Analysis of long-term rainfall and air temperature patterns in Alexandria (Egypt)

Analysis of long-term rainfall and air temperature patterns in Alexandria (Egypt)

Tarek M. El-Geziry

طارق محمد الجزيري

Marine Environment Division – Physical Oceanography Lab (NIOF)

Arabia Journal of Geosciences, 2021, 14: 1199

https://www.springer.com/journal/12517

(Indexed in Scopus)

Abstract:

Rainfall and air temperature are significant parameters to establish the climatic condition of a region and their patterns of variations are, nowadays, key elements to judge the issue of climate change. The present study affords an analysis of long term rainfall and air temperature records to establish their trends of variations in Alexandria and to, therefore, conclude the presence or absence of climate change in this important City. The data set of the two parameters extended on monthly basis over 40 years from 1980 to 2019. The analyses and the trends of the two parameters were carried out by the MS Excel® 2010 reflecting increasing trends with rates of 2.94 mm/year and 0.04 °C/year in rainfall and air temperature, respectively. Results also revealed a positive relationship (+0.21) between mean annual rainfall and air temperature, while the mean monthly records of the two parameters reflected a negative relationship of − 0.72. From the trends investigation, it is expected that Alexandria will examine an increase in the number of rainy days in April, May and September. The mean annual rainfall anomaly was +19.38 mm an indication of an increasing rainfall trend while the mean annual air temperature anomaly for the study period was +0.3 °C showing that the mean annual temperatures are rising in the study area. Therefore, this increasing mean annual rainfall accompanied with rising mean temperatures is considered indicator of the presence of climate change that can be experienced in Alexandria.

Keywords: Egypt, Alexandria, Rainfall, Air temperature, Trends, Climate change

Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]