TITLE:
Detection of Changes on Temperature and Precipitation Features in Istanbul (Turkey)
AUTHORS:
Hüseyin Turoğlu
KEYWORDS:
Istanbul, Precipitation, Temperature, Climate Change, Climate Classification
JOURNAL NAME:
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences,
Vol.4 No.4,
September
18,
2014
ABSTRACT: In
this study, the changes in the data of Istanbul’s precipitation and temperature
and the features of these changes were analyzed by different methods. In the
analyses the daily precipitation and temperature data sets of Florya and
Goztepe Meteorological Stations which have similar locational features were
used. These sets were recorded between 1960 and 2013 (for 54 years). In order
to emphasize the differentiations in the last 15 years the analyses were
conducted comparatively both for the 15-year and for the 54-year periods and then
the results were evaluated. The changes in the monthly, annual and seasonal
quantity, type and frequency of the precipitation in the form of rain and the
features of the temperature’s monthly, annual and seasonal changes, the De
Martonne aridity index and the
Thornthwaite climate classification were carried out. The results showed that
during the years from 1999 to 2013 the climate type of Istanbul changed from
semi-humid climate to arid and less-humid climate. Most notably the
precipitation during the warm periods has decreased, but the frequency of the
intense rain has increased and the majority of these episodes of intense rain
coincided with the warm periods. Other determinations were the rise in the
annual average temperature and the extension of the warm periods in a year.
This differentiation of the temperature features can lead to the aggravation of
the evaporation and it can be effective for a longer period during the year.
Being aware of this differentiation in the features of precipitation and
temperature and taking these data into consideration in all sorts of planning
and managing strategies have a special importance for the 14 million or more
people living in Istanbul.