Synoptic analysis of the cold winter (1991/1992) in Iraq

Abstract

The thermal characteristics of winter in Iraq vary from one season to another. Due to the decreasing amounts of solar radiation, the inclination of the sun's rays, and the short length of the day, in addition to the synoptic conditions of the surface and upper pressure systems and their role in temperature variation, the research aims to study the synoptic conditions of the cold winter season (1991/1992) in Iraq. The daily temperature averages were adopted at eight climate stations distributed throughout Iraq, and the frequency of cold days and very cold days during the winter months (December, January, February) was monitored using the Winter Standard Index (WSI) and analysis of the pressure systems that cause their occurrence at the pressure levels ( 1000, 850, 500) millibars.                   

      The climate of Iraq in the winter season (1991/1992) was characterized by frequent cold days, as weather monitoring stations recorded an average of (29.6) cold days, which constituted (32.5%) of the duration of the winter season,  and the total number of cold days during the season varied. Winter in Iraq varies from one place to another depending on the variation in the prevailing thermal conditions. Al-Hay station recorded the highest frequency of cold days with (33) cold days, while the lowest frequency of cold days was recorded in Kirkuk station with (26) cold days.