Authors: V Homar C Ramis R Romero S Alonso
Publish Date: 2009/09/12
Volume: 98, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 199-
Abstract
Changes in climatic parameters are often given in terms of global averages even though large regional variability is generally observed The study of regional tendencies provides not only supplementary conclusions to more largescale oriented results but is also of particular interest to local policymakers and resource managers to have detailed information regarding sensible and influential climatic parameters In this study changes in precipitation for the Balearic Islands Spain have been analyzed using data from 18 rain gauges with complete daily time series during the period 1951–2006 and two additional sites where only monthly totals were available Tendencies for maximum and minimum 2m temperatures have also been derived using data from three thermometric stations with daily time series for the period 1976–2006 The thermometric stations are located at the head of the runways in the airports of the three major islands of the archipelago where urbanization has arguably not had a relevant impact on the registered values The annual mean temperature in the midtroposphere and lower stratosphere has also been analyzed using the Balearics radiosonde data for the period 1981–2006 Results show there is a negative tendency for annual precipitation 163 mm per century with 85 significance on the sign of the trend An abrupt decrease in mean yearly precipitation of 65 mm is objectively detected in the time series around 1980 Additionally the analysis shows that light and heavy daily precipitation up to 4 mm and above 64 mm respectively increase their contribution to the total annual while the share from moderateheavy precipitations 16–32 mm is decreasing Regarding the thermometric records minimum temperatures increased at a rate of 58°C per century during the 31 years and maximum temperatures also increased at a rate of 50°C per century both having a level of statistical significance for the sign of the linear trend above 99 Temperatures in the midtroposphere decreased at a rate of − 54°C per century while a tendency of − 78°C per century is found in the lower stratosphere The level of statistical significance for the sign of both the tropospheric and stratospheric linear trends is above 98 despite the great interannual variability of both series
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