31
unpredictable, where it is the highest along the Mediterranean, where it average
about than 200 mm/year. Precipitation rates drop quickly as one moves away from
the coast. It average to 20 mm/year in Middle Egypt to 2 mm/year in Upper Egypt
(EEAA 2010).
El-Fandy (1948) stated that mid-latitude weather regime is prevailing during the
winter season, which is characterized by the frequent passage of upper westerly
troughs associated with surface depressions. Thick layers of low and medium clouds
cover the northern part of Egypt and sometimes extend to the south during the passage of these depressions along the east Mediterranean. These cloud clusters are
usually associated with torrential rain and in many cases with thunder storms. The
minimum value of maximum temperature occurs in the winter, where maximum
temperature tends to reach its maximum value of 18 °C over the northern part and
24 °C over the southern part with small gradient of temperature. Minimum temperature during winter could reach 3 °C over middle of Egypt region. Wind speed could
reach as minimum as 1.5 m/s in the winter. In addition, the difference between north
and south values of downward short wave radiation is large (Morsy et al. 2017).
The main climatic feature within the spring season is the southward shift of the
tracks of depressions known as desert or Khamasen depressions. After the passage
of the depression, northerly winds prevail over Egypt with possible strong guests
that cause rising sand (dust) in open areas especially in Upper Egypt (El-Fandy
1948). Furthermore, there is a gradient of maximum temperature intensifies during
spring season over northern part and decline over the rest of Egypt, where it is
between 21 °C over the northern part and 36 °C over the southern part. Minimum
temperature during spring season is around 12 °C covers most of Egypt (Morsy
et al. 2017).
The main forcing during the summer season is the westward extension of the
Indian monsoon low pressure, which provides Egypt with hot and humid north easterly surface winds. Occasionally, during the summer season, the Indian monsoon
low pressure is weakened and shrinks towards the east, allowing the sub-tropical
high pressure. As a consequence, a rather mild and dry north westerly wind invades
the northern parts of Egypt (Hasanean and Abdel Basset 2006). The maximum value
of maximum temperature occurs in the summer, where its gradient intensifies during summer over northern part and decline over the rest of Egypt. A minimum temperature of 21 °C during summer season is the prevailing over all Egypt, except
latitudinal band from 28 to 30 °N. Wind speed could reach a maximum value of
4 m/s in the summer. Additionally, downward short wave radiation has a weak gradient in the summer (Morsy et al. 2017).
During the autumn season, Egypt is under the influence of northward extension
of Sudan monsoon along Red Sea with southward extension of upper air trough that
cause heavy rain over the eastern part of Egypt (Hasanean and Abdel Basset 2006).
Maximum temperature during summer season ranges from 30 °C to 42 °C with
maximum core over Upper Egypt. A dominant minimum temperature of 15 °C during autumn season occurs over all Egypt, except north and south east parts (Morsy
et al. 2017).
3 Egypt Faces Water Deficiency, and Food Insufficiency
unpredictable, where it is the highest along the Mediterranean, where it average
about than 200 mm/year. Precipitation rates drop quickly as one moves away from
the coast. It average to 20 mm/year in Middle Egypt to 2 mm/year in Upper Egypt
(EEAA 2010).
El-Fandy (1948) stated that mid-latitude weather regime is prevailing during the
winter season, which is characterized by the frequent passage of upper westerly
troughs associated with surface depressions. Thick layers of low and medium clouds
cover the northern part of Egypt and sometimes extend to the south during the passage of these depressions along the east Mediterranean. These cloud clusters are
usually associated with torrential rain and in many cases with thunder storms. The
minimum value of maximum temperature occurs in the winter, where maximum
temperature tends to reach its maximum value of 18 °C over the northern part and
24 °C over the southern part with small gradient of temperature. Minimum temperature during winter could reach 3 °C over middle of Egypt region. Wind speed could
reach as minimum as 1.5 m/s in the winter. In addition, the difference between north
and south values of downward short wave radiation is large (Morsy et al. 2017).
The main climatic feature within the spring season is the southward shift of the
tracks of depressions known as desert or Khamasen depressions. After the passage
of the depression, northerly winds prevail over Egypt with possible strong guests
that cause rising sand (dust) in open areas especially in Upper Egypt (El-Fandy
1948). Furthermore, there is a gradient of maximum temperature intensifies during
spring season over northern part and decline over the rest of Egypt, where it is
between 21 °C over the northern part and 36 °C over the southern part. Minimum
temperature during spring season is around 12 °C covers most of Egypt (Morsy
et al. 2017).
The main forcing during the summer season is the westward extension of the
Indian monsoon low pressure, which provides Egypt with hot and humid north easterly surface winds. Occasionally, during the summer season, the Indian monsoon
low pressure is weakened and shrinks towards the east, allowing the sub-tropical
high pressure. As a consequence, a rather mild and dry north westerly wind invades
the northern parts of Egypt (Hasanean and Abdel Basset 2006). The maximum value
of maximum temperature occurs in the summer, where its gradient intensifies during summer over northern part and decline over the rest of Egypt. A minimum temperature of 21 °C during summer season is the prevailing over all Egypt, except
latitudinal band from 28 to 30 °N. Wind speed could reach a maximum value of
4 m/s in the summer. Additionally, downward short wave radiation has a weak gradient in the summer (Morsy et al. 2017).
During the autumn season, Egypt is under the influence of northward extension
of Sudan monsoon along Red Sea with southward extension of upper air trough that
cause heavy rain over the eastern part of Egypt (Hasanean and Abdel Basset 2006).
Maximum temperature during summer season ranges from 30 °C to 42 °C with
maximum core over Upper Egypt. A dominant minimum temperature of 15 °C during autumn season occurs over all Egypt, except north and south east parts (Morsy
et al. 2017).
3 Egypt Faces Water Deficiency, and Food Insufficiency