Changes in Air Temperature and Precipitation over the Syrian Coastal Region (Lattakia Governorate) from 1970 to 2016

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the changes in the annual and seasonal averages of air temperature and precipitation over Lattakia Governorate during the period 1970-2016. Annual and seasonal trends for temperature and precipitation were calculated by using the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test. The mean differences between the two periods 1970-2000 and 2001-2016, were assessed at the annual and seasonal scales by using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Furthermore, the occurrence of extreme high/low values were analyzed at the annual scale by using the normal distribution curve.

The study found that the annual temperature averages significantly (p<0.05) increased by 0.22 ˚C/decade and 0.17 ˚C/decade, respectively at Lattakia and Hiffeh stations during the period 1970-2016. Summer exhibited strong and significant (at level 0.01) increasing trends by 0.39 ˚C/decade at Lattakia, and by 0.34 ˚C/decade at Hiffeh. Total spring precipitation significantly decreased by -6.5 mm/decade at Lattakia and by -12.1 mm/decade at Hiffeh. Probability of the occurrence of the value 20.2 ˚C or more as an extreme value increased by 40.8% at Lattakia station during the period 2001-2016.