A Recent Study of Seasonal and Interannual Climate Variability over the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Abstract

The present work aims to investigate seasonal and interannual climatic variability over the eastern Mediterranean (EM) region through the period (1949-2016). The monthly data of meteorological elements of temperature, pressure and precipitation for the EM region during the period (1949-2016) has used and analyzed. Moreover, the monthly NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data composites for these meteorological elements over the EM region have used. The seasonal and interannual variability of meteorological elements (surface air temperature, air temperature at 1000 hpa level, 500 hpa level, 500 hpa geopotential height, mean sea level pressure and precipitation) over the EM region during that period is studied. The anomaly, time series and correlation coefficient techniques, methods used for the data analysis. The results revealed that the climate variability of the EM region varied dramatically from season to season and from year to year through the period of study (1949-2016). There is a seasonal positive trend of temperature at 1000 hpa and 500 hpa levels and Geopotential height of 500 hpa level over the EM region. Meanwhile, it found a seasonal negative trend of mean sea level pressure and precipitation rate. For the interannual climatic variable over the EM region, it noticed that there was a positive trend of annual air temperature at the levels of 1000 hpa and 500 hpa. Meanwhile, there exists an annual negative trend anomaly of mean sea level pressure, 500 hpa geopotential height and precipitation rate over the EM region through the study period. It has become clear that the climate regime over the EM region is a complex regime.