, etc.

The main factors of Achara Region’s climate formation as well as territorial distribution of climatic elements, climatic resources, complex climatic characteristics and the dangerous weather conditions are considered.

The main factors of Abkhazia Region’s climate formation as well as territorial distribution of climatic elements, climatic resources, complex climatic characteristics and the dangerous weather conditions are considered.

The main factors of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region’s climate formation as well as territorial distribution of climatic elements, climatic resources, complex climatic characteristics and the dangerous weather conditions are considered.

The main factors of Guria Region’s climate formation as well as territorial distribution of climatic elements, climatic resources, complex climatic characteristics and the dangerous weather conditions are considered.

The main factors of Shida Kartli Region’s climate formation as well as territorial distribution of climatic elements, climatic and agroclimatic resources, complex climatic characteristics and the dangerous weather conditions are considered

The main factors of Imereti Region’s climate formation as well as territorial distribution of climatic elements, climatic and agroclimatic resources, complex climatic characteristics and the dangerous weather conditions are considered.

The main factors of Kakheti Region’s climate formation as well as territorial distribution of climatic elements, climatic and agroclimatic resources, complex climatic characteristics and the dangerous weather conditions are considered.

The main factors shaping the climate of Racha-Lechkhumi Kvemo Svaneti were studied: topography, atmospheric radiation factors, circulation processes; regularities of the territorial distribution of the main climatic elements: air temperature and humidity, atmospheric precipitation, snow cover, wind; potential of climatic resources: resort, helio and wind energy resources; considerable attention is paid to agroclimatic resources and forecasts; considered dangerous weather phenomena: strong winds, blizzards, fogs, intense and heavy rainfall, frosts.

The content of the lecture course corresponds to the current educational programs and is intended for students of natural science specialties. It will also be useful for doctoral students, masters, and teachers who are interested in issues related to database processing.

The statistical structure of dangerous fogs with the visibility of less than 50 m is studied using the observation data of 50 meteorological stations in Georgia for the period of 1961–2006. The contribution of dangerous fogs to the total number of foggy days is estimated. The number of days with dangerous fogs and their duration in different regions of the country are determined and the empirical functions of their distribution, sizes of areas of their expansion, temperature regime, and peculiarities of annual variations are studied.

Air temperature trends under conditions of global warming are studied using the observational data from 87 meteorological stations of Georgia for the period of 1936–2011. Plotted are the geographic information maps of the spatial structure of temperature variation rate.

Created are the grid datasets of monthly mean and annual mean temperature as well of monthly, seasonal, and annual values of the total precipitation with the resolution of 25 km for the period of 1936–2011. The obtained datasets characterize the real picture of the spatial distribution of temperature and precipitation on the territory of Georgia; therefore, they are used for working out geoinformative maps of temperature and precipitation variations. Revealed are the areas and centers with different intensity of warming and cooling. It is found that the annual temperature and total annual precipitation averaged for the territory do not vary considerably under conditions of the global warming.

Using observational data from 50 weather stations in Georgia for the period of 1936-2013, the following climate indices of moisture regime are studied: maximum 1-day precipitation, maximum 5-day precipitation, the simple daily intensity index, the number of days with precipitation equal to not less than 10, 20, and 50 mm, number of consecutive wet and dry days. Geoinformation maps of the spatial structure are plotted, and the dynamics of these indices is studied for the period of global warming. Expected changes in the moisture regime in different physiographic regions in Georgia are assessed.

The original method developed in the Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory is used for assessing the potential of renewable energy resources of Georgia. The cumulative index of potential energy resources and their constituents (helio, wind, and water resources) are estimated quantitatively in conventional units for the regions of Georgia. The respective geoinformation maps are compiled.

Variations in the number of hot days, their frequency, intensity, and duration in Georgia are studied using observational data from 50 weather stations for the period of 1936-2013. The periods of the onset of hot days in the year and their maximum intensity in different physiographic conditions are identified. The zoning of Georgia was carried out according to the rate of changes in the number of hot days. The results enhance the understanding of climate change in Georgia under global warming conditions.

Based on observational data from 30 weather stations in Georgia for the period of 1936–2013, the geography, statistical structure, intensity, duration, and dynamics of tropical nights are investigated. The geoinformation map was constructed for the number of tropical nights for the WMO base period. The periods of occurrence and return of their different gradations and the regularities of long-term variations are revealed.

Based on observational data from 25 weather stations for the period of 1936–2013, the statistical structure, intensity, and duration of frosts as well as the dynamics of the number of frost days in the mountain regions of Georgia are investigated. The continuous duration of frosts, the time of the occurrence, the frequency of different gradations of the number of frost days, and the regularities of their long-term variations are revealed.

The number of days with blizzard, the intensity, duration, periods of occurrence, and dynamics of blizzards in the mountain regions of Georgia are investigated using observational data from 20 weather stations. The features of wind and temperature regimes of blizzards are revealed.

Based on the observations from more than 20 weather stations, the frequency of occurrence of the most dangerous weather events for Georgia (very heavy precipitation, hail, hurricane wind, blizzard, fog) is investigated. Based on the stochastic laws, the probabilities of occurrence of one of the events from the complex, the probability of the joint occurrence of both events of the complex, and the return periods of risks are revealed.