TITLE:
Study on the Relationship between the Oceanic Nino Index and Surface Air Temperature and Precipitation Rate over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
Yehia Hafez
KEYWORDS:
ONI, El Nino3.4, Surface Air Temperature, Precipitation Rate, KSA
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.4 No.5,
May
20,
2016
ABSTRACT: Abnormal weather
conditions and extreme weather existed over the Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA) through
the last decades. The present paper investigates the relationship between the Oceanic
Nino Index (ONI) and variability of surface air temperature and precipitation rate
over KSA through the period from 1950 to 2015 year. The NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis of
monthly data sets of the mean surface air temperature and precipitation rate for
the domain of the KSA is used. In addition, El Nino3.4 monthly data through the
period (1950-2015) are used. For that period, the data set of the three months moving
average of Nino3.4 anomaly, Oceanic Nino index (ONI), is used and analyzed. The
time series, anomaly and correlation coefficient techniques are used to analyze
the data sets through the present study. The results revealed that the KSA climate
parameters, temperature and precipitation rates are controlled by ONI mainly in
the autumn and winter seasons.