CHABTER ONE

PHYSICAL AND CLIMAT FEATURES

 

 This chapter includes two types of data :

A - The first is and related to geographics & climatic characteristics of Syria , agricultral regions , water basins , adminstrative divisions , altitude of main cities and their ordinates , length of borders the most important mountains & height of their peaks , length of rivers & location & surface area of lakes .

B – The second type is specifico of 2002 and belong to flow rates of the most important rivers & springs & information on main dams according to latest sizes in Syria .

In addition to this chapter includes a glimpse on the weather conditions in Syria during 2002 and information on atmospheric condition , as well as the principal meteorological stations in Syria which are fully equipped with various metcorological instruments that obtain information once every hour during twenty four hours .

The data presented here cover generally tables on atmospheric phenomena and maximum & minimum temprtures as well as annual rainfall . They cover a period of the lasted five years .

The sources of these data are the following:

A – General Establishments for  survey which provides information on length of borders , height of mountains  cities and summer resorts.

B – Ministry of irrigation which supplies information on lengths of rivers, springs and their flow, lakes and dams .

C – The general Directorate of Meteorology which provides information on atmospheric phenomena and annual quantities of precipition.

The word “mean” is the arithmatic     mean of the studied phenomena         during  the  past ten years of which starting          differs according to establishment         data of the give main meteorological station .

As to the quantity of precipitation in mm it is an international expression which means the height of a water pipe in mm in a water pipe of one mm base area .

The Celsius Degrree : is the temperature taken from a thermometer in which the freezing point is zero & the boiling point is 100 . The range between these tow points is devided into one hundred parts and each part is called a centigrade or celsius degree.

As to a “ Milibar “ it is a unit for measuring atmospheric pressure taking into consideration that 1031 m.b = nearly 760mm . of mercury .

Hictopascal = one Milibar

It is unit for measuring atmosphric pressure used recently by international Meteorology instituions .

GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES

I – SITE &EXTENT

The Syrian Arab Republic lies on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea bounded by Turkey to the north ,Iraq to the east , Palestine & Jordan from the south and by Lebanon & the Mediterranean sea to the West .

The Total area of the Syrian Arab Republic is 18.517.971 hectares of which 6 million hectares are cultivated land & the remained is desert & rocky mountains . The Syrian desert is suitable for grass growing & is used as pastures during sufficient rainfall .

Geographically Syria may be divided into four region :

(1) The coastal region : It lies between the mountains & the sea

(2) The mountainous regions : runs from the north down to the south of the country & includes all mountains & hills which are parallel to the Mediterranean Sea .

(3) The interior region or the plains region : It comprises the plains of Damascus , Homs , Hama , Aleppo ,Hassakeh & Dar’a it is situated to the east of the mountainous region .

(4) The desert region : it is consisting of the desert plains situated in the southeastern part of the country of Jordanian & Iraqi borders .

II – CLIMATED

The climate of the Mediterranean Sea generally prevails in Syria this climate may be characterized by a rainy Winter & a dry

& hot summer separated by two short transitional seasons .

From the climate point of view Syria may be divided into four regions which coincide with the same geographic regions mentioned above . The decisive factor in this division in the amount of rainfall which is affected by the position of the ranges of the Syrian mountainous region together with the position of the western Lebanese mountain ranges .

The coastal region is characterized by heavy rainfall in winter &a moderate temperature & high relative humidity in summer . The interior is characterized by a rainy winter season and a hot & dry season during summer . The daily differences in the maximum and minimum temperature in interior region during the summer season are high & subject to large fluctuation . The areas in the mountains with an altitude of 1000 meters or more characterized by rainy winter where rainfall may exceed 1000 m m.& whith a moderate climate in summer. The desert region is characterized by a small amount of rainfall in winter & a hot dry summer .

RELATIVE HUMIDITTY :

Except in the coastal area the atmosphere in Syria is characterized by a high rate of relative humidity during winter & a low rate or relative humidity in summer . As for the coastal strip . due to the effect of the sea , the contrary is the normal case . It is also observed that the desert & semi desert areas are those whith the least relative humidity . During summer , the rate of humidity in the interior varies from 20 - 50 % & from      70 – 80 % in the coastal strip . The rate during winter varies from 60 – 80 %   in the interior & from 60 – 70 % along     the coast .

