Study shows wide range of rainfall patterns in Muscat
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Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 12:41 GMT
Study shows wide range of rainfall patterns in Muscat
Sunday, Dec 06, 2009
Gulf News
Muscat Muscat and surrounding areas are susceptible to tropical cyclones and catastrophic rainfall (greater than 100 millimetres per day)
about every 50 years, according to researchers at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).
A group of researchers from the Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Centre in Sultan Qaboos University have analysed the
characteristics of 27-year rainfall data in the country before concluding their findings, says a press release from the SQU.
At the same time, the need for water in these areas has been increasing daily owing to population growth, economic developments,
urbanisation, and consequently water management using all available resources is becoming increasing crucial.
Management strategy
Dr Andy Y. Kwarteng, director, Remote Sensing and GIS Centre at SQU, who was principal investigator of the study, said in order to
develop an effective management strategy, it was paramount to understand and assess the impact of this resource on the ecosystem.
"Plant productivity in Oman is primarily limited by the availability of adequate water. The Sultanate of Oman is characterised by hyper-arid
(less than 100 millimetres of rainfall), arid (100-250 millimetres of rainfall) and semi-arid (250-500 millimetres of rainfall) environments,"
said Dr Kwarteng.
"Scarce and erratic rainfall and varying temperatures have combined to shape the distribution and abundance of vegetation. Analysis of
variation of rainfall in space, time and volume, and its attendant effect on the ecosystem is vital in arid and semi-arid environments where
resource is scare, highly variable and unpredictable," he added.
The SQU researchers have utilised the rainfall data provided by 31 monitoring stations with continuous rainfall data coverage from 1977
to 2003.
The findings indicate that rainfall in Oman is highly variable, irregular and diversified. The yearly average rainfall of 117.4 millimetres
varies from a low of 76.6 millimetres in the hot, dry desert (interior region) to a high of 184.6 millimetres in the Dhofar mountains.
Most of the rainfall in northern Oman occurs from November/December to April and account for between 58 to 83 per cent of the average
annual rainfall.
Staff Report
© Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
Article originally published by Gulf News 06-Dec-09
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2/23/2011