Climate variability and aridity in Bahrain

The aims of this paper are two-fold: to define the range of principal forms the climate of Bahrain has taken during the past six decades, particularly through the temperature and rainfall trends, and to evaluate the consequent degree of aridity on the Islands. The study demonstrates enormous climate variability, represented by alternate hot-dry and cool-wet events. The high temperature level, the scantiness of rainfall and the excessive evapo-transpiration losses are striking phenomena. Using different aridity criteria, Bahrain has been regarded as arid or hyperarid as a result of the highly altering variation in climatic conditions. Continuation of the existing climate status, besides the increasing human interference, would constitute favourable circumstances for aridification to intensify and spread, and hence would likely have significant ecological and economical impacts.