اخبار ليبيا اليوم – وطن نيوز
اخر اخبار ليبيا- اخبار ليبيا الان
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-06-04 15:14:00
The Libya Eye Network obtained a research paper prepared by climate and meteorology expert Ali Milad Abu Khurais, entitled “Climate in Libya and Long-Term Climatic Cycles.” The content included observations and field experiences spanning several decades in the field of meteorology inside and outside Libya, in addition to analytical readings about the nature of the Libyan climate and its transformations. The paper, in its introduction, reviews the professional path of the expert, as he points out that after graduating from Algeria in 1980, he joined the compulsory military service, and began his work as a weather observer at Mitiga Airport, before moving to work in a number of airports located in the coast, center, and south of Libya, which allowed him, according to what was stated in the paper, to develop extensive field experience on climate differences between the various regions of the country. The paper includes an account of an incident that occurred in 1983 at Ozo Airport in the far south of Libya, when a valley of water was observed flowing near the airstrip and continued to flow for three days, despite the fact that no rain was recorded inside Libyan territory during that period, noting that the water came from areas south of the border as a result of the natural slope of the terrain, according to what was stated in the study. In another axis, the expert explains that southern Libya is affected by tropical clouds coming from areas close to the equator, as the rainy season usually begins in May and continues until September, with variations in the intensity of precipitation from year to year, in addition to the possibility of torrential rains reaching the Libyan interior as a result of rain falling outside the borders. The paper deals with the concept of long-term climate cycles, as the researcher points out that many global climate phenomena are linked to long time cycles that, in some cases, exceed modern observational records. He explains that the development of modern meteorological systems came after World War II, and that the available data, despite its importance, does not represent the entire climate history of the Earth. The study also emphasizes the importance of integrating modern scientific data with historical records and local narratives, including folklore that preserved designations for exceptional climate years such as years of drought, floods, and snow, considering that these narratives represent an additional source for understanding the local climate. The paper details the concepts of relative humidity and dew point, explaining their direct impact on the sensation of heat and cold, in addition to the role of the sea breeze in adjusting temperatures on the Libyan coast, where coastal areas record lower temperatures compared to inland areas, with differences that may reach 10 and 13 degrees Celsius in some cases during the summer, according to what the expert reported. The study also indicates the impact of agricultural activity in modifying the local climate, especially in the Jaffara Plain during the 1970s, where extensive irrigation contributed to moderating temperatures and raising humidity levels, while this effect later declined as a result of the decline in agricultural activity and the depletion of groundwater. On the other hand, the paper discusses the characteristics of tropical clouds that may extend from the south towards central and northern Libya, causing heavy rains, strong thunderstorms, and large hailstones, noting that material damage has been recorded in some areas of the southwest as a result of these phenomena. The study also includes a description of a recent monitoring experiment in which the researcher indicated the movement of clouds from the south to the north during a rainy season, the effects of which extended to large areas inside and outside Libya, with heavy rains, strong thunderbolts, and torrents of varying intensity recorded, according to what was stated in the text of the paper. The paper concludes that understanding the Libyan climate requires combining long-term field monitoring, modern scientific data, and local heritage, given that studying climate is a cumulative process based on continuous documentation and analysis of phenomena over time, with the aim of enhancing the ability to interpret climate changes and their environmental and human impacts. The full text of the study is a research paper entitled: Climate in Libya and long-term climate cycles prepared by Professor Ali Milad Abu Khurais, an expert in climate and meteorology.. Observations and field experiences in Libyan meteorology and climate Introduction After completing my studies in Algeria in 1980, I joined the compulsory military service, and the beginning of my work in the field of meteorology was through my work as a meteorologist at Mitiga Airport. Since that time, I have moved between a number of airports located in the coast, center, and south of Libya, which gave me the opportunity to gain extensive field experiences and get to know closely the nature of the Libyan climate and its differences between one region and another. During my years of work, I have benefited from the experiences of many specialists who preceded me in this field, and daily observations and continuous monitoring of weather phenomena have contributed to forming a deeper understanding of the climatic factors affecting Libya. Field experience at Ozo Airport In 1983, I moved to work at Ozo Airport in the far south of Libya. In July of that year, it witnessed a remarkable phenomenon represented by the flow of a water valley coming from the south near the airstrip, and the water continued to flow for three continuous days. According to weather data at the time, the rain did not fall within Libyan territory, but rather fell in areas south of the border, but the water reached the region as a result of the natural slope of the terrain. This incident constituted practical evidence of the impact of rain that falls outside the borders on nourishing some valleys and waterways inside Libya. The nature of rain in southern Libya. Southern Libya is affected by tropical clouds coming from areas near the equator, and the rainy season usually begins during the month of May and continues until September. In most cases, precipitation is moderate, but it may be heavy in some years. Also, part of the floods witnessed in some southern regions may be the result of rain that fell outside Libyan territory, and then its waters moved through natural valleys into the Libyan interior. These observations are based on direct field observations during the years of work in the south. Climate and long-term