Dynamic Interaction between Wind and Topography during Peak Rainfall over Shahat Area (Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar), Libya: An Applied Study Using Proposed Climatic Index
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63359/6thv9487Keywords:
wind, topography, rainfall, dynamic interaction, Shahat, Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, LibyaAbstract
This study analyzes the interaction between wind and topography and its influence on rainfall in the Shahat area (Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar), northeastern Libya, during the peak rainy season. It develops an applied climatic indicator, the Angular Wind–Rainfall–Topographic Interaction Index (AWRI). The analysis uses meteorological records from the Shahat weather station provided by the Libyan National Center of Meteorology for the climatological period 1981–2010, including rainfall totals, wind speed, and wind direction, alongside topographic slope aspects derived using Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The index integrates rainfall amount, mean wind speed, and the cosine of the deviation angle between wind direction and windward slope orientation, representing the efficiency of orographic uplift. Results show marked interannual variability, with high values when northerly and northwesterly maritime winds align with Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar slopes, enhancing rainfall effectiveness. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating dynamic–topographic factors in interpreting rainfall variability in coastal mountainous environments.
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