Mixing ratio as indicator of climate variations at a local scale: trends in an industrial area of the Eastern Mediterranean

摘要

The present study investigates long-term climate variations of mixing ratio in an industrial basin of the Eastern Mediterranean region (Thriasio Plain, Greece), considering the serious environmental and socioeconomic impacts of a projected drier future climate in the Mediterranean. For this purpose, monthly average temperature, precipitation, dew point and atmospheric pressure were used for the period between 1958 and 2011. It was found that mixing ratio can be considered as a proxy for climate aridity in the area. Although air temperature was substantially stable during the investigated period, mixing ratio showed a marked reduction on both annual and monthly basis.