Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,

Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLII 2012/2

STUDY ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE DRYNESS AND DROUGHT IN THE

SOUTH OF THE DOLJ COUNTY
CIOBOATĂ MARIUS, BRUMAR DRAGOMIR
University of Craiova, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Craiova, Romania,
e-mail:cnmarius2@yahoo.com; dr.brumar@yahoo.com

Key words: drought, dryness, climograph, rainfall, irrigation

ABSTRACT
Through this paper we want to identify agro-climatic conditions in the south of the
county Dolj respectively identify periods of moisture deficiency or excess moisture. Based
on climatic data from area weather stations have determiant dry periods, droughty periods
and wet periods of the year in the range 2009-2011 and we have compared with
corresponding periods of multiannual average. Irregularities are detected of these periods
comparing to multiannual periods analyzed, which raises many questions and requires
further analysis and monitoring of the evolution of these phenomena in a much wider area.

INTRODUCTION
South of Oltenia has changed in the last 15 years, in terms of agricultural use of
land. If before this period was practiced an organized farming designed to exploit almost
all sources of land by cultivating those species suitable for the area, over the years most of
these areas were left unworked even realizing deforestation of protection curtains .
Also south of Dolj County is an area with great agricultural potential, the main
problems are caused by lack rainfall during periods when plants have the highest water
consumption.
For evaluating the studied area regarding the need for irrigation is necessary to
draw a annual or monthly diagram of the climate elements variation in interdependence,
such as temperature and precipitation (Popescu C. Ion – 2000).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research thematic was materialized by climatic and agroclimatic analysis and their
evolution over time in the context of climate change.
Climate database, processed consisted of those provided by weather station
records from Calafat, Bechet and Bailesti, in the southern part of the Dolj County.
Based on climatic data were made climograme H.Walter- H.Lieth type, using which
are determined wet periods of dryness and drought during the year. This system involves
graphic transposing of monthly precipitation values with the average monthly temperature
in two reports of representation, 1/2 and 1/3 (Berbecel O., și colab. – 1970).
Temperatures above the curve describing the areas covered by wet periods, dry
periods and droughty periods during the year are defined by areas included under the
curve temperature. The surfaces that describe those periods reproduce on vertical
intensity of the phenomenon and on horizontal length of the phenomenon.
Were made climograme for multi-anuual average of Calafat station and average of
area corresponding to the three meteorological stations during 2009-2011.
Dolj is a county of Oltenia, located in the most fertile region of Oltenia Plain and the
Danube in an area that offered over time, climatic conditions, especially soil conditions,
most favorable.
The whole territory of Romania, Dolj has a south-south-west position, based on the
lower of the Jiu river which takes its name (Down Jiu or Doljiu). County lies between 43 °
43 'and 44 ° 42' north, respectively, 22 ° 50 'and 24 ° 16' east longitude, ie one degree
latitude and one degree and a half longitudinally.
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Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,
Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLII 2012/2

Dolj County climate belongs to temperate climates area, with Mediterranean

influences due to South - West position. Position and depression character of the land that
occupies near the Carpathian-Balkan mountain range curvature determines the overall
climate is warmer than in central and northern part of the country, with an average of 10 to
11.5 ° C. Southern half of the county is among the warmest areas of the country (Brumar
D., și colab. – 2003).
County floodplain relief includes the area of the Danube plain and the hill. Altitude
increases from 30 to 350 m above sea level in the south to the north of the county, forming
a large amphitheater open at the sun.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Weather stations (Calafat, Bailesti, Bechet), whose strings scientific data formed the
basis of our analysis are located in the southern third of the county, with long strings of
data for almost half a century, and some of them even much longer for over a century
(table 1). In table is comprised brief characterization of their geographical position and
altitude (Marinică Ion - 2006).
Table 1
Weather stations in southern Dolj
Coordinates
Weather station Compact period Altitude
No. (County) latitude longitude of observation (m)
1 Bailesti (DJ) 44°01`N 23°21`E 1961-2012 57
2 Calafat (DJ) 43°59`N 22°57`E 1961-2012 61
3 Bechet (DJ) 43°47`N 23°57`E 1961-2012 35.9

