The spatial distribution of annual rainfall in Israel ? a review

Abstract

This paper summarizes relevant studies dealing with the analysis of the annual rainfall map of Israel. With the aid of multiple regression analysis it was possible to quantify the contribution of each of the five geographical factors determining the annual rainfall map. Although the variance of the north-south component on the rainfall map looks most impressive, the orographic factor seems to be the more important contributor. The contribution of the spatially discrete urban factor has to be isolated from the deliberated cloud seeding augmentation. The statistical tools, spatial regression model and distance correlation matrix technique, were applied for the Central Coastal Plain and the Haifa area downwind, respectively. By applying sophisticated remote sensing methods, it was possible to classify and determine the rainfall yields of the variety of cloud formations appearing in the cold air mass following the cold front.