changes Through practical experience and continuous monitoring, I see that many of the weather and climate phenomena that the world is witnessing fall within long-term climate cycles, cycles that often exceed the period of time covered by modern observational records. Modern meteorology, in its current organizational form, has witnessed significant development after World War II, and Arab countries have joined the global observing system of the World Meteorological Organization since the 1950s. Therefore, available climate records, although important, still represent a limited part of the Earth’s long climate history. Therefore, the study of climate change needs to combine modern scientific data, historical records, and inherited local narratives that document the exceptional weather phenomena that societies have witnessed over generations. The importance of popular heritage in documenting the climate. Local communities in Libya and other Arab countries have preserved popular names for years characterized by exceptional climate phenomena, such as years of snow, years of drought, or floods. Although these designations are not a scientific classification, they represent an important historical record that can be used when studying the local climate and comparing current events with what happened in the past. Relative Humidity and Dew Point Relative humidity is defined as the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the maximum amount that the air can hold at a given temperature. When the relative humidity rises, a person feels hot and uncomfortable, because the process of evaporation of sweat from the body becomes less efficient. When humidity decreases, the feeling of coldness increases due to the increase in the rate of evaporation. The dew point is the temperature at which the water vapor in the air begins to condense and turn into water droplets, which leads to the formation of dew, fog, or low clouds, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. The effect of the sea breeze on the climate of the Libyan coast. The sea breeze is one of the most important factors affecting the climate of the Libyan coastal areas, as its effect usually begins during daylight hours and extends over distances that may reach about twenty kilometers or more inland. This breeze leads to lower temperatures in coastal areas compared to inland areas, where stations such as the Port of Tripoli and Mitiga Airport record temperatures lower than those recorded in Al-Aziziya, Isbe’a, and Tripoli International Airport. The comparisons I made during my work in meteorology and radio showed that the temperature difference between the coast and inland areas may range between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius in some cases, especially during the summer months. The high relative humidity on the coast may make the heat felt greater despite the lower air temperature compared to inland areas. The role of agriculture in moderating the local climate. During the 1970s, the Al-Jaffara Plain witnessed extensive agricultural activity, and daily irrigation operations of large areas of agricultural land contributed to moderating temperatures and raising the local humidity. With the decline in agricultural activity, the depletion of groundwater, and the increase in drilling deep wells, the vegetation cover gradually decreased, which affected the local climate and contributed to the rise in temperatures. Hence the importance of reviving the green belt and preserving water resources, in addition to expanding seawater desalination projects to provide sustainable sources of fresh water. Tropical clouds and heavy rains Field observations and satellite images indicate that tropical clouds may extend in some years from the south towards the central and northern regions of Libya, causing heavy rains in multiple regions. Some seasons witnessed the arrival of these clouds to the regions of Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Hamada, Al-Jufra, and Ajdabiya, and their influence even extended eastward towards Egyptian lands and from there to other regions in the Arab Levant. Tropical clouds are characterized by higher heights than usual clouds in northern Libya, and are often associated with strong thunderstorms, heavy rains, and large hailstones. Notes on hail and thunderstorms. Some areas of southwestern Libya witnessed large hailstones that caused material damage, including shattering vehicle windows and damaging some property. It has also been observed that thunderstorms associated with tropical clouds are characterized by stronger thunder sounds and larger raindrops compared to storms that usually form over coastal and northern regions. These phenomena confirm the special nature of tropical clouds and their ability to produce violent weather conditions when appropriate conditions are available for their growth and development. A report on the rains in the south this year. Rain began to fall on the border areas as a result of seasonal clouds flowing from the equator until they reach the southern border. The clouds set off on an exceptional journey from the south to the north, covering large areas in the south and centre, including Ghadames, Hamada, Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Al-Jufra, and the areas east of Tripoli, the Gulf, and south of the Green Mountain, before crossing the Egyptian border, heading towards Jordan. This is the first time I have observed the movement of clouds from the south to the north throughout my professional career since my graduation in Algeria in 1980 until May 2026. This phenomenon was documented by tracking a sequence of satellite images and direct communication with eyewitnesses in the regions of the south, Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Al-Jufra, Tripoli and Benghazi. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the size of the raindrops was much larger compared to the usual sea clouds, as well as the unprecedented strength of the thunderbolts. Floods were also characterized by their flow over flat lands and sand as a result of soil consolidation, which was observed in the field and confirmed by videos documenting the event. Conclusion: Long field experience in the field of meteorology, in addition to benefiting from modern scientific data and local climate heritage, all represent important tools for understanding the Libyan climate and interpreting its various phenomena. Studying climate remains a cumulative process that relies on continuous monitoring, careful documentation, and benefiting from the experiences of previous generations, with the aim of reaching a more comprehensive understanding of climate change and its effects on humans and the environment. Last updated: 4 June 2026 – 19:37 Suggest a correction