Annual average temperature at three meteorological stations (Calafat, Bailesti,

Bechet) are close to almost insignificant differences between 0.1 ° C to 0.4 ° C. Small
differences are observed between monthly averages of temperature (Table 2).
Table 2
Average temperature and precipitation data between 1961-2004
STATIONS I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Anual
Temperature (°C)
BAILESTI -1.6 0.7 5.7 12.0 17.6 21.1 22.8 22.2 17.5 11.3 5.2 0.1 11.2
BECHET -1.7 0.7 5.8 12.1 17.6 21.2 23.0 22.2 17.5 11.3 5.2 0.1 11.3
CALAFAT -0.9 1.3 6.0 12.1 17.7 21.2 23.2 22.6 18.0 11.8 5.7 0.8 11.6
Average -1.4 0.9 5.8 12.1 17.6 21.2 23.0 22.3 17.7 11.5 5.4 0.3 11.4
Precipitations (mm)
BAILESTI 37.9 35.8 39.4 52.1 59.5 58.9 52.8 36.1 39.3 37.7 50.4 49.1 549.0
BECHET 32.8 30.6 36.4 46.9 55.0 60.3 52.5 35.9 38.6 35.9 46.0 40.6 511.5
CALAFAT 33.4 33.4 37.1 49.5 57.3 56.4 49.8 34.3 39.8 37.2 47.1 45.2 520.5
Average 34.7 33.3 37.6 49.5 57.3 58.5 51.7 35.4 39.2 36.9 47.8 45.0 527.0

Multiannual average of annual precipitation amounts are between 511.5 mm and

549.0 mm, which annual scale is not significantly different. Small differences (less than 10
mm) is observed between monthly multiannual (Table 2). However if we consider the types
of soil, in local microclimate, in some seasonal intervals are visible differences and cause
major efects from agricultural point of view. Thus in the Calafat area with sand and
Mediterranean influences more frequent and intense than Băileşti (for example) are
frequently the highest values of temperature which leads to highest indices of spring

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Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,
Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLII 2012/2

coming. We briefly review climograma Walter-Lieth only for Calafat station because
between the three meteorological stations are not significant differences.
Calafat area. The lowest rainfall months are January and February to 33.4 mm and
nearly as low in August and October with 34.3 mm and 37.2 mm precipitation. Records
usually a long dry period between 10.VI - 18.X of 130 days and a period of drought
between 10.VIII - 18.IX with 39 days (Figure 1) which approaches the local microclimate
most of the sub-Mediterranean.
Bechet area. The lowest rainfall months are January and February with 32.8 mm
and 30.6 mm followed by August and October by 35.9 mm. There is a dry period as the
period from June to October and a drought between August and September.
Lowest monthly average temperature recorded in January and February and
highest in July and august (Table 2).

Figure 1. Wet periods of dryness and drought in Calafat (Climograma Walter-Lieth),

calculated for the period 1961-2004.

Bailesti area. The lowest rainfall months are February and August with 35.8 mm
and 36.1 mm, followed by October and January by 37.7 mm and 37.9 mm. Periods of
dryness and drought are the same as in the other two areas above. Lowest monthly
average temperature are recorded in January and February and highest in July and
august. Differences from other stations show increasing continentalism in northern area
studied.
For the entire area studied temperature average like those of precipitation does not
differ much between them, which indicates a relatively homogeneous climate.
The climate is temperate continental with Mediterranean influences that determine
sometimes hot summers and warm winters without or insignificant snow cover.
Pluviometric regime is characterized by precipitations values. Average monthly
precipitations ranged from 32.8 mm in February in Bechet to 60.3mm in June also at
Bechet, and annual average 527.0 mm. Spring and early summer rains and then after hot,
dry summer, rains return in the second half of autumn (popular observation confirmed by
climate data). According multi-anuual data, as can be seen, the highest amount of rainfall
is recorded in May and June.
Main wet period are recorded between October - the first half of June (actually
composed of two periods II and 28.X-31.XII 14.VI), with main maximum rainfall (amount of
rainfall from April to July = 217.0 mm) and maximum secondary precipitations (rainfall
amount in October and November = 129.7 mm). Thus we see that the main rainfall
maximum value is almost double the secondary.
Dryness period for the entire area are recorded during June - early October. Dry
period for the entire area are recorded during July august and September.
Climate analyze from 2009 – 2011
As specified and as has also been observed between climatic values at three
meteorological stations Calafat, Bechet Băileşti there is no difference, and if they are, are
unsignificant, not needed to treat them separately. So after analyzing the data recorded

