Analysis of low-level temperature inversions in some of GCC countries: Developing a template for characterization of long term analysis of climate change and global warming in the region

Sabah A. Abdul-Wahab*, Mohammed S. Al-Kalbani

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to examine the characteristics of the low-level tropospheric temperature inversions to a height of 4 km above a suburban site at some of the Arabian Gulf Countries by using 10-year records of daily upper-air meteorological data. The temperature profile data included in this chapter was derived from the radiosonde data collected by the Meteorology Department at different stations in the Arabian Gulf Countries. The study addresses the statistical analysis of inversion parameters and investigates whether changes in these parameters (i.e., depth and strength) have occurred during the last decade. Both surface-based and elevated inversions are investigated. The study is important since it is the first investigation that addresses the statistical analysis of the thermal inversion layers in the Gulf region. The chapter indicated monthly change in inversion frequency, height, depth, and strength. The frequency of the occurrence of all inversions seems to be slightly stable through out the period of the study. Since the frequency of the elevated inversions is the complement of the surface-based inversions, the highest frequency of surface-based inversions in some months corresponded to the time of minimum elevated inversions in the others. Overall, most of the inversions tended to be surface-based in all included stations. The surface-based and elevated inversions vary from winter to summer months depending on the changes of the atmospheric weather parameters in all stations of the study areas. The elevated inversions were generally lower and weaker than the surfacebased inversions. The chapter also indicated annual variations in the thermal inversions associated with inversion depth, height, temperature and strength across both the surfacebased and elevated inversions through out the 10-year period at some of the studied stations (Saudi Arabia Station No. 41024, Kuwait Station No. 40582, Abu Dhabi Station No. 41217, Salalah Station No. 41316). Extensive studies should be highlighted for the comparison of the results of the present study areas with the observations of inversion layer in other Middle East countries and other regions in the world to explore the link between the thermal inversions, the phenomenon of larger-scale global warming, climate change, and the causes of cyclones and natural disasters.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRelative Humidity
Subtitle of host publicationSensors, Management and Environmental Effects
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Pages1-40
Number of pages40
ISBN (Print)9781617617348
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Keywords

  • Atmospheric parameters
  • Balloon-borne sensor (radiosonde)
  • Meteorological stations
  • Relative humidity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science

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