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| Location of the Dead Sea on the Map From: Google Maps |
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| Location of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Rift Valley Picture from: http://buypanicdisorderpill.com/files2/jordan-rift-valley-map.html |
The Dead Sea is a dry area which is caused by the rain shadow effect. A rain shadow occurs in areas located on the leeward side of a topographical barrier. Therefore, the Dead Sea is a rain shadow area located on the leeward side of the Judaean Hills. The clouds that move from the Judaean Hills towards the Dead Sea are formed over the Mediterranean Sea. As the clouds move up the Judaean Hills, the temperature and pressure decreases and rain is produced. Then as the clouds move down into the Dead Sea, the temperature and pressure increases with no rain produced. On average the Dead Sea gets less than 50 mm of rain each year. The minimal rainfall causes the Dead Sea area to be dry and to have little to no green areas surrounding it.
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| There are more green areas on the left of the Judaean Hills, but as you move towards the Dead Sea there is little to no green areas. This is caused by the rain shadow effect. From: http://www.biblewalks.com/sites/desertWater.html |
This a video of the clouds dissipating over the Dead Sea
Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ypc2iL6Sfc
Due to the rain shadow effect and its low elevation, the temperatures of the Dead Sea are dry and warm year round. The Dead Sea is a part of the subtropical climate zone, which is not quite tropical or cool. The highest temperatures are in the summer months (June, July, and August), which can range from 90°F to 100°F. The lowest temperatures occur during the winter months (December, January, and February), which range from about 68°F to 73°F. The differences in temperature in these two seasons can be attributed to the Earth's temperature patterns in January and July. In January the thermal equator moves southward, and in July it moves northward. As well, the dry climate and minimal rainfall both contribute to the low relative humidity of the Dead Sea.
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| The average maximum and minimum temperature, and the average relative humidity in each month. From: http://www.deadseatourist.com/climate.htm |
Sources:
- Allen, C. (2016). Lecture 6: Earth's Temperature, Concepts, ad Patterns. Personal Collection of C. Allen, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO.
- Allen, C. (2016). Lecture 9: Weather, Adiabatic Processes, and Storms. Personal Collection of C. Allen, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO.
- Climate | DeadSea.com. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.deadsea.com/articles-tips/interesting-facts/climate/
- Hitton, S. (n.d.). Climate in the Dead Sea. Retrieved from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/climate-dead-sea-16260.html