WIND :

During winter the prevailmg winds in the eastern parts of the country are easterly & in both the northern & northwestern parts are northerly , while other parts of the country are subject to westerly & south westerly winds . During summer the prevailing winds the north eastern parts of the country are northerly & the remaining parts of the country are subject to westerly and south westerly wind .

Some local winds blow over a number of regions during both summer & winter for limited periods only . Thus north easterly winds are observed over the north eastern region & south eastern regions & south easterly winds over the middle of the desert . During summer , the coastal region is subject to the sea winds which are westerly in the day & become reversed at night . Damascus region in particular is subject to northwesterly winds which blow continuosly every afternoon .

During winter , Syria is subject to the influence of high atmospheric pressure front formed at the centre of siberia & also to the low pressure front formed in the mediterranean sea or approaching from the Atlantic ocean . The dry & cold territorial winds blow over the country from the north east and cause snowfall if they happen to meet the air masses coming from the mediterranean sea . The later air masses are largely responsible for the rainfall in winter . In summer Syria is simultaneously under the influence of the extended low pressure area of the A. Gulf & the Red Sea pressure front &thus dry territorial winds predominate . These winds are very hot when they blow from the Arabian desert or from the Arabian desert or from the western desert in north Africa . There is no rainfall at all during the summer season .

AIR TEMPERATURE :

The daily differences between the maximum and minimum temperature are generally quite high in most of the country. The difference sometimes reaches 23° C in interior areas. (13° C in coastal areas) the  daily fluctuations in temperature are greater in the interior & desert areas as compared with the more moderate areas on the coast or  in  the mountainous areas of high altitudes (for it is frequently 25° C ) .

December and January are the coldest months of the year while July & August are the hottest . In Winter the temperature frequently falls under 0° C but really   under -10° C while in summer it may rise frequently  up  to  48° C .

PRECIPITATION :

During winter snow falls over all regions with an altitude exceeding 1500 m above sea level . Region with an altitude of 800 – 1500 m are subject to both rain and snow ,other regions with lower altitude are subject to rain rarely to snow except desert regions where even sufficient rain seldom falls .

Rain falls continually or at intervals , frequently thunderstorms accompanied    by heavy showers do occur during     winter and the intensity of such       showers reaches in some regions 75 mm  in 24 hours .

The mountainous and coastal regions are the regions of heaviest rain , second in order are the northern region ( north Aleppo , Kamishly and Malikieh ) , most of these rain are due to depressions accompanied by frontscoming from the Mediterranean , when they meet the mountains they are forced to rise and precipitate as snow and rain ovr these regions and the interior , the south eastern & the desert regions are the parts with the least amount of rain .

The country from time to time is subject to dry seasons and the rain shortage leads to agreat decrease in agricultural production .

General Climatologically situation during 2002

Summary : The average yearly temperature was 0.4 – 1.2 cú  above its mean in the most of region except the south and west inland district it was above its mean .

Main Features :

The Sub – Tropical High Pressure at upper levels was extending to the north of 30 ú  N from May 25 the  to September 30 the  , whereas partly retreating to the south of  30  ú N during October and completely retreating to the south of 30  ú  N during the rest of months .

On the surface the effect was for extending of Siberian , European and North African high pressures and the effect of  Sudan Trough , while the low pressure Indian Monsoon was extending from May 25 the  to middle October .

Shallow surface depressions affected the country during different periods except in January , Marsh and December where the depressions were moderate to active .

The Khamaseen situations affected the country during Spring season .

The amount of participation was above its mean in the southern and western inland districts and below its mean in the other districts .

Pressure and wind :

The average daily station pressure  was 0.1 – 1.8 HB below its mean in  April ( except in the coastal district it was   above its mean ) , 0.0-5.6 HB above its mean in January , February , July , September and November (except Palmira  area the average was below its mean  in February and November) , while it  was 0.0 – 2.6 HB round its mean in the other months .

