Wavelet based analysis of Precipitation and Temperature over the UAE

Abstract

The identification and assessment of remote interactions (teleconnections) is carried out by using ground station and gridded data sets over the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Monthly rainfall data from six ground stations over the UAE for the period of 1982-2010 is used in this study along with the long-term gridded precipitation and temperature data from the Global Precipitation Climatology Center and Global Historic Climatic Network. Linear correlations, wavelet analysis and cross-wavelet analysis have been applied to identify the relation between climate indices and precipitation (temperature, soil moisture). The analysis reveals that the strong variability in precipitation is closely associated with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), the Indian Ocean Dipole Index (IOD) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation Index (PDO) during the months of August to March, September to January and February to June respectively. In case of temperature, the strong variability is associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAO), the East Atlantic Oscillation Index (EAO), and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation Index (AMO) during the months of April to October, July to December and March to July respectively. Soil moisture in the region is also most influenced by the SOI, IOD and NAO during the months of March to July, May to August and January to March respectively. This research concludes that the negative phases of SOI (NAO) play a significant role in the increase of precipitation (decrease in summer temperatures) over the UAE region. While when it comes to soil moisture, the negative phase of the SOI (NAO) results in the increase (decrease) in the soil moisture content in the region.

Date of Award	May 2014
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Taha B. M. J. Ouarda (Supervisor)