Press Release by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Palestinian Meteorological Directorate  (PMD) on the Occasion of World Meteorological Day, March 23, 2015

 

 

This Year’s Theme: "Climate Knowledge for Climate Action"

Every year on March 23, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has 189 members, and the global meteorological community celebrate the World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme.  This year’s theme is “Climate Knowledge for Climate Action”.

 

In Palestine, this day is celebrated by meteorological bodies, mainly (PMD).

 

The PMD conducts optimal observation of climatic conditions in the direct or indirect service of different forms of life to contribute effectively to the development of the national economy. Palestine is an observer in the WMO and a member of the Arab Organization of Meteorology in the League of Arab States.

 

 

Meteorological statistics form a crucial part of the environmental statistics collected by PCBS from administrative records.

 

 

“Climate Knowledge for Climate Action” in Palestine

Within the project “Raise Capacity Building of the Palestinian Institutions”, Environment Quality Authority aims to build the capacity of Palestinian institutions in the integration of the environment and climate change into national policies. It is also leading the efforts toward the preparation of the First National Communication Report of Palestine on Climate Change, which includes Greenhouse gas inventories and their reduction mechanisms.

 

The project also aims to assess the Palestinian institutions’ capacity in dealing with the climate change, and evaluation of the national policies and plans to integrate the climate change and mitigation plans therein.

 

It is worth noting that Palestine is going to join the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

 

This press release highlights the most significant meteorological facts observed in Palestine during 2014 (1/1/2014 to 31/12/2014) and the amount of rainfall until 11/03/2015 in some West Bank Stations:

 

Lower Average Rainfall in 2014

 

The amount of rainfall in 2014 was  less than the yearly average in most of the stations, scoring a total amount of rainfall 476 mm in Ramallah Station, and 297 mm in Jenin.  The yearly average rainfall in Ramallah station is 615 mm and 468 mm in Jenin.  

 

 

Amount of Rainfall from (1/1/2014 -11/03/2014), and from (1/1/2015-11/03/2015), and

Yearly Average Figures in Some West Bank Stations

 

 

 

 

High Temperatures in 2014 Compared with Yearly Average

Maximum air temperatures during 2014 were higher than the yearly average by 1.9°C in Hebron station; the smallest variation was - 0.5°C in Jenin station.

 

Variations in Maximum Air Temperature in 2014 (°C) From Yearly Average in Some West Bank Stations

 

Minimum temperatures in 2014 were also higher than the yearly average by around 0.9 °C in Ramallah station and 3.2 °C in Jericho station.

  

Variations in Minimum Air Temperature (°C) Compared to Yearly Average in Some West Bank  Stations, 2014

 

 

 

 

Highest Annual Humidity in Nablus, Lowest in Jericho  

Data showed that annual relative humidity in 2014 ranged between 53% in Jericho station and 73% in Nablus station. 

 

 

 

 

Mean Relative Humidity (%) in 2014 and Yearly Average in Some West Bank Stations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher Average Hours of Sunlight Compared with 2013

During 2014, the average hours of sunlight ranged between 9.1 hours per day in Ramallah station and 8.4 hours per day in Hebron station, compared to 2013 figures of 8.9 hours per day in Ramallah station and 8.3 hours per day in Hebron station.