Climate

Tomești commune is located in an area of complex morphoclimatic interference (mountain, piedmont and meadow) where the solar energy is distributed differently, and the circulation of western and northwestern air masses gives it certain peculiarities that can be grouped allover from south (mountainous area) to north (meadow area). The climate of the southern area falls within the climatic zone of the medium mountains with a longer duration and frequency of meteorological phenomena and with a transition to a hilly climate in the central and northern part. An important role is played by the forest vegetation with effects on the frequency and intensity of the wind, the precipitation regime, the relative humidity, the cloudiness and the duration of the sunshine, as well as the Bega River, which contributes to the production or amplification of the fog.^[2]

The average annual temperature records different values, in relation to the altitude, the exposure to the solar radiation and to the general circulation of the air masses. The annual thermal differences between sunny and sheltered slopes and those shaded and exposed to wind exceed 1–2 °C (1.8–3.6 °F). Tomești commune can be divided into distinct zones depending on the temperature:^[2]

• northern area (Tomești–Românești), average annual temperatures between 9.08 and 10.33 °C (48.34 and 50.59 °F);
• central area (Luncani), average annual temperatures between 7.83 and 8.58 °C (46.09 and 47.44 °F);
• southern area, average annual temperatures between 5 and 6 °C (41 and 43 °F).

In terms of rainfall, Tomești commune falls between the average annual isochetes of 750–1,100 mm (30–43 in), characteristic of high hills and medium mountains. Locally, in the highest areas, the average annual rainfall reaches totals of over 1,200 mm (47 in), around the Padeș and Rusca peaks. In the low areas in the north of the commune, average annual totals of 700–730 mm (28–29 in) are recorded.^[2]

The wind regime is dominated by winds from the northwest and west, followed by those from the southeast. The Lugoj–Făget–Margina–Bega Valley corridors allow a varied circulation of air masses. The presence of the Coșava–Curtea–Românești depression favors the channeling of some air currents in this direction, in the lower part of the atmosphere.^[2]

Flora

The zonal distribution of the vegetation of Tomești commune is determined by the thermal and humidity regime, the altitude and the soil constitution. The increase of the altitude from north to south causes a gradual decrease of the air temperature and an increase of the atmospheric precipitations in the southern part of the commune, leading to a zoning of the vegetation in altitude. In addition to this clear zoning, on smaller areas where specific microclimatic conditions are met, on different valleys, streams and springs, screes and meadow swamps, an intrazonal and azonal vegetation has formed.

Plain meadows are found in the low meadow area of the Bega River and its tributaries. Due to the humidity, the vegetation is represented by coppices of softwood trees: alder (Alnus glutinosa), white willow (Salix alba), crack willow (Salix × fragilis) and hydrophilic herbaceous species: dwarf sedge (Carex humilis), club-rush (Scirpus spp.), celery-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus), horsetail (Equisetum arvense), etc. A large part of the meadows of the Bega River is occupied by agricultural lands, but there are also different places in the piedmont and low mountainous area, around the hearths of the villages and the plowed fields and hayfields, where bushes of dog rose (Rosa canina) and dewberry (Rubus caesius), as well as woody species such as elderberry (Sambucus nigra), hazel (Corylus avellana), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), etc. are found.^[2]

From the hills to the highlands, the forests are predominantly deciduous, especially oak and beech. The subshrub species are represented by hazel (Corylus avellana), dog rose (Rosa canina), privet (Ligustrum vulgare), wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) found at the edge of forests and in glades, raspberry (Rubus idaeus) which is spreading more and more as a result of deforestation.^[2]

Fauna

Deciduous forests are populated with different species of mammals (wolf, red fox, badger, wild boar, brown hare, wildcat, roe deer, garden dormouse), birds (turtle dove, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, blackbird, great tit, barn swallow, cuckoo, hoopoe, tawny owl, eagle-owl, house sparrow, hooded crow) and invertebrates (fruit lecanium, chestnut tortrix, beech gall midge). The undergrowth of coniferous and beech forests, which grow in the high area of the commune, on the upper course of the Bega River and its tributaries, is populated by brown bear, red deer, lynx and some rodents (rat, wood mouse, bank vole). The fauna of the flowing waters is represented by species of fishing interest: river trout, barbel and chub.^[2]