KasprowyBUY
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Due to its location, the Meteorological Observatory on Mount Kasprowy is the unique country's research centre. The acquired data are used for synoptic purposes, meteorological and hydrological protection of the country, statistical studies and research. Forecasts and messages based on the data from Mount Kasprowy are used daily by inhabitants of Zakopane and the surrounding areas, as well as the crowds of tourists visiting Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains throughout the year.
The Building of the Alpine Meteorological Observatory is located at Mount Kasprowy, at a kilometre’s distance from the border between the West Tatras and the High Tatras. This place is a good illustration of height proportions between the Tatra peaks. The Observatory building is located at 80 m from the main ridge of the Tatras, which is on the intersection of the European watershed between the Dunajec and Wag. The Observatory rises above the upper edge of the Suchy Kasprowy Basin, with a cavernous wall to its north side. To the east of the building, there are steep slopes descending to the Valley of Gąsienicowe Lakes, to the south – to the Cicha Valley, and to the west – to the Goryczkowy Basin. The Alpine Meteorological Observatory represents the upper parts of the Tatras located within a moderately cold climate floor, which is characterised by a negative average annual air temperature.
The Kasprowy Observatory has been used for continuous meteorological observations since 22 January 1938, by which time it had been completed and ceremonially opened. At that time it was recognized by the general public and researchers as an important event. The observatory was not only the first of its kind in the Tatras but in the entire northern Carpathians.
After 78 years of its existence, the observatory has become a discreet and permanent feature in the landscape of the Polish Tatras. Now, it is hard to imagine the summit of Kasprowy without the characteristic observatory building, which remains in harmony with its surroundings.
Selected meteorological characteristics of Mount Kasprowy:
average annual air temperature -0.7oC
atmospheric pressure
absolute maximum 818.7 hPa
absolute minimum 757.0 hPa
highest average wind speed 55 m/s
highest speed reached 270 km / h
highest annual total of sunshine (hours) 1785
highest average annual air temperature 0.7°C
lowest average annual temperature - 2.3°C
highest sum of annual precipitation 2600.3 mm
highest monthly total rainfall 651.4 mm
maximum diurnal precipitation 232.0 mm
maximum thickness of snow cover 388 cm
highest annual number of days with snow cover 254
highest annual number of days with storms 54
