The study aims to analyze trends in rainfall and temperature data from 1978 to 2015 at two stations, Aqaba and Tabuk, to infer climate change indicators.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

University of Jordan, Amman

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze trends in the amount of rainfall and temperature during the period 1978-2015 at the Aqaba and Tabuk stations to infer them as an indicator of climate change. The study relied on the inductive approach based on analyzing the statistical characteristics of the distribution of rainfall and temperature, in addition to examining the homogeneity of variance.
The study concluded that there is a great similarity in the annual rainfall regime and an increase in the average annual rainfall of the Tabuk by 13.7% and there is an increase in the maximum annual rainfall amount and range by 12.6% and 12.8%, respectively at Aqaba.
The value of t-statistical test, the value of the absolute difference between the two half-means, and twice the value of the standard error indicated the presence of non-significant trends in the general change in annual rainfall at the Tabuk and Aqaba. The standard deviation also showed the extent of dispersion of seasonal rainfall amounts around the average and an increase in the average annual temperature observed at the Aqaba station by about 2.4°C over the Tabuk station. Calculating the general temperature change indicates that there is an increasing trend at the two stations. The t-test values also showed increasing and significant trends in temperature during the summer and winter seasons, and non-increasing and non-significant trends during the fall and spring seasons at Aqaba. While the results of this test revealed increasing and significant trends in temperature during all seasons at Tabuk station.

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