Climate change is a global common problem and affects many sectors of life on earth. Global warming phenomena induced by emissions of greenhouse gases which increasing as result the human activities. High air temperatures will be caused severe changes in agricultural yields, water resources, soil, climatic conditions and the continued melting of glaciers. The current study focuses on investigate the impacts of climate change on air temperatures over the greater zab river basin at Eski-Kalak gauging station (20435 km2) during the observed period (1979-2005), mid-21st century (2047-2073) and end-21st century (2074-2100) forecasted periods under both emission scenarios the medium (RCP4.5) and the high (RCP8.5). The regional climate model RCA4 by using Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) program has been employed to acquire the projections of average air temperatures within Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. Daily and monthly of observed and future average air temperature were adopted to analysis data. The results demonstrated increasing in air temperatures will be occur during the predicted period relative to the observed period. At future periods, average annually of number of cold days would decrease whereas, increasing number of hot days. Probability density function (PDF) indicated the frequency of events higher than 12 °C during projection periods were more occurrence compared to the observed period. The average annually of future temperatures under scenario RCP4.5 would raise to reach by 1.92 and 2.35 °C relative to the observed period while, at scenario RCP8.5 will be approximately 2.84 and 4.64 °C during near and distant future periods, respectively. Rising air temperatures over all the basin owing to climate change have adverse impacts on the many aspects of life including the quantity and quality of water resources and the capability to protect human health and preserve ecosystems. |
