Abstract
A new look is focused in this study on the analysis of mean temperatures for Bahrain, as observed at its International Airport for the 59 years extending from 1947 to 2005. The temporal trends indicate significant warming of the dry-season temperatures of 0.166°C decade−1. In particular, the summer months of May to July and October demonstrate statistically significant trends of 0.172 to 0.247°C decade−1. There is a tendency for the wet season months to show both decreases and increases in their temperatures though the temporal trends are not significant. The decade of 1991-2000 emerged as a period of conspicuous warming as well as increase in the occurrence of unusual mean temperatures and the number of months per year with above-average temperature. No significant trend in intraannual and intraseasonal temperature variabilities is discerned, but the wet season shows predominantly higher within-season variability in temperatures as compared to the dry season. Further analyses have been carried out on the available extreme temperature data for the period 1981-2005 in an attempt to search for a possible source of climatic and/or non-climatic factors, such as intensifying desertification and rapid urbanization. By and large, the rates of diurnal temperature ranges have increased due to significantly higher rates of increasing maximum in comparison to increasing minimum temperatures. The warming rate of the overall dry season during the day is seven times that during night. However, the nocturnal temperature for the overall wet season has warmed significantly at a rate more than three times that of the overall dry season. There is a sufficient evidence that sources of rapid urbanization around the area of records seem to be a major contributor to the observed rates of temperature. Both the urbanization and the effect of the large water body of the Gulf surrounding the Island of Bahrain seem to have offset the effect of desertification on temperature changes.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