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Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLII 2012/2

during the period 2009 - 2011 found the same issue, which resulted in climograph
achieving on registered average.
In 2009 we can said that pluviometric regime was a rich one if we analyze annual
amount (645.2 mm) above the multi-anuual average (527, 0 mm), there is wet periods in
June, July and autumn-winter months. But the irregular distribution of rainfall during dthe
year causes dry periods in April-May and August September (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Walter-Lieth climograph for 2009, the average of stations Calafat, Bailesti, Bechet

2010 is a year rich in precipitations, the total is well above the annual average
recorded at three weather stations, 688.4 mm compared to 527.0 mm, the most significant
amounts of precipitation were March, May, June and October. Even if this year were
significant rainfall, as described and multi-annual average, drought was felt and this year, it
can be seen that the dry period is longer, from July to September when the phenomenon
had an emphasized intensity. Dry period began to settle by the end of June and spread to
October (Figure 3).

Figura 3. Walter-Lieth climograph for 2010, the average of stations Calafat, Bailesti, Bechet

If 2009 and 2010 were rich in rainfall, 2011 was a dry year rainfall recorded was
368.2 mm only. Wet periods of the year with positive impact on crops was in February,
March and late June - early July. Is revealed throughout year three periods of drought: a
short period of low intensity in April-May, a period during August, September, having a
high intensity actually in these two months were a total rainfall of only 10.6 mm , a third
period in November (Figure 4).

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Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,
Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLII 2012/2

Figura 4. Walter-Lieth climograph for 2011, the average of stations Calafat, Bailesti, Bechet

From the analysis of climograph for 2009-2011 compared to multi-anuual average

can be seen that the phenomena of drought and dryness have a greater duration and
intensity, while there may be a tendency of occurrence of droughts and dry at the
beginning the growing season.
Also during this period data analysis confirms that the southern Dolj area is
vulnerable to dryness and drought phenomena.

CONCLUSIONS
Climate data over the past century shows a gradual warming of the atmosphere and
a significant rainfall reduction, all items considered restrictive for specific activities of
agriculture (Sandu I., și colab. – 2010).
There is a risk of possible climate change in studied area in the future, climate
change will lead to:
- Significant growth of the average minimum temperature on summer season.
- Significant increase of the average maximum temperature for winter and summer
seasons (up to 2 ° C);
- Intensifying aridity phenomenon;
- Increase the maximum length of intervals without precipitations in both summer
and winter;
- Increased frequency of annual highly rainy day (about 12% of the average daily
volume for highly rainy days) and extremely rainy (about 4% of the daily quantities
extremes);
- The emergence of early heat waves and increase their intensity.
- Increasing drought frequency and duration of spring.
- A shortening of the growing season for wheat with 2-14 days due to temperature
increase.
- Increased production due to the effect of increased CO 2 concentration on
photosynthesis.
- Shortening the growing season for corn by 7-12 days as a result of temperature
increase.
- Reduction of maize yield as a result of increased soil water deficits, especially
during grain filling
- Increase the water deficits and poor pluviometric duration periods.
- Growth reference evapotranspiration and water requirement of plants.
- Corn plant available water will decrease significantly due to increased soil water
deficits, the reference evapotranspiration and water requirement of plants due to reduced
precipitations and increased air and soil temperature.
- For the irrigated maize, EUA significantly diminishes.
- By applying irrigation, EUA increases.

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Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLII 2012/2

- As the effect of climate warming, increased frequency and intensity of extreme

events, especially drought and floods.
For this it is necessary to take urgent measures first:
- Identification and selection of all agricultural adaptation measures to reduce agro-
climatic, thermal, hydric and implicitly food risks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Berbecel O., și colab. - 1970, Agrometeorologie, Editura Ceres, Bucureşti.
Brumar D., și colab. - 2003, Diagrama variaţiei temperatură-precipitaţii şi aprecierea
caracterului climatic al anului 2002, zona Craiova, Analele Universitatii din Craiova
„Agricultura-Montanologie-Cadastru” vol. XXXIII.
Brumar D., și colab. - 2003, Dinamica ET pentru lunile iunie-iulie, perioada 2001-
2003, zona Craiova, Analele Universitatii din Craiova „Agricultura-Montanologie-
Cadastru” vol. XXXIII.
Marinică Ion - 2006, Fenomene climatice de risc în Oltenia, Editura MJM, Craiova.
Popescu C. Ion - 2000, Irigarea culturilor, Editura Dova, Craiova.
Sandu I., și colab. - 2010, Schimbări climatice în România şi efectele asupra
agriculturii, Editura Sitech, Craiova.

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