Trends of climate with rapid change in Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

This study presents evidence for rapid climate change in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Analyses of data for temperature and rainfall from 1970 to 2014 show a clear tendency towards decreasing rainfall and increasing average temperatures. This trend caused severe droughts for many years that were suddenly interrupted by high and unpredictable rainfall that fluctuated heavily in space and time. If this tendency continues, the population dynamics of many plant and animal species will be negatively affected, with many of them being important for local inhabitants. Detrimental effects can be expected in the coastal and tourist cities like Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, El-Tor, St. Catherine, Ras Sedr and El-Arish. Conservation efforts should be directed to conserve the biological and natural resources and to keep pace with this environmental change.