Synoptic-Climatic Analysis of the Red Sea Trough in its Dry and Moist Types over Syria During the Period (1980-2015) using NCEP/NCAR Analysis

Abstract

This research aims to identify the synoptic-climatic conditions in Syria during the active and dry phases of the Red Sea trough extension between 1980-2015. It monitors the evolution of the extension over the Red Sea-Eastern Mediterranean region and determines the associated features, such as the Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) during southward flows in the middle troposphere over the Eastern Mediterranean region. It also quantifies the relative humidity transported from the tropical region in the form of warm air masses in the atmosphere from equatorial Africa towards the Eastern Mediterranean, enhancing the atmospheric moisture (PRWT) over the study area. This was done by utilizing gridded data for the Geopotential variables at 1000, 500 hPa, CAPE or PRWT over the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region in the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis model. The analysis was applied every 6 hours during the Red Sea trough extension over 48 cases within the study area (28°-35°N) and (32°-40°E). Daily variations in Geopotential values during the Red Sea trough extension were observed, with the lowest values recorded at 12 o'clock and the highest values at 6 o'clock. There was also a relationship identified between moisture flows from the Eastern Mediterranean and rainfall in southern regions of Syria during the Red Sea trough extension.