Studying changes of precipitation characteristics of different climatic regions in Syria under climatic changes during the period 1958-2018

Abstract

Monthly precipitation data were used for six meteorological stations describing different regions in Syria during the period 1958-2018 in order to estimate the change in precipitation characteristics. Box-plots and descriptive statistical analysis with the coefficient of variation were used to study the characteristics of seasonal and annual precipitation amounts. Trends with Mann-Kendall test were used to detect change and significance in concentration and seasonality indices, and mean precipitation. To compare the statistical characteristics of precipitation amounts and their probability values at different levels between the periods 1958-1988 and 1988-2018, gamma distribution and descriptive statistical analysis with the Student t test were used.

The results showed a clear reduction in mean annual precipitation in all regions with a value ranging between 6.1mm and 29.7mm per decade, which was significant in three regions (Homs-Suwayda-Qamishli). On the other hand, the results showed that no significant changes in concentration and seasonality. This changes constitute a direct threat to water resources and rain-fed agriculture and will pose a grand challenge to ecosystems management.