TRENDS AND CHANGES OF MEAN, MAXIMUM, MINIMUM TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION SERIES IN NORTHERN CYPRUS

Trends and changes of mean, maximum, minimum temperature and precipitation series in Northern Cyprus

Murat Türkeş, Faize Sarış

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Department of Geography, Terzioğlu Campus, 17020 Çanakkale, TURKEY

Abstract

Seasonal temperature and precipitation series of Girne and Lefkoşa stations in Northern Cyprus were investigated with respect to the long-term trends and changes. Results of the study have led to the following main conclusions: (1) Statistically significant increasing (warming) trends were found in mean temperatures of Girne, while mean temperatures of Lefkoşa were statistically random against to any trend in all seasons; (2) Statistically significant and the strongest warming trend showed up mainly in minimum temperatures at both stations in all seasons; (3) Increasing trends in maximum temperatures were not as strong as in mean temperatures at Girne and in minimum temperatures of both stations; (4) Warmer than long-term average temperature conditions in the series was evident especially after the year 1990; (5) However, precipitation series did not show any significant trend, being characterized mainly by wetter or drier than long-term average conditions.

Keywords: Northern Cyprus, temperature and precipitation, trend, change points and serial correlation