The prevailing wind directions was about westerly throughout the country and the year , except for different places during winter it was easterly .

Gale wind occurred over different places with frequency 0 – 3 days during the period from January to April and in December .

The highest daily wind speed throughout the country and the year reached 25 m/s over Homs ( western inland destrict ) on 11 th  of February and over Jarablus ( the same destrict ) on 8 th of July.

Maximum temperature :

The average daily maximum temperature throughout the country was 0.0 – 1.2 cú round its mean in January and August , and 0.0 – 2.9 cú  below its mean in April ,    May and December ( except in the Damascus Airport area it was above   its mean in December ) , while it was   ( 0.1 – 3.8 cú  ) above its mean in the other months .

The monthly average maximum temperature during the year was about  23.3 cú in the coastal district and 23.4 – 28.1 cú  in the rest of districts .

The yearly range of maximum temperature ( the difference between the highest and lowest average daily maximum temperature ) was 14.9 – 18.2 cú  in the coastal district and 24.1 – 30.3 cú  in the other districts .

The absolute maximum temperature throughout the country and the year reached 46.2 cú  at Abu – Kamal ( The step desert district ) on 21st   of   July .

Minimum temperature :

The average daily minimum temperature throughout  the country  was 0.0 – 2.2 cú round its mean in April and May , and – 0.0 – 2.1 cú  below its mean in January and December ( except Damascus Airpor and Abu – Kamal areas the average was about its mean in December ) , while it was 0.4 – 3.1 cú  above its mean in the other monthes ( except Abu – Kamal area the average was 5.0 cú above its mean in October ) .

The average monthly minimum temperature during the year was 15.2 – 16.5 cú  in the coastal district and 9.3 – 15.3 cú  in the rest districts .

The yearly range of minimum temperature ( the difference between the highest and lowest average daily minimum temperature was about 18.0 cú  in the coastal district and 17.3 – 26.4 cú    in the other districts ) .

The absolute  minimum temperature throughout the country and the year dropped to -14.5 cú    at Serghaya ( mountainous station of Western inland district ) 12 c th  of January .

Precipitation :

The percentage of the total yearly precipitation to its mean was 66 – 92 in the coastal district and 90- 115 in the western inland district and 97 – 130 in the eastern and desert districts ( except Abu – Kamal it was 78 ) , while it also was 78 in the north eastern district .

Mountainous  Coastal district reported the highest yearly total of precipitation which amounted 1490 . 1 mm at Ein Halageem , while the highest monthly total of precipitation amounted 598.1 mm at Mnezleh ( coastal district ) in January and the same station reported the highest daily total of precipitation on 28 th  of January which amounted 145.0 mm .

Relative humidity :

The average daily relative humidity was 1-11 % below its mean in January and March ( except at Dar'a area it was above its mean in January and at Latakia it was above its mean in march ) and it was        0-11 % above its mean in April and May , while it was 0- 10 %  round its mean in the other monthes .

The highest average daily relative humidity reached 84 % at Homs station ( Western inland district ) in December and the lowest average daily relative humidity was 25 % at Kamishli station ( North Eastern district ) in July .

Miscellaneous weather phenomena :

Fog :

No cases of fog was recorded over Costal district during the year , whereas the total frequency of fog in the other districts was 0-10 days during the periods from January to May and from October – December and no cases of fog                was recorded  over country during summer.

The highest monthly frequency of fog recorded 13 days in December over Homs areas whereas the Damascus international airport reported the highest yearly frequency of fog where it reached 31 days.

Thunder stormas :

Three cases of thunder storm was recorded during the period June – August only in the coastal and Jarablus areas , while the total frequency of thunder storm over the country was 0-10 days in the other monthes .

The highest yearly frequency of thunder storm was recorded by coastal stations which reached 32-44 days , while the yearly frequency of thunder storm was     0-22 in the other districts .

Rising  dust :

No cases of rising dust was recorded over coastal and Jarablus areas while it was frequent in almost all monthes over Eastern , desert .

