Impacts of Global Climate Change on the Mediterranean Region: Adana as a Case Study

Abstract

The effects of climate change on Mediterranean region are known to include increases in temperature, decreases in precipitation and water exiguity. The original Mediterranean climate prevails along the southern coast of Turkey causes alterations in both climate parameters and perceived temperature by changes in the temperature, precipitation, and humidity values. In this study Adana which is located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region, was chosen because of being the best indicator of changes in and the effects on the Mediterranean climate. As for the method, the Mann-Kendall rank correlation test (M-K) was applied to temperature, precipitation and humidity variables in Adana and then with the help of the Humidex index, perceived temperature values of the area were calculated in order to apply trend analysis. Especially in terms of average and minimum temperature values, strong positive trends were observed in temperature variables, while both strong positive and strong negative trends were observed in humidity variables. During the summer season strong increases were observed in perceived temperature at all weather stations except for Karataş and Tufanbeyli. Insignificant decreases in winter precipitation, and increases were observed during the dry period. These results were interpreted as increasing number and severity of heat waves due to climate changes.