large wadis. The most fertile soils in Libya occur in the
Benghazi Plain, which stretches between Al Jabal Al Akhdar
and the sea, and in the Jafara Plain in the north-west region.
Although over-irrigation, some soils have led to increased
soil salinization in these regions (Zurqani et al. 2019).
Libya's climate is dominantly influenced by both the
Mediterranean Sea in the northern regions and the desert in
the southern regions. In winter, the weather is cool with
some rain on the coastal areas, and in the desert, the temperature may drop to sub-freezing at night. While there is
almost no rainfall in the summer, as it is the major heat and
drought period of the year. The Saharan area is very dry and
hot in summer and cool and dry in winter. The average
annual rainfall varies from region to region according to the
geographic position and topography. Rainfall occurs during
the autumn and winter months (October to March) (Ben
Mahmoud 1995). The mean annual rainfall varies from zero
millimeters in Southern Libya to 600 mm at Al Jabal Al
Akhdar in the north-east (Yigini et al. 2013). The dominant
features of rainfall are scantiness and variability in intensity
from year to year (Fig. 1.2).
Water resources in Libya depend, to a large extent, on
groundwater (about 97% of total water consumption). The
sustainable development of the country is affected by the
lack of renewable water resources as well as the overexploitation of fossil groundwater to meet the increasing
demand for water. Other challenges include seawater intrusion, deteriorating water quality, and an inadequate institutional framework. These and other issues related to energy
and food need more attention if the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved by
2030.
Fig. 1.1 Map of Libya with
capital cities and the distribution
of arid regions adapted from (Ben
Mahmoud 1995)
2
H. A. Zurqani
Benghazi Plain, which stretches between Al Jabal Al Akhdar
and the sea, and in the Jafara Plain in the north-west region.
Although over-irrigation, some soils have led to increased
soil salinization in these regions (Zurqani et al. 2019).
Libya's climate is dominantly influenced by both the
Mediterranean Sea in the northern regions and the desert in
the southern regions. In winter, the weather is cool with
some rain on the coastal areas, and in the desert, the temperature may drop to sub-freezing at night. While there is
almost no rainfall in the summer, as it is the major heat and
drought period of the year. The Saharan area is very dry and
hot in summer and cool and dry in winter. The average
annual rainfall varies from region to region according to the
geographic position and topography. Rainfall occurs during
the autumn and winter months (October to March) (Ben
Mahmoud 1995). The mean annual rainfall varies from zero
millimeters in Southern Libya to 600 mm at Al Jabal Al
Akhdar in the north-east (Yigini et al. 2013). The dominant
features of rainfall are scantiness and variability in intensity
from year to year (Fig. 1.2).
Water resources in Libya depend, to a large extent, on
groundwater (about 97% of total water consumption). The
sustainable development of the country is affected by the
lack of renewable water resources as well as the overexploitation of fossil groundwater to meet the increasing
demand for water. Other challenges include seawater intrusion, deteriorating water quality, and an inadequate institutional framework. These and other issues related to energy
and food need more attention if the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved by
2030.
Fig. 1.1 Map of Libya with
capital cities and the distribution
of arid regions adapted from (Ben
Mahmoud 1995)
2
H. A. Zurqani