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Annual and seasonal trends of cooling, heating, and industrial degree-days in coastal regions of Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

The present study utilizes daily maximum and minimum values of temperature for a period of 37 years from 1970–2006 in five coastal cities for the estimation of monthly and annual totals of cooling, heating, and industrial degree-days at base temperatures of 18°C and 24°C, 18°C and 20°C, 7°C, and 13°C, respectively. Increasing trends were observed in case of annual total cooling degree-days (CDD) and industrial degree-days over the period of study at all base temperatures. Furthermore, well-defined seasonal trends were seen with increasing values from January to July and then decreasing towards the end of the year. The heating degree-days (HDD) analysis indicated slight heating during January to March and in December. The annual total HDD showed decreasing trends at both base temperatures. It is worth mentioning that the rate of increase of annual CDD was found to be decreasing with decreasing latitude on the Red Sea coast from Al-Wejh to Gizan with an exception at Yanbo, where it was higher than at Al-Wejh. On the other hand, the rate of decrease of annual HDD was found to be decreasing with decreasing latitude on the Red Sea coast from Al-Wejh to Gizan. The seasonal and annual values of cooling degree-days were found to be comparable with corresponding values for stations like international airports in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Musqat, and Cairo with similar types of climatic conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Research Institute of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran-31261, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Engineering Research, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Shafiqur Rehman & Luai M. Al-Hadhrami

  2. Department of Mathematics, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Shamsuddin Khan

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  1. Shafiqur Rehman
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  2. Luai M. Al-Hadhrami
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  3. Shamsuddin Khan
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Correspondence to Shafiqur Rehman.

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Rehman, S., Al-Hadhrami, L.M. & Khan, S. Annual and seasonal trends of cooling, heating, and industrial degree-days in coastal regions of Saudi Arabia. Theor Appl Climatol 104, 479–488 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-010-0359-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-010-0359-7

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