VARIJABILNOST PADALINA NA PODRUČJU HRVATSKE S MARITIMNIM PLUVIOMETRIJSKIM REŽIMOM PRECIPITATION VARIABILITY IN CROATIAN AREAS WITH MARITIME PLUVIOMETRIC REGIME

Variability is a feature of every climate element; however, some of the elements, such as precipitation, feature a more distinct spatial and temporal variability (Jones, 1999). Precipitation variability stands out because of the importance of precipitation, that is, the amount of water in an area. The best example for this are arid and VARIJABILNOST PADALINA NA PODRUČJU HRVATSKE S MARITIMNIM PLUVIOMETRIJSKIM REŽIMOM


Introduction
Variability is a feature of every climate element; however, some of the elements, such as precipitation, feature a more distinct spatial and temporal variability (Jones, 1999). Precipitation variability stands out because of the importance of precipitation, that is, the amount of water in an area. The best example for this are arid and područjima gdje svaki izostanak padalina ili dugotrajno razdoblje s malim količinama padalina ima izravan utjecaj na vegetaciju i živi svijet, a time i na čovjeka. Hrvatska prima dovoljne količine padalina, pa čak i relativno velike, kao što je to slučaj na području Gorske Hrvatske. Zbog krške podloge prisutne na najvećem dijelu istraživanog područja, dio padalina odlazi u podzemlje te nije dostupan za izravno korištenje.

Prethodna istraživanja
Postoji relativno velik broj istraživanja varijabilnosti padalina u svijetu koja su zbog velike prostorne promjenjivosti padalina često regionalnoga karaktera. Posebna se pažnja posvećuje istraživanju varijabilnosti padalina, ali semiarid areas where any absence of precipitation or long-term periods of minimal precipitation has a direct influence on vegetation and fauna and, hence, on the people. Croatian territory receives sufficient or even relatively high amounts of precipitation, as is the case in Mountain region of Croatia. However, due to the underground drainage system in the karst, which prevails in most of the researched area, a portion of the water is lost in the underground and is not accessible for direct usage.
Technological development has decreased societies' dependence on precipitation, but it has not completely disappeared. This is also the case with the Croatia's coastal region, particularly its islands, where numerous activities, including those related to tourism, depend on the availability of drinking water. Even the smallest degree of drinking water consumption reduction can result in tourists' complaints or even make them leave. Aesthetic perception of the tourist resorts can be disturbed if watering of lawns and flower gardens is prohibited. Fires, which can cause significant damages during dry periods can also influence the tourist season. Furthermore, apart from its economic influence, precipitation variability influence to population is also important. Hence, the aim of this article is to point to certain regularities of precipitation variability distribution in the areas with maritime pluviometric regime in Croatia.
Precipitation variability is the occurrence of a greater or smaller amount of precipitation that falls every year in relation to an average value for a certain period. The average value is usually the arithmetic mean of the precipitation during a certain period.
Precipitation variability in this paper is analysed using the monthly precipitation data from 18 stations in areas with maritime pluviometric regime.
The results were obtained as a part of a wider research conducted within the doctoral thesis Geographic Aspect of Differences in Precipitation Variability of Continental and Maritime Pluviometric Regimes in the Republic of Croatia (Maradin, 2011).

