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Extreme precipitation events and associated flash floods caused by synoptic cyclonic systems profoundly impact society and the environment, particularly in arid regions. This study brings forward a satellite-reanalysis-based approach to quantify extreme precipitation characteristics over the Sinai Peninsula (SiP) in Egypt from a statistical–synoptic perspective for the period of 2001–2020. With a multi-statistical approach developed in this research, SiP's wet and dry periods are determined. Using satellite observations of precipitation and a set of derived precipitation indices, we characterize the spatiotemporal variations of extreme rainfall climatologies across the SiP. Then, using the reanalysis datasets, synoptic systems responsible for the occurrence of extreme precipitation events along with the major tracks of cyclones during the wet and dry periods are described. Our results indicate that trends and spatial patterns of the rainfall events across the region are inconsistent in time and space. The highest precipitation percentiles (∼20 mm per month), frequencies (∼15 d per month with rainfall ≥10 mm d -1), standard deviations (∼9 mm month per month), and monthly ratios (∼18 %) are estimated in the northern and northeastern parts of the region during the wet period, especially in early winter; also, a substantial below-average precipitation condition (drier trend) is clearly observed in most parts except for the south. Mediterranean cyclones accompanied by the Red Sea and Persian troughs are responsible for the majority of extreme rainfall events year-round. A remarkable spatial relationship is found between SiP's rainfall and the atmospheric variables of sea level pressure, wind direction, and vertical velocity. A cyclone-tracking analysis indicates that 125 cyclones (with rainfall ≥10 mm d -1) formed within, or transferred to, the Mediterranean basin and precipitated over the SiP during wet periods compared to 31 such cyclones during dry periods. It is estimated around 15 % of cyclones with sufficient rainfall >40 mm d -1 would be capable of leading to flash floods during the wet period. This study, therefore, sheds new light on the extreme precipitation characteristics over the SiP and its association with dominant synoptic-scale mechanisms over the eastern Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topic: Egypt Contents: General Country Information: This section of the paper discusses general country information including; geographic location, climate, type of government, currency, religion, ethnicity, and class structure. Social Customs and Manners: This section of the paper discusses social customs and manners including; greetings, dress code, tipping, attitude toward foreigners, general etiquette and manners, music, television, family life, food, and festivals. Business Customs and Behaviors: This section of the paper discusses business customs and behaviors including; business card usage, gift giving, dress code, mannerisms, greetings, and conducting business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is considered a major challenge to World Heritage Sites, be they natural or cultural. Monitoring long-term temperature patterns helps in assessing changes in the climatic conditions of an area. In this study, trend analysis of mean temperature patterns at the selected World Heritage Sites in Egypt is done using parametric and non parametric methods. Parametric simple linear regression is used to derive the slope and R square value, while non-parametric methods such as the Mann-Kendall method and Sen's slope estimate are used to derive the trend and magnitude of mean temperature values. The data requirement for the study is fulfilled using gridded maximum and minimum temperatures from WorldClim. The calculation of the mean temperature is done using QGIS. Analysis of results for the whole period (1960-2021) reveals a positive trend for all Sites. However, results for the first half (1960-1990) show no significant trend at most Sites except Abu Simbel and Abu Mena. The second half of the whole period (1991-2021) showed a significant positive trend for all the Sites, with higher magnitudes being observed for Sites located in lower Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. This study can serve as the foundation upon which detailed longitudinal site specific investigation can be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global climate models (GCMs) performances of the recently released Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) compared to its predecessor, CMIP5, are evaluated to anticipate the expected changes in climate over Egypt. Thirteen GCMs and their multi‐model ensemble (MME) of both CMIPs were used for this purpose. The future projections were compared for two radiative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) and two shared socio‐economic pathways (SSP 2–4.5 and 5–8.5). The results revealed improvement in most CMIP6 models in replicating historical rainfall, maximum temperature (Tmax), and minimum temperature (Tmin) climatology over Egypt. The MME of the CMIPs revealed that both could reproduce Egypt's spatial distribution and seasonal climate