Title: Moderate solar dimming in an accelerating warming climate of Bahrain

Authors: Nadir Ahmed Elagib; Shamsul Haque Alvi

Addresses: Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT), Cologne University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), Betzdorfer Str. 2, 50679 Cologne (Deutz), Germany; Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain ' Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract: The magnitude and variability of warming of air and the solar dimming/brightening phenomenon are investigated for Bahrain. The temperature records show highly significant warming trends through six months of the year (April-September) for absolute maximum (AbsTx), and through five months (April-July and October) for absolute minimum (AbsTn). Greater warming overwhelms the daytime extremes over the nocturnal ones and the hot, dry part of the year than the cool, wet season, leading to significant widening range between AbsTx and AbsTn. The highest recorded temperature reveals an alarming warming rate of 0.60°C decade−1. Almost exclusively above-average values characterise the last 15 years, with the year 2010 set as the hottest within the study period. Accompanying this warming climate has been increasing variability of the within-year monthly temperatures. Although two statistical tests agree on significant solar dimming only for July and November, the data do reveal a return to decreased sunshine since 2002/2003. Adoption of serious measures would be needed to overcome the anticipated future environmental insecurity resulting from climate warming.

Keywords: solar dimming; solar brightening; climate warming; temperature extremes; sunshine hours; Bahrain; climate change; decreased sunshine.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2013.051487

International Journal of Global Warming, 2013 Vol.5 No.1, pp.96 - 107

Received: 17 Aug 2012
Accepted: 10 Sep 2012
Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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