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W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-06-05 18:01:00
The “Libya Eye” network obtained a research paper prepared by Ali Milad Abu Khurais, an expert in climate and meteorology, entitled: “Climate in Libya and long-term climate cycles,” which dealt with an extensive study based on field observations and experiments spanning several decades in the field of meteorology inside and outside Libya. The paper reviews Ali Milad Abu Khurais’ professional career since he joined compulsory military service after completing his studies in Algeria in 1980, where he began his work as a weather observer at Mitiga Airport, before moving between a number of airports in the coast, center, and south of Libya, which gave him extensive field experience in monitoring climate differences between various regions. The scientific paper includes a narration of a field case that occurred in 1983 at Ozo Airport in the far south of Libya, when a valley of water flowed near the airstrip and continued to flow for three continuous days, despite the fact that no rain was recorded inside Libya. The researcher indicated that the source of the water was from rain that fell south of the border and moved through natural valleys, an indication of the influence of terrain factors in transporting torrents. The expert in climate and meteorology discussed the nature of rain in southern Libya, explaining that the region is affected by tropical clouds coming from the vicinity of the equator, and that the rainy season usually extends from May until September, with variations in the intensity of rainfall from year to year, in addition to the contribution of external rains in nourishing some valleys within the country. Regarding long-term climate cycles, the paper explained that many weather phenomena fall within climate patterns extending over long periods of time that exceed modern observational records, noting that the development of modern meteorology began extensively after World War II, with the Arab countries joining the World Meteorological Organization since the 1950s, which makes the available records a limited part of the Earth’s climate history. The paper also emphasized the importance of popular heritage in documenting the climate, through the names that local communities maintain for exceptional years such as years of drought, floods, and snow, considering that these narratives constitute a historical record that complements modern scientific data. The study touched on basic scientific concepts in meteorology, including relative humidity and dew point, explaining their direct impact on the sensation of heat and the formation of fog and low clouds, in addition to a detailed explanation of the mechanism of the sea breeze and its role in adjusting temperatures between the coast and the Libyan interior, with temperature differences recorded that may reach 10 and 13 degrees Celsius during the summer. The paper pointed to the environmental role of agriculture in modifying the local climate, especially in the Jaffara Plain during the 1970s, where agricultural activity and irrigation contributed to moderating temperatures and raising humidity levels, before the decline in agriculture and the depletion of groundwater led to a rise in temperatures locally. The study also monitored the extension of tropical clouds from southern Libya towards the central and northern regions, passing through areas such as Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Hamada, Al-Jufra, and Ajdabiya, reaching the regions of eastern Libya and some parts of Egyptian territory, with the accompanying strong thunderstorms, heavy rains, and large hailstones. The paper also discussed hail and thunderstorms in southwestern Libya, explaining the material damage they cause in some cases, as a result of the intensity of the storms and the size of the hailstones compared to traditional coastal clouds. In an applied part, the study documented a climatic situation during the current year, represented by the movement of seasonal clouds from the south to the north in an unusual path, which included large areas of Ghadames, Hamada, Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Al-Jufra, and the areas east of Tripoli, the Gulf, and south of Jabal Al-Akhdar, reaching the Egyptian border and then extending to areas in the Arab Levant, with rain characteristics and strong thunderstorms recorded according to field testimonies, photographic clips, and analysis of satellite images. The research paper concluded by emphasizing that understanding the Libyan climate requires integrating modern scientific data with field experiences and local climate heritage, considering that studying climate change is a cumulative process that depends on continuous monitoring and documentation, which contributes to enhancing understanding of weather phenomena and their effects on humans and the environment in Libya. The following is the full text of the study: A research paper entitled: Climate in Libya and long-term climate cycles prepared by 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: 5 June 2026 – 17:02 Suggest a correction