variability. However, the bias in CMIP5 was higher than that for CMIP6. The uncertainties in simulating seasonal variability of rainfall and temperatures were lower for CMIP6 compared to CMIP5. The future projection of rainfall using CMIP6 MME revealed a higher reduction of precipitation (10–26 mm) in the economically crucial northern region than that estimated using CMIP5 (0–17 mm), compared to 133.5 mm rainfall in the base period. CMIP6 also projected a 0.74–1.63°C more rise in Tmax and Tmin compared to CMIP5 by the end of the century. The study indicates more aggravated scenarios of climate changes in Egypt than anticipated earlier, using the CMIP5 models. Therefore, Egypt needs to streamline the existing adaptation and mitigation measures to account for climate projections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egypt, a predominantly arid and hyper-arid country, is one of the environmentally most fragile regions of the world. The country became a hot spot for climatic extremes and aridity change in the global warming context. The unavailability of a detailed and reliable climate zonation map is a major hindrance to climatic studies in Egypt. This study attempted to generate a high-resolution climate zone map of Egypt based on a novel image analysis technique. For this purpose, a colored image representing Egypt's composite climatology was developed using three high-resolution (1-km) climate variables: rainfall, maximum temperature and minimum temperature during 1979–2013. A spherical evolution algorithm was used to classify the image into different climate zones. Subsequently, the climate zones representing similar climate distribution were merged to generate the climate map of Egypt. The study revealed that Egypt's distinguishable climate zones could be recognized when the land area was classified into nine zones using the image analysis technique. The statistical analysis of climate variables of each zone revealed similar climatology only in two pairs of zones. The merging of similar climate zones yielded seven climate zones having distinct climate characteristics. The validation of climate zonation using various statistical tests revealed the robustness of the proposed method in classifying climate. The climate zone map generated in the study can be used as a reference for climate change analysis in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Urban parks have complex surface structure that produces an environment with specific microclimatic qualities. These qualities affect the balance of energy of the human body and are applicable to an individual’s thermal perception. They have impacts on using outdoor spaces especially in hot and arid regions. This study investigates users’ thermal comfort in an urban park in Cairo, Egypt. The investigation was carried out during the hot and cold months using subjective surveys and field measurements. The campaign consisted of a subjective survey using questions on the perception of the thermal environmental applying seven-point ASHRAE 55 thermal sensation votes (TSV) in nine different zones in the urban park. At each zone, the thermal environment parameters – air temperature, solar radiation, air relative humidity and wind speed were measured. Through these data, the values of the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) were calculated in each zone using the RayMan model. The current people clothing and metabolic rate were recorded. The results of the field measurements were compared with judgements about the thermal environment. Results demonstrate that differences in the PET index among these zones due to different sky view factors (SVF) and wind speed. Results revealed an alteration in human comfort sensation between different landscape zones. This paper suggests that the thermal requirements of visitors and qualities of the local climate should be carefully considered when designing landscapes for the future urban parks in the hot and arid regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Climate Monitoring Tool (CMT) is used to generate time series and spatial analysis of both rainfall and temperature at diff erent time scales for 12 Egyptian climate stations. The daily mean observations and monthly mean reanalysis data during the period 1974-2014 are used to discuss climatic distribution of precipitation and temperature over Egypt. This article aims to detect the behavior of winter and summer season in 2014 with respect to climate base period of 1981-2010 for observations. The study also investigates correlations between the NAO, ONI and precipitation, temperature in both north and south of Egypt during the winter and summer seasons. The results showed that, 2014 was characterized by a sequence of warm waves during the winter and summer seasons. Precipitation was marked by a strong regional disparity with a rainfall deficit in the south and surplus in the north. In overall, precipitation was below normal and the temperature was above-normal in 2014 based on climatology period (1981-2010). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was conducted in an attempt to identify the regional, geographic, climatic, socioeconomic, and other risk factors for microbial keratitis in south Nile Delta, Egypt. Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study that was carried out on 340 eyes of 340 patients with microbial keratitis attending at the outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology Department of Menoufia University Hospital during a period of three years between March 2010 and March 2013. Results: Epidemiological factors, lines of management, and follow-up results were recorded and statistically analyzed and there were regional variations in the prevalence, risk factors, and outcome in resistant corneal ulcers. Conclusion: Higher incidence of affections and complications has appeared in farmers, rural area residents, and illiterates which are considered the main predisposing factors for ulcer resistance. According to culture results, bacterial organisms (especially Staphylococcus aureus) were the main cause of resistant corneal ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1999 Cairo and the Nile delta region have suffered from air pollution episodes called the "black cloud" during the fall season. These have been attributed to either burning of agriculture waste or long-range transport of desert dust. Here we present a detailed analysis of the optical and microphysical aerosol properties, based on satellite data. Monthly mean values of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 550 nm were examined for the 10 yr period from 2000-2009. Significant monthly variability is observed in the AOD with maxima in April or May (~0.5) and October (~0.45), and a minimum in December and January (~0.2). Monthly mean values of UV Aerosol Index (UVAI) retrieved by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) for 4 yr (2005-2008) exhibit the same AOD pattern. The carbonaceous aerosols during the black cloud periods are confined to the planetary boundary layer (PBL), while dust aerosols exist over a wider range of altitudes, as shown by Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) aerosol profiles. The monthly climatology of Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MISR) data show that the aerosols during the black cloud periods are spherical with a higher percentage of small and medium size particles, whereas the spring aerosols are mostly large non-spherical particles. All of the results show that the air quality in Cairo and the Nile delta region is subject to a complex mixture of air pollution types, especially in the fall season, when biomass burning contributes to a background of urban pollution and desert dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implementation of the community-based multi criteria adaptation assessment for agricultural sector to climate change impacts in the Nile River Delta in Egypt. The study shows the improvement in the adaptive capacity by the farmer to face the negative impacts of climate change in agricultural system. Moreover, it suggests that government support and clear scientific message are needed.

What was the environmental setting for changes in the settlement pattern of Adaïma, a mid-fourth to early-third millennium site in the Egyptian Nile valley? Analysis of charcoal collected from the archaeological soil was performed on contexts from several periods. The settlement was set up in an environment where the vegetation was probably more extended, with more wooded desert margins. Over 600 years, changes in the charcoal spectrum reflect a possible local desertification and the impact of human activities on the vegetation of the floodplain, perceptible in particular through the development of ruderal Calotropis procera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measured values of the hourly global solar radiation, G, and its diffuse component, D, on a horizontal surface for a 12-year period (1992-2003) have been collected and used to examine the solar radiation characteristics in the urban area of Cairo, Egypt. The corresponding values of the diffuse fraction of global radiation, K, have been calculated. Diurnal variations of the results have been investigated. Also, the daily total values and their monthly and seasonal means, as well as their frequency distributions, have been calculated and investigated. The results reveal that Cairo has annual mean values of G, D, and K equal to 18.57, 6.10 MJ m−2 and 0.35, respectively. The seasonal and climatic effects on the fluctuation of the results are discussed. These effects were particularly large during the winter and spring months owing to the high fluctuation of the atmospheric conditions with respect to the amount of water content, clouds, and concentration of aerosol and dust particles. It was found that the reduction of G due to the effect of clouds is small (2.8%), which in turn reflects the low degree of cloudiness over Cairo due to the impacts of urbanization. A comparative study has also been done to investigate the effect of urbanization processes on the global radiation values received at urban Cairo. It was found that G values received during the non-urbanized period (1969-1973) highly exceeded the radiation values received during the recent urbanized period (1999-2003) for all months of the year, and the annual mean of the relative reduction was found to be 17.63%. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]