Impact of desertification on temperature trends in the Middle East

Hassan A. Nasrallah, Robert Balling

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The intense interest in desertification and climate change has stimulated detailed studies of temperature records in many areas of the world. In this investigation, the temperature records from the Middle East region are analyzed over the period 1950-1990. Results reveal a linear, statistically significant temperature increase of 0.07 °C/decade over the 41-year period. An analysis of spatial controls on these temperature changes reveals a warming effect associated with both overgrazing and the degree of human-induced desertification. The results of this study are consistent with theoretical and empirical studies predicting and demonstrating a warming signal associated with these land surface changes in the world's dryland areas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)265-271
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Monitoring and Assessment
Volume37
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • Pollution
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of desertification on temperature trends in the Middle East'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this