Previous researches
There are a relatively great number of precipitation variability researches in the world, which are often of a regional character due to substantial spatial differences in precipitation variability. Special attention has been given to researches of precipitation i padalina općenito, u onim dijelovima svijeta gdje padalina ima malo ili imaju veliku važnost za život ljudi. Ovdje će biti spomenut samo dio tih istraživanja, pogotovo onih koja se bave utjecajem maritimnosti na varijabilnost padalina.
Precipitation variability on the Earth as a whole was first researched by Biel (1929) and he concluded that variability of annual precipitation amount increases in the regions with small amount of precipitation and, vice versa, it decreases in the regions with larger amount of precipitation. Conrad (1941) also studied precipitation variability on Earth. He analysed the deviations in relative variability and found that the regions of Europe and North America in moderate and higher geographic latitudes feature relative precipitation variability values lower than the average, while in the areas above the oceans and continental coasts that are under the influence of cold sea currents higher values of relative precipitation variability were measured. Juras (1995) has made a map of precipitation variability in Europe using the data from the study of Lebedev et al (1979), which refer to 1931-1960period. Juras (1995, analysing precipitation variability in Europe, states that values of variation coefficient are relatively small in comparison to other continents. The values of the coefficient are increasing towards the south of Europe, which is less a consequence of lower average annual precipitation amounts than of significantly smaller number of days with precipitation. Morales (1977), researching the influence general circulation of atmosphere has to precipitation variability, states that the variability is higher in tropical and subtropical zones than in moderate latitudes. Namely, the main sources of precipitation in the latitudes affected by western zonal winds are cyclones that interchange with anticyclones that bring a more stable weather. That change is relatively fast and regular, which causes lower precipitation variability.
Precipitation variability researches in Croatia are relatively rare despite numerous studies dealing with precipitation features (Penzar, Penzar, 1979, 1981Pandžić, 1988;Pandžić and Kisegi, 1990;Gajić-Čapka, 1993). Margetić (1942) was among the first to study precipitation variability in the coastal region of Croatia and noted spatial regularity in precipitation variability. According to him, the greatest variability occurs in coastal and island parts of south Croatia and in continental padalina određuje korištenjem Schultzeovih koeficijenata koji najveće vrijednosti imaju na otocima sjevernoga Hrvatskog primorja koji nisu najbliži obali, u dijelu Gorskog kotara i u cijeloj Dalmaciji. Penzar naglašava da dobiveni rezultati pokazuju da kontinentalni pluviometrijski režim smanjuje, a maritimni povećava kontraste u godišnjem hodu padalina. Makjanić i Volarić (1979.) bave se klimatskim obilježjima otoka Hvara te daju prikaz varijabilnosti padalina analizirajući odnos između razlike najveće i najmanje mjesečne količine padalina i pripadne srednje mjesečne vrijednosti. Najveće vrijednosti tako dobivenih vrijednosti su u ljetnim mjesecima i u listopadu. Juras (1995.)  regions under maritime influence. Penzar (1959) measured precipitation variability using Schultze's coefficients and found the greatest values were measured on northern Croatian littoral islands that are not the ones closest to the coast, in the part of Gorski Kotar and in whole of Dalmatia. Penzar (1959) emphasized his results showed that the contrast in the annual course of precipitation is decreased by continental pluviometric regime, and increased by the maritime regime. Makjanić and Volarić (1979) have studied climate features of the island of Hvar and provided a review of precipitation variability by analyzing the relationship between the differences in the highest and the lowest monthly precipitation amount and their pertaining mean monthly value. The highest obtained values were measured in the summer months and in October. Juras (1995) studied precipitation quantity variability in Croatia and noticed that there was a great range of variation coefficients. High annual values of variation coefficients were recorded in the southern part of the Adriatic coast and in the Kvarner region. The lowest values were measured in the Gorski Kotar region. The research showed that the values of variability indicators alone, in this case variation coefficients, could not provide enough information about the causes of precipitation variability. Milković (1998) studied precipitation variability on Croatian coast, and measured the greatest variation coefficients values on the offshore islands in the southern Adriatic. Variation coefficients values are decreasing towards the inland and towards the north. Meteorological stations with higher amounts of annual precipitation usually have lower values of variation coefficients. However, they can also vary in values, which can be linked to number of days with precipitation. In the annual course of precipitation, the month with the greatest precipitation variability is October. The month with the lowest variability in the stations from Rijeka to Split is April and, more to the south, April or November.

Maradin
(2008) analysed precipitation variability in Crikvenica and Hvar stations using the mean relative variability as a measure of precipitation variability. He concluded that the annual values of precipitation variability were higher in Crikvenica than in Hvar. Monthly values of mean relative variability coincided in the colder part of the year, with only a slightly greater variability in Crikvenica, while in the warmer part of the year, except for September, the variability was greater in Hvar.

