Climate researchers have predicted summer temperatures in the UAE will increase after they identified a strengthening of a key weather system associated with hotter air.
Scientists at Khalifa University of Science and Technology found the Arabian heat low has intensified and grown over the past four decades, a trend thought to be caused by climate change.
This low-pressure system is linked to the extremely high temperatures the Gulf region experiences each summer.
Based on our analysis of the past four decades, we expect a continuity in the observed trends, which will translate to an increase in temperatures during summer
Dr Diana Francis,
Khalifa University
“This means that the region witnessed an increase in summer temperature extremes and this impacted larger areas,” said Dr Diana Francis of Khalifa University, one of the authors of a paper that details the research.
Heat lows, also called thermal lows, are caused when land areas in the subtropics are heated strongly during warmer parts of the year.
Over the past 41 years, the Arabian heat low “exhibits a clear positive trend”, according to the paper, with the weather system intensifying and growing larger.
Related to this were what Dr Francis described as “positive trends” in maximum temperatures during the summer, which are "likely linked to global warming”.
“The UAE lies in the centre of the summer Arabian heat low and therefore the extreme summer temperatures recorded over the UAE are directly linked to the heat low,” she said.
Previous studies have shown the Gulf region has some of the most severe hot and humid weather on the planet.
As reported in The National last year, the Arabian peninsula has been the site of more than half of the extreme temperature and humidity readings recorded on Earth.
Scientists in the UK and US analysed readings from weather stations and found that, of the 14 most extreme readings ever recorded on land, all of which happened in the past two decades, eight took place in the Gulf region.
Dr Francis, who heads Khalifa University’s Environmental and Geophysical Sciences laboratory, said the new study indicated that warming would continue.
“Based on our analysis of the past four decades, we expect a continuity in the observed trends, which will translate to an increase in temperatures during summer over the region as well as an intensification of the AHL [Arabian heat low] both in magnitude and size,” she said.
As well as analysing the Arabian heat low, which is associated with the weather system that causes the summer monsoon in South Asia, the research looked at the intertropical discontinuity, which is the boundary between hot and dry desert air and moister air from the Arabian Sea.
While this boundary has an annual cycle in which it moves north each summer, its average location has also been migrating north.
The intertropical discontinuity (ITD) helps to form clouds over the UAE in the summer, and there is likely to be more rain as a result.
“The arrival of the ITD over the UAE in summer announces the arrival of summertime convection and rain over the country,” Dr Francis said.
“The ITD showed slight progress northward … which could be related to the expansion of the tropics associated with the climate change, where a warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapour.
“We project an increase in convection and rain during summer due to the projected expansion of the tropics.”
The potential link between climate change and the changes happening to weather systems in the region will be a focus of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences laboratory's future work.
The new study is co-authored by two postdoctoral fellows at Khalifa University, Dr Ricardo Fonseca and Dr Narendra Nelli, and Dr Mohan Thota of the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Noida, India.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
The%20specs
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Results
2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.
3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner MH Tawag, Bernardo Pinheiro, Elise Jeanne.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner Skygazer, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m
Winner AF Kal Noor, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m
Winner RB Grynade, Bernardo Pinheiro, Eric Lemartinel.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
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The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Afro%20salons
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