PRECIPTATION AND RIVER RUNOFF IN SMALL CATCHMENTS IN THE HIGH TATRA MOUNTAINS IN THE BALTIC SEA BASIN

The High Tatra Mountains as the regional water tower influence the hydrological cycle in a large part of southern Poland and northern Slovakia. We briefly describe the results of the analysis of precipiation and runoff from the entire High Tatra Mountains, i.e. both Polish and Slovak parts in period 1961-2010 studied by Gornik et al. (2017). The analysis was based on daily data from ten precipitation stations and seven stream gauges (catchments). Precipitation data confirmed higher precipitation on the windward (northern) slopes of the mountains and increase of precipitation causing potentially dangerous flood situations (40-60 mm per day) in decade 2001-2010 compared to previous decades at most stations. The number of the long-term wet periods (more than ten successive precipitation days) increased in the same decade at many stations too. Runoff data revealed inhomogeneities at five of seven gauging stations. Higher catchment runoff on the windward slopes of the High Tatra Mountains reflects higher precipitation and mean elevation of the catchments. The number of runoff events classified as small and large floods increased in decade 2001-2010 in several catchments on both sides of the mountains.