Data and methods
There are various methods of determining precipitation variability, from numerous precipitation variability indicators to stochastic models. All these methods are based on the assumption that precipitation variability is precipitation deviation from a certain constant (Conrad, Pollak, 1950). In another words, they are measures of dispersion (Šošić, Serdar, 2002). The value of the constant is usually taken to be the arithmetic mean of the precipitation during a certain period.
Precipitation variability in this study is determined by using the mean absolute precipitation variability. It is an average value of all the absolute deviations from the mean value. It is calculated by using the formula: with P i being the precipitation value in the i -th year of the researched period, and P g is the mean value of precipitation. In order to compare precipitation variability for different stations, or for different time series obtained for the same station, the mean relative variability, V r , is used. It is a relative indicator, and it is being calculated by using the formula: In order to conduct spatial analysis of precipitation variability it was necessary to spatially interpolate the calculated values of precipitation variability, resulting in the spatial distribution of precipitation variability for every month separately, and also for the whole year. The software ArcGIS, version 9.3, was used in order to conduct spatial interpolations. The numerous methods that the software provides were tested, and the best results were obtained by the Tension Spline method. Spatial interpolation of a certain polygon using the aforementioned method is calculated based one the values recorded in 12 neighbouring stations. In resource literature the Tension Spline method is also called the basic minimum curvature technique or thin plate interpolation (Naoum, Tsanis, 2004). In the process of map-making by using the visini. Osim toga, utjecaj reljefa na vrijednosti pokazatelja varijabilnosti manji je nego na vrijednosti srednjih godišnjih količina padalina, zbog čega Juras (1995.) tvrdi da zanemarivanje utjecaja nadmorske visine neće bitno utjecati na prikaz prostorne raspodjele varijabilnosti količine padalina. Da anomalije padalina u odnosu na višegodišnji srednjak uvelike ne ovise reljefu tvrdi i Pandžić (1988.). Naravno, zanemarivanje reljefa se mora uzeti u obzir pri interpretaciji dobivenih podataka o prostornoj raspodjeli varijabilnosti.
Varijabilnost padalina u radu je analizirana korištenjem podataka o mjesečnim količinama padalina na području Hrvatske s maritimnim pluviometrijskim režimom. Područje s maritimnim režimom padalina je ono koje ima veću količinu padalina u zimskoj, tj. hladnoj polovici godine, tj. od listopada do ožujka (Margetić, 1942.;Penzar, 1959.;Šegota, 1986.). U literaturi taj se tip još naziva mediteranski ili suptropski pluviometrijski režim (Penzar, Penzar, Spline Tension method the influence of relief to precipitation variability is ignored. The reason for this is a small number of weather stations used and inadequate distribution of the stations by altitude. Besides, the influence the relief has on the values of variability indicators is lower than its influence on the values of mean annual precipitation amounts, wherefore Juras (1995) claims that ignoring the influence of altitude would not significantly influence the obtained spatial distribution of precipitation variability. Pandžić (1988) also claims that precipitation anomalies in relation to a certain period average do not mainly depend on the altitude. Neglecting the influence of altitude must be taken into consideration in the process of interpreting the obtained data regarding the spatial distribution of variability.
Within the maritime pluviometric regime area, 18 stations were selected for precipitation variability analysis (Figure 2). The reason for a relatively small number of stations is the period during which precipitation variability was analyzed. Despite the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) recommendation to use 30-years periods for analyzing the climate elements and the climate as a whole (WMO, 2010), modern researches have showed that for certain parts of the world as well as certain climate elements 30 years is not long enough period. It is necessary to take a longer količinom padalina za razmatranja potrebno uzeti dulje vremensko razdoblje (Biel, 1944.;Šegota, 1969.;Juras, 1985.). Zbog navedenog, u radu je varijabilnost padalina analizirana za razdoblje od 1950. do 2007. godine.  (Pandžić, Likso, 2007.).

Precipitation features in the research area
The researched stations have a relatively large range of mean annual precipitation amounts. The stations on the Adriatic islands have the lowest amount of precipitation but it increases towards the coast, particularly in the regions that are under the influence of relief. The lowest amount of the precipitation are recorded at Lastovo meteorological station (668.4 mm), and the highest amount at the stations Mountain region of Croatia -Parg (1,842.6 mm) and Ogulin (1,566.2 mm). Precipitation amount can be very high in the coastal stations under the influence of relief (Rijeka and Dubrovnik stations), while stations without the mountainous hinterland (Zadar, Šibenik, Split-Marjan stations) receive a significantly lower precipitation amounts. The highest amount of precipitation is recorded in the mountainous area, and the slightly lower amounts appear in concavely shaped areas, as can best be seen in Lika (Pandžić, Likso, 2007).
In order to explain precipitation variability in the researched area, it is necessary to mention in short the annual course of precipitation. According to the typology of annual course of precipitation developed by Penzar and Penzar (1979-81), there are three types of the annual course of precipitation in the researched stations. Within all the types of precipitation, the month with the lowest precipitation amount occurs in the warm part of the year. Lastovo station is the only station with the annual course of precipitation in which the lowest amount of precipitation occurs in July and the highest in November. In Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split-Marjan, Zadar and Mali Lošinj stations minimum of precipitation occurs also in July, and the maximum also in November. At all other stations in the researched area, which are mostly situated north from the mentioned stations, secondary precipitation maximum occurs in April or May and the secondary minimum occurs in March or February.

