1. Thunderstorm Distribution And Frequency In Saudi Arabia
Shwehdi, MH
IOP PUBLISHING LTD, JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICS AND ENGINEERING; pp: ;
Vol: 2
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Summary
A new average annual thunder day map for Saudi Arabia is presented. Based on this
map, the distribution of thunderstorms over Saudi Arabia is analysed in terms of the
factors related to the lightning performance of transmission lines such as
thunderstorm days per year (Td/yr). Lightning activity continues for the present to be
represented by thunderstorm frequency, which is routinely recorded at meteorological
observation sites. Thunderstorm occurrence at a particular location is usually
expressed as the number of days in a calendar year when thunder was heard, averaged
over several years. This paper examines thunderstorm days in different areas of Saudi
Arabia and specifically those areas where lightning strikes are more frequent; for this
purpose, the software ArcGIS is used to produce contour maps which demonstrate
areas of concern in Saudi Arabia in the period Establishing the annual and
seasonal Td/yr for Saudi Arabia enables transmission and distribution line engineers
to calculate and better design a lightning protection system. Maps of thunder
days/year (Td/yr) were constructed on the basis of the database records available on
lightning incidence in Saudi Arabia at the Presidency of Meteorology and
Environment (PME) ( Annual thunderstorms are most
frequent over the southwestern parts of the country, and generally decrease towards
the west and east. Due to its low latitude and less temporal change, the west coast of
the Red Sea recorded the lowest Td/yr. A secondary maximum Td/yr is apparent in
the southeast to central part of the country. Thunderstorm frequency does not, in
general, appear to vary in any consistent way with rainfall. There appears to be no
evidence of any widespread temporal trend in thunderstorm frequency. The southern
region in general, and especially the cities of Abha, Taif and Al-Baha, has shown
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2. greater numbers of thunderstorm days all year round
greater numbers of thunderstorm days all year round. Similarly, this variation did
show higher frequency throughout the year. The development of lightning incidence
and the counting of Td/yr, as well as the establishment of annual and seasonal
lightning maps of Saudi Arabia, are initiating a new era of producing and archiving
thunderstorm maps and data records which serve the PME, the utilities, industry and
the public.
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