Wintertime Temperature Variability over Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mean wintertime temperature (December, January, February) recorded at 26 weather stations distributed across Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) were analyzed to reveal spatial and temporal patterns of long-term trends. The behavior of wintertime temperature since 1979 is examined with regard to the persistence, non-linear trends and inter-decadal variations. The coefficient of variability (COV) of winter temperature decreases gradually from north to south of KSA. The higher values of COV occur north and northeast of KSA. The higher values of winter COV over north and north east of KSA is due to the effect of the Traveling Mediterranean depressions and its interaction with the inverted-V shape trough of the Sudan low. Relationship between COV and latitudes is highly significant, while with longitudes is not significant. The Mann-Kendal statistical rank test illustrates that positive trends (warming) in winter temperature series occur over the all stations and the trends are significant at mid and southern region of the KSA. Recent warming has only occurred during the last two decades at most stations. While cooling in wintertime surface temperature appears for the short period of about 5 years, 1979-1983 and 1988-1993. These trends are in general consistence with trends in the global mean surface temperature.