What is the precipitation in the Middle East?
Precipitation is generally quite low, with ranges between 350mm to 750 mm annually (UNESCO – EOLSS, n.d.). The area is known for being hot and arid. Regionally, the Middle East is very impacted by dust storms which often carry over to Europe (Al-Delaimy, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in the Middle East?
Rainfall is negligible in all seasons of the Middle East, as the region is nearly all desert. The only real winters in the Middle East happen in the mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia, where temperatures can reach freezing.
What is the weather like in the Middle East?
The basic climate of the Middle East can be characterized in two words: hot and dry, although winters are mild with some rain. The exception is the mountains, where desert turns to steppe in northern Iraq, northern Iran and eastern Turkey. Winters here can be severe.
Why is there low rainfall in the Middle East?
Near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, which bound the sun on its annual journey, are areas of low precipitation -low, in comparison with the global average precipitation. Here the air which rose near the equator sinks, which evaporates clouds and suppresses precipitation.
What is the wettest country in the Middle East?
Average precipitation in depth (mm per year) – Country Ranking – Middle East
| Rank | Country | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tajikistan | 691.00 |
| 2 | Lebanon | 661.00 |
| 3 | Turkey | 593.00 |
| 4 | Kyrgyz Republic | 533.00 |
Why is Saudi Arabia so dry?
Moreover, circulation in the region is dominated by subsidence of monsoon circulation, in which atmospheric waves in high altitudes triggered by the Indian summer monsoon propagate westward and sink from the upper to the lower atmosphere, increasing the aridity of the region.
Why does Saudi Arabia have no rain?
The descending air suppresses rainfall, ensuring that even if there is hot, humid air near the surface, which would normally be perfect for the formation of showers, the descending dry air high in the atmosphere inhibits any from forming.
Why is there no rain in Saudi Arabia?
With the exception of the province of Asir on the western coast, Saudi Arabia has a desert climate characterized by extreme heat during the day, an abrupt drop in temperature at night, and very low annual rainfall.
What is the hottest place in the Middle East?
Kuwait
Kuwait – the hottest place on Earth in 2021 Several other countries in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia, recorded temperatures higher than 50C (112F) in June.
Why is Middle East hot?
Meteorologists at The Washington Post reported that the heatwave is the result of a “heat dome.” The phenomenon occurs when high pressure in the mid- to upper-atmosphere acts as a cap, trapping warm air as it rises and pushing it back toward the surface to warm even more.
Is there a drought in the Middle East?
Moreso, since four-fifths of the region is desert or desert-like areas, the Mideast is already suffering from considerable drought, and additional environmental problems will exacerbate the situation further.
Why is the Middle East running out of water?
Universal causes for a spread of arid environment are unsustainable agriculture practices and overgrazing. Agriculture uses 85 percent of water in this region. It is common to misuse land by heavy irrigation in the Middle East. In the area droughts are more frequent, and contribute to the changing landscape.