Case Study: Analysis of the Physical Factors of Palestinian Bioclimate

Abstract

This study analyses the physical factors of the Palestinian bioclimate, the mean monthly and annual temperature, mean monthly maximum temperature, and mean monthly minimum temperature using data from six weather stations from the Palestine Meteorological Department, recorded in two periods: The first period from 1969 to 1981, the second period from 1975 to 1995 (more than 32 years). Statistical tests included a bioclimatic analysis of Palestinian meteorological stations for the periods from 1969-1981 and 1975-1995 by using bioclimatic classification of the Earth of Rivas Martinez Salvador, with regard to thermicity index, compensated thermicity index, annual ombrothermic index, and simple continentality index. The bioclimate of Palestineis affected by various factors, such as the Jordanian-Syrian desert, and its natural geography and topography, among others as well as biodiversity. Annual ombrothermic index value ranging between 0.6 to 3.4 and simple continentality index was from 12.4 to 18.1. It is concluded that the occupied Palestinian territories belong to the arid, semiarid, dry, sub-humid and humid ombrotype, and the Inframediterranean, Thermomediterranean and Mesomediterranean bioclimatic belt.