A Correlation between Air Temperature, Relative Humidity over Iraq and Corresponding Climatic Indices

Fadel A. Murad

Abstract: Relationships between the variability of annual, seasonal NAO and the annual and seasonal temperatures and relative humidity over Iraq have been investigated. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data of the monthly mean surface air temperature and relative humidity over Iraq for the periods (1949-2011), (1949- 2007) have been used in present paper. The corresponding monthly mean values of NAO index, SOI, and have been also used. Monte Carlo methodology as a linear correlation analysis has been used to obtain the correlation co-efficient between the mean surface air temperature and relative humidity over Iraq. The results show that surface air temperature in Iraq is significantly correlated with the climatic index NAO only for northern parts of Iraq. There is a significant negative correlation (-0.7) between surface air temperature over north part of Iraq in winter season and NAO index.

Keywords: NAO index, NCEP/NCAR, surface air temperature in Iraq