Spatial distribution of annual values of precipitation variability
In the researched area, there is a relatively wide range of precipitation variability. The station with the highest value of precipitation variability is Lastovo (20.6%), and the station with the lowest variability is Parg (9.1%). Precipitation variability is the lowest in the mountain region of Croatia (Figure 3). Toward the coast, the values of precipitation variability are increasing. The highest value of precipitation variability is recorded in the areas under the influence of subtropical air pressure maximums, where there is an only small amount of precipitation in the summer months, or a complete lack of precipitation. Besides the South Adriatic, precipitation variability is also high in the Kvarner region. High values of precipitation variability in the Kvarner region during almost all of the months can be explained by sea and land distribution and terrain dynamics.

Spatial distribution of monthly values of precipitation variability
Analysis of monthly precipitation variability values, in contrast to annual values, can more correctly depict regional differences in precipitation variability and their causes.
During the winter months precipitation variability is the lowest in the southern parts of the researched area as a result of cyclonic circulation influence on precipitation formation in that part of Croatia. Precipitation variability is also low in the mountain area (Figure 4, Figure 5). The highest precipitation variability is recorded at the stations in the Kvarner and Istria -Senj, Crikvenica, Pazin, Pula and Rijeka. The relatively high variability in this area can be explained by the influence of terrain dynamics and distribution of land and sea on formation of precipitation in the Kvarner region, particularly if we take into consideration the number of days with precipitation, which in winter does not differ greatly in comparison to other Adriatic stations. Variability of precipitation amounts in  (Juras, 1995.).
Spring is the season with the lowest precipitation variability (Maradin, 2011), which can be explained by numerous types of precipitation formation in that part of the year. However, there are differences between northern and southern parts of the researched area, where the variability is slightly higher. Penzar andPenzar (1979, 1981) state that the warming of the land that starts in March leads to a decrease of the precipitation contributed by the fronts and cyclones formed over the sea. However, two new types of precipitation sources occur in that period -land cyclones and convective precipitation. A great number of factors causing precipitation in spring influence lower precipitation variability Slika 5. Varijabilnost padalina u veljači (%) Figure 5 Precipitation variability in February (%) u proljeće utječe na manju varijabilnost padalina u tom godišnjem dobu. To potvrđuje i činjenica da se prema jugu smanjuje utjecaj atmosferskih labilnosti i fronti, što uz smanjenje broja ciklona na kopnu smanjuje raznolikost postanka padalina (Penzar, Penzar, 1979., 1981  during that season. This is confirmed by the fact that the influence of atmospheric instability and fronts decreases towards the south, which, along with a number of cyclones over the hinterland, leads to a decrease in precipitation formation (Penzar, Penzar, 1979, 1981 and causes an increase of precipitation variability.
In comparison to February, the values of precipitation variability in March in the Northern Adriatic region are approximately the same, while in the Southern Adriatic region they are increased ( Figure 6). The increase in variability in the coastal area can be explained by the secondary minimum in the annual course of precipitation, which occurs in March in the central and northern Adriatic, as well as by greater inter-annual precipitation variability. količine padalina. Ta se činjenica jasno odražava u prostornoj raspodjeli vrijednosti varijabilnosti količine padalina u tom mjesecu (Slika 7.). U travnju vrijednost varijabilnosti količine padalina ni u jednoj postaji nije veća od 45%. Kako se utjecaj ciklona koje s mora dolaze na kopno, a koje su najčešće u travnju (i studenom) (Penzar, Penzar, 1979., 1981 (Juras, 1995.;Milković, 1998.). minimum of the mean monthly precipitation amounts is recorded. That fact is clearly reflected in spatial distribution of precipitation variability during that month (Figure 7). Precipitation variability in April does not exceed 45% in any of the researched stations. As the influence of cyclones moving from the sea to the land, which are most frequent in April (and November) (Penzar, Penzar, 1979, 1981, decreases towards the south, precipitation variability at the southern Adriatic stations slightly increases. Higher precipitation variability at certain coastal stations can be explained by a smaller number of days with precipitation.
As the share of the precipitation caused by cyclones from the sea decreases, precipitation variability on the coast increases. Warming of the land and strengthening of subtropical air pressure maximum cause an increase in precipitation amounts as well as a decrease in number of days with precipitation, which, consequently, increases variability in the southern Adriatic. Relatively high Tek u listopadu vrijednosti varijabilnosti na području južnog Jadrana postaju manje od 50%.