Where the monthly total frequency of Rising dust was 0-9 days ( except over Abu – Kamal area it was 0-1 days )        and it was 0-5 days in the rest districts .

The Eastern  desert district recorded   34 – 37 days as annual frequency while  the others recorded 0- 4 days ( except Damascs Airport station recorded            27 days ).

IV –AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENT ZONES

Syria may be divided five agricultural zones :

1- First zone : With annual rainfall over 350 mm it is divided into 2 divisions :

a) An area with annual rainfall over 600 mm where non-irrigated crops could be successfully planted

b) An area with annual rainfall between 350 – 600 mm and not less than 300 mm during two thirds of the related period i.e. it is possible to get two yield crops seasons each three years .The main crops are wheat pulses and summer crops .

2- Second zone :With annual rainfall rate between 250 – 350 mm and les than 250 mm during two third of related years . It is possible to get two barley seasons        each three year , Besides planting       barley wheat pulses and summer crops could be planted.

3- Third zone with annual rainfall rate over 250 mm and not less than this during the half of the relative years i.e. it              is possiple to get one or two yield    seasons each three years the main crop      is  barely pulses could be planted .

4- Fourth ( Marginal ) zone : With annual rainfall rate between 200 – 250 mm and not less than 200 mm during the half of the related years Barley is planted in this zone and is good as permanent grazing land .

5- Fifth zone (desert if steppe regions) it covers what remains of the country land not suitable for non irrigated planting .

V – WATER BASIN

Water resourses in Syria are distributed among the following :

1- Jezireh basin ( No.1 on the map).

2- Aleppo Basin which consists of Kwaik basin (2) and Jabboul basins (3) .

3- The group of the Syria Desert basins which consists of :

Al-dawr (4).  Palmyra (5). Khanaser (6). Al-Zalf (7). Wadil-Miyah (8) . Al-Rasafa (9). Al-Tanf (10) . and Al-Sabi-Byar (11).

4- Horan basin (12) .

5- Damascus basin (13) .

6- Orontes basin (14) .

4- The coastal basin (15).

Local rainfall and snowfall constitute the main sources of underground water for these basins exept for the Jezireh and Orontes basins which are fed by external sources .

VI – ADMINISTRATIVE  DIVISIONS

Syria is administratively devided into 14 Mohafaza , each Mohafaza is generally divided into Manatik , each Mantika is further divided into smaller administrative units called Nawahi each Nahia covers a number of villages , and a village is the smallest administrative unit.

A Mohafaza is headed by a Mohafez     ( province governor ) , A Mantika is headed by “ Mudir el-Mantika” , A Nahia is headed by “ Mudir el-Nahia “ , and a village is represented by one or more Mokhtars ( village headman , who is responsible for the village and the surrounding farms ) .

A Mohafez is appointed by a decree while mudir el Mantika and Mudir el-Nahia are appointed by the Ministry of interior .

Al-Mokhtar is administratively attached to Al-Mohafez or to Mudir el Mantika or el- Nahia and is usually appointed by the Minister of local Administration or through his authorization .

Usually Mokhtar is responsible to Mudir el- Nahia who is responsible to el-Mohafez except in the cases where villages are directly attached to Mudir el-Mantika or el-Mohafez .

Mohafazat Centers are the chief cities after which the Mohafazat are named Al-Mantika Centers are the (Mantika Center town ) after which the Mantika are named. There are in all (61) Mantika with Mohafaza Center Mantikas which   are(14) and (210) Nahia distributed        as in table 1/1 at the end of 2002 .

The following special cases should be noted here :

1- Damascus city constitutes by itself a separate Mohafaza , called governorate of Damascus .

2- Some villages are directly related to a Mohafaza Center they have no relation to a Nahia or Mantika Center they are called Mohafaza center villages .

3- Some villages are directly related to Mantika Center without being attached to a Nahia Center . They are called Mantika Center’s villages .

4- In many of the Mohafazat center and not to the Mantika center . In this case they are called Nawahi of Mohafaza center.