LONG-TERM CHANGES IN ANNUAL RAINFALL PATTERNS IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL

Within the study region in southern Israel, the annual average rainfal l during the period 1961-1990 increased by up to approximately 30%, wi th only minor changes in the control stations representing the central and northern parts of the country. The retreat of aridity is made eve n more pronounced by an appreciable decrease in the coefficient of var iation (CV) in nearly all of the 30 rain stations within the study reg ion. The geographical area where maximum CV reductions were found corr elates well with the area where intensive land-use variations took pla ce with the initial operation of the National Water Carrier in 1964. A global climate change in the sea surface temperatures starting in the early 1960's may have had an effect to increase seasonal rainfall. Cu rrent research is aimed at resolving this issue.