T. Ben-gai et al., Climatic variations in the moisture and instability patterns of the atmospheric boundary layer on the east Mediterranean coastal plain of Israel, BOUND-LAY M, 100(2), 2001, pp. 363-371
A long-term record (1964-1995) of radiosonde data observed at the Bet-Dagan
aerological station of the Israel Meteorological Service was analyzed to d
etect possible temporal trends in moisture content and instability of the a
tmospheric boundary layer. Bet-Dagan is situated in the central part of the
south-east Mediterranean coastal plain. During this period surface charact
eristics in this region have changed drastically due to changes in land use
, i.e., urbanization, development of irrigated agriculture and afforestatio
n. The analysis of the radiosonde data reveals a clearly defined, statistic
ally significant, increasing trend in the moisture content, mainly during s
ummer. The stability of the surface layer, characterized by the bulk Richar
dson Number, shows a decreasing trend since the early 1960s. Relationships
between these trends, land-use modifications and possible influence of larg
e-scale influence are discussed.