Abstract
Long-Term (1946-2008) record of 35,580 measurements of daily mean air temperatures in three meteorological stations (Dan, Dafna, Kfar Blum) in the Hula Valley, within the drainage basin of Lake Kinneret (Israel) was statistically evaluated. Temperature decline after the drainage of the old Lake Hula and adjacent wetlands (1958) and increase from the mid 1980’s, after the implementation of the Hula Project aimed at continuous land green cover were verified. It was suggested that those regional climate changes were due to the change of Albedo levels: lower when land was water covered and higher after regional drainage followed by a decline when vegetation cover became intensive and continuous. Decline of Albedo levels led to higher air temperature and vice versa.
Highlights
Until 1958 the Hula Valley was covered by the shallow Lake Hula (1.5 m mean depth; 1300 ha water surface), and 4500 ha of which part was permanently and part was seasonally covered by water and vegetation [1]
It is suggested that anthropogenic changes in the Hula Valley affected air temperatures through Albedo Effect
If A = Total Incident Energy = Radiation from sun and sky, and B = Energy Reflected from Surface, Albedo is indicated as N = Net surface Radiation = A – B = Albedo in %
Summary
Until 1958 the Hula Valley was covered by the shallow Lake Hula (1.5 m mean depth; 1300 ha water surface), and 4500 ha of which part was permanently and part was seasonally covered by water and vegetation [1]. During 1950-1957 old Lake Hula and the surrounding wetlands were drained and the land use was converted into agricultural development. About 10% of the area was inappropriately cultivated causing soil deterioration accompanied by a threat of nutrient flux enhancement into downstream Lake Kinneret. A reclamation project (Hula Project (HP)) was implemented during 1990-1997. This project included drainage canals renewal, construction of a wetlands (110 ha), renovation of irrigation method for the agricultural crops. (2014) Land-Use, Albedo and Air Temperature Changes in the Hula Valley (Israel) during 1946-2008.
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