The aforementioned precipitation variability distribution, characterised by increased variability values in the South Adriatic, and smaller values in the North Adriatic, occurs already in May ( Figure  8). Highest precipitation variability values are measured in the coastal part of southern Croatia. The highest variability is recorded at Lastovo station (62.2%). A slightly higher variability values occur in the Kvarner region as well. The lowest precipitation variability is measured at the stations in the mountain region of Croatia where the station with the lowest variability, Gospić (33.6%), is located. Precipitation variability is higher in the southern Adriatic area in June as well (Figure 9). Namely, as general circulation follows the sun, the cyclonic activity zone moves toward the north at  (Juras, 1995.). Tako na primjer u srpnju 1988. godine padalina nije bilo ili ih je bilo zanemarivo above 50° N approximately, and subtropical air pressure maximum moves towards the south of Croatia (Penzar, Penzar, 1979, 1981. Besides that, the precipitation amount in the maritime pluviometric regime area in the summer months is very small. That is the reason why the values of precipitation variability are the highest in the south and decrease towards the north as the influence of cyclonic activity increases. The highest variability values are recorded at Lastovo, Dubrovnik and Hvar stations. Spatial distribution of precipitation variability which occurs in June is similar to the one in July. In relation to June, precipitation variability increases at the majority of the researched stations ( Figure  10). Thus the area with precipitation variability higher than 55%, which covered the southernmost parts of the country in June, stretches over almost the whole of the coast in July, except for some parts of Istria and the area around Rijeka. This is a consequence of an increased influence of subtropical anti-cyclones. In addition, a great  (Penzar, 1959.;Penzar, Penzar, 1979., 1981. Listopad je mjesec s najvećim vrijednostima varijabilnosti srednje mjesečne količine padalina number of stations in the Adriatic reach the annual course of precipitation minimum as well as the annual course of number of days with precipitation minimum in July. Sometimes there is no rainfall in the coastal area in July at all (Juras, 1995). Thus, for example, in July of 1988 the stations of Zadar, Šibenik, Lastovo, and Hvar did not record any precipitation at all, or in negligibly small amounts. In August, spatial distribution of precipitation variability does not change significantly ( Figure  11). Variability is still high on most of the coast. However, in the North Adriatic region variability values are somewhat lower. In August there can occur an absence of precipitation in the coastal part of Croatia. The lowest variability values are in the mountain region of Croatia where the station with the lowest variability, Parg, is situated.
Dubrovnik stations). It is interesting to note that despite similar monthly precipitation amounts in Hvar (94.0 mm) and Lastovo (90.5 mm), the variability at these two stations differs. In Hvar it is 49.7%, and in Lastovo 59.3%.
The results of the study correspond to the results of other researchers that have studied precipitation variability (Biel, 1929;Lebedev et al., 1979;Morales, 1979;Juras, 1995;Milković, 1998). The results show that precipitation variability increases in the regions with low precipitation amounts and, vice versa, it decreases in the regions with higher precipitation amounts, as determined by Biel (1929). In addition, Croatia is under the influence of west zonal winds responsible for relatively quick and regular alterations of cyclones and anticyclones, which causes lower precipitation variability (Morales, 1977). That is the reason why Croatian regions in which western atmospheric circulation dominates during the whole year have Slika 14. Varijabilnost padalina u studenom (%) Figure 14 Precipitation variability in November (%)
The first cluster consists of seven stations -Gospić, Knin, Ogulin, Parg, Pazin, Rijeka, and Rovinj. In the majority of these stations, the main variability maximum is in October and the secondary is during the winter months, usually in February. The primary minimum is in April, and the secondary is in June or November. The second cluster consists of eight stations -Crikvenica, Mali Lošinj, Pula, Senj, Sinj, Split-Marjan, Šibenik, and Zadar. In most of these stations, the primary variability maximum occurs in July, August or September, and the secondary in December. The primary variability minimum occurs in November, and the secondary in April. Within this cluster, the three stations located farthest to the north, Crikvenica, Pula and Senj, stand out. Although Slika 16. Dendrogram klaster analize za 18 klimatoloških postaja Figure 16 Dendrogram of cluster analysis for 18 climatological stations Glavni se minimum varijabilnosti padalina javlja u travnju, a sporedni u siječnju.
Analiza mjesečnih vrijednosti pokazala je da na varijabilnost padalina velik utjecaj ima postanak padalina. Mjeseci s najmanjom varijabilnosti najčešće su oni mjeseci u kojima postoji velik broj čimbenika koji uzrokuju postanak padalina. Također, područja koja su pod utjecajem ciklonske cirkulacije imaju manju varijabilnost jer je ova cirkulacija povezana s relativno these three stations record similar annual course of precipitation variability, in the stations located more to the south annual course is, nevertheless, somewhat different. In the aforementioned stations, the main variability maximum occurs in October, and the secondary in February. As for the stations in Pula and Senj, the main variability maximum is recorded in April, and secondary in November. Precipitation variability features at those stations is similar to the previous cluster and they represent a kind of a transitional area. The third cluster consists of three southernmost stations -Dubrovnik, Hvar and Lastovo. At those stations the main variability maximum occurs in July or August, and the secondary in March. The main variability minimum occurs in April, and the secondary in January.
The conducted analysis demonstrates the differences in spatial distribution of precipitation variability. Its results can be used as a basis for analyses that deal with water management, particularly if we take into consideration high precipitation variability in the months with relatively low precipitation at some of the stations in the researched area.

Conclusion
Maritime pluviometric regime area features a relatively large range of precipitation amounts. The lowest amount of precipitation is recorded at the stations located on the Adriatic islands and the amounts increase towards the coast, particularly under the influence of the relief. Similar to the annual course of precipitation amounts, the researched area records a relatively wide range of precipitation variability, the station with the highest precipitation variability being Lastovo (20.6%), and the one with the lowest variability Parg (9.1%). Precipitation variability is the lowest in the mountain region of Croatia. Towards the coast the precipitation variability increases.
Cluster analysis of annual course of precipitation variability demonstrated that the stations, according to the stated feature, could be classified into three groups. The first group consists of the stations in the mountain region of Croatia and the northern part of the research area where the primary variability maximum occurs in October and the secondary in winter months, most often in February. The primary minimum occurs in April, and the secondary in June or November. The second group consists of eight stations -Crikvenica, Mali Lošinj, Pula, Senj, Sinj, učestalim padalinama. Zbog toga su vrijednosti varijabilnosti padalina na području sjevernog Jadrana gotovo cijele godine niže, osim u zimskim mjesecima kada je zbog ciklona koje dolaze sa Sredozemlja minimum varijabilnosti padalina na području južnog Jadrana. Na području Kvarnera varijabilnost padalina povećana je cijele godine, što se najvjerojatnije može povezati s utjecajem raspodjele mora i kopna te dinamike reljefa na postanak padalina.
Split-Marjan, Šibenik, and Zadar. At the majority of them the main variability maximum is recorded in July, August or September, and the secondary in December. The main variability minimum occurs in November, and the secondary in April. The southernmost part of the Adriatic records the primary variability maximum in July or August and the secondary in March. The primary precipitation variability minimum in that area is recorded in April and the secondary in January.
The analysis of monthly values showed that precipitation variability is greatly influenced by types of precipitation formation. The months with the lowest variability are most often the months in which a large number of factors influence formation of the precipitation. Moreover, the areas under the influence of cyclonic circulation record the lowest precipitation variability since this circulation is connected to relatively frequent precipitation. That is why the precipitation variability in the north Adriatic area are lower during the whole year, except in the winter months, when minimum variability occurs in the southern parts of the Adriatic due to cyclones moving from the Mediterranean. In addition, in the Kvarner region, the precipitation variability is increased throughout the year, which is most probably connected to the influence the distribution of the land and sea and terrain dynamics have on formation of precipitation.
Along with precipitation amounts, precipitation variability is also important for water management in the area because of its wide spatial and temporal variability. It is particularly important in the coastal regions with relatively small amounts of precipitation. Draughts, drinking water reductions, fires and their influence on tourism and agriculture are just some of the examples that point to the importance of precipitation variability as a significant component of space management. The arguments stated in the paper point to the necessity of further precipitation variability researches on smaller areas and with a larger number of stations included.

Note
This study was conducted within the scientific project "Environmental Change and Cultural Landscapes as Development Resource", project director and chief researcher Prof. Dr. Borna Fürst-Bjeliš, PhD, supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the Republic of Croatia)