Urban soil moisture dynamics and meteorological controls under changing climatic conditions: a case study of Kraków (Poland)
Autor
Baran-Gurgul, Katarzyna
Łach, Karolina
Opublikowane w
Technical Transactions
Numeracja
Vol. 123, iss. 1
Data wydania
2026
Miejsce wydania
Warsaw
Wydawca
Sciendo
Sekcja czasopisma
Environmental Engineering, Mining and Energy
Język
angielski
ISSN
0011-4561
eISSN
2353-737X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.37705/TechTrans/e2026019
Słowa kluczowe
soil moisture, climate change, drought, antecedent precipitation index API, urban area
Abstrakt
This study analyzes the relationships between soil moisture and selected climatic variables: air temperature t, relative humidity RH, and the antecedent precipitation index API. The analysis is based on in situ measurements from a research cross-section in the Sudół River catchment in Kraków, Poland, covering the period 2018–2025, supplemented with satellite-derived surface soil moisture data SMsurf from the Copernicus program. The study examines the temporal variability, seasonality, and long-term trends of soil moisture, as well as its correlation and regression relationships with climatic factors.
The results reveal a clear seasonal pattern of soil moisture, with maxima in winter and spring and minima in summer. A significant decreasing trend was observed, especially in transitional months (May and September), indicating increasing drought susceptibility. The antecedent precipitation index was the primary control on soil moisture, while air temperature mainly enhanced spring – summer deficits and relative humidity played a secondary role. Moderate but significant agreement between in situ and satellite data supports the value of combining ground-based and remote sensing observations for soil moisture and water resource monitoring under changing climate conditions.
