Annual and seasonal climatic analysis of surface air temperature variations at six southern Mediterranean stations

Variations of surface temperature are studied at six southern Mediterranean stations: Marakesh (1910-1991), Alger (1823-1991), Tripoli (1944-1991), Alexandria (1942-1991), Amman (1923-1991), and Beirut (1863-1991). The: homogeneity of the temperature data is examined for each station by means of the short-cut Bartlet test. Abrupt climatic changes towards warm or cold periods exist at all stations with the exception of Tripoli. Persistence is also found in annual and seasonal temperatures, however, this persistence is not always linear. Annual and seasonal temperature fluctuations are examined and periods important warming begin in 1910 and 1970. Fluctuations in winter temperature are around the mean value, while summer temperatures, during the last three decades, have been distinctly higher than the